Field Update

In the past 2 days, unknown persons detonated 2 explosive devices in front of 2 houses belonging to members of al-Sabereen Movement in Beit Lahia. In one of the houses, material damage and casualties were reported, while neither material damage nor casualties were reported in the other. This incident is part of the state of security chaos and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 02:15 on Friday, 19 February 2016, unknown persons planted and then detonated an explosive device at the eastern side of the main entrance of a house belonging to the family of Hesham Salem Deeb, Secretary of al-Sabereen Movement in the Gaza Strip. The house is located to the south of the Gaza Electricity Distribution Company’s office in Beit Lahia housing compound, north of the Gaza Strip. As a result, Wafa’ Essam Ashour Salem Deeb (18) sustained a deep cut to the left leg because pieces of glass scattered around, but she was treated at home. Moreover, the explosion damaged the gate of the 5-storey building, in which 5 families live, 6 other nearby houses in addition to al-Salamah Charitable Association, east of the targeted building. The damage affected some windows of the nearby buildings. Furthermore, 2 minibuses school buses sustained damage. It should be noted that the first bus belonging to Essam Ashour Salem Deeb was completely destroyed, while only the windows of the other were smashed.

In a separate incident, at approximately 21:50 on Satruday, 20 February 2016, unknown persons detonated an explosive device in an open area in Beit Lahia, opposite to a house belonging to Nizar Sa’id Ibrahim Essa, a member of al-Sabereen Movement who was killed by Israeli forces a year ago. Neither material damage nor casualties were reported.

PCHR was informed that the Palestinian police and security services had arrived at and inspected the 2 scenes and initiated an investigation in the 2 incidents.

PCHR condemns the 2 explosions, which are part of the state of proliferation of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the oPt, and calls upon the Attorney General to investigate the 2 attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.