Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms

Attacking Public Institutions and Officials

Field Update

22 March 2006

Attack on Rafedia Hospital in Nablus

A number of gunmen stormed Rafedia Hospital in Nablus yesterday morning. They assaulted a patient with sharp objects, worsening his injuries. In addition, they injured other citizens as they fired at Palestinian security personnel.

PCHR’s initial investigation indicates that at approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 21 March 2006, two injured citizens were admitted to the hospital. One of the injured was Eyad Zayed Jamil Dweikat, a 40-year old resident of Rojit village, north east of Nablus. He was injured by a sharp object stab in the left part of the neck. The second injured citizen is Ahmad Mohammad Hasan Hamad, a 57-year old resident of Orraq El-Tayeh village, north of Nablus. He was injured by a superficial stab to the chest area.

As the hospital staff members were tending the injured, a number of gunmen armed with automatic stormed the hospital. They attacked Dweikat, and stabbed him 3 times, making his injuries worse.

Hospital security arrived upon the request of physicians and nurses. However the gunmen fired inside the hospital. They injured Fatima Awaysa, a 40-year old resident of El-Laban El-Sharqeya village, southeast of Nablus. She was hit with a bullet in the left leg. In addition, they injured Basel Dawud Abu Taha, from Nablus, with shrapnel in the left leg.

Dr. Husam El-Johari, the hospital director, told PCHR’s fieldworker that he had informed governmental authorities about the incident, which is a recurrent problem on a daily basis.

PCHR is concerned about the continuation of this dangerous attack and the continued targeting of public institutions, which constitute a continuum of the state of security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and threatens the lives of citizens. The Centre reiterates its call upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate these attacks, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.