Palestinian Killed in Shooting in Zawata Village, Western Nablus

Field Update

02 February 2022

On Tuesday, 01 February 2022, a young man was killed after gunmen opened fire at him in Zawata village, west of Nablus. This incident falls within the state of proliferation of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt.).

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 19:20 on Tuesday, Iyad ‘Adel ‘Obaid (36) arrived at Specialized Arab Hospital in Nablus after being shot by unknown gunmen in front of his house in Zawata village, west of Nablus. ‘Obaid was shot with several live bullets in his head and shoulder and was immediately admitted to the emergency department, where medical crews declared him dead.

The incident’s circumstances and its ground are not clear yet, as spokesperson of the Palestinian police, Colonel Lo’ay Zreqiaqt, stated that the police proceeded with gathering evidence and investigating the circumstances of ‘Obaid’s murder.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the recurrence of incidents of proliferation of weapons and denounces the use of firearms in personal and family disputes, which jeopardizes the right to life, rule of law and Palestinian civil peace.

PCHR calls upon the Palestinian Authority to take all the serious measures to put an end to the state of proliferation of weapons, including promptly imposing the rule of law, in order to maintain civil peace in light of the lately spiking homicides.