Field Update

On Thursday, 4 October 2012, an explosion occurred
at ‘Rab’a Café and Restaurant’ in Jabalia refugee camp, following the planting of
an explosive device in front of the restaurant, and resulting in severe damage
to the property.

At approximately 1:30am, a
violent explosion shook the Block (1) area of Jabalia refugee camp, in the
northern Gaza Strip, after the device exploded at the entrance of ‘Rab’a Café
and Restaurant’, the property of civilian Hani Awad Rab’a. The explosion caused material damage inside the
restaurant, but no injuries were reported. The incident also incited fear in
civilians who live near the site of the explosion. Palestinian police attended
the scene immediately and opened an investigation in the incident. Mr Rab’a informed
PCHR fieldworkers that security cameras installed in the restaurant showed two
unidentified persons planting the device in front of the restaurant before the explosion.

PCHR condemns this attack,
which is demonstrative of the increased proliferation of weapons and recent
rise in the number of assaults in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt),
contrary to the rule of law. PCHR calls upon the Office of the Attorney General
to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.