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Ref: 58/2005

Date: 03 May 2005

Time: 09:00 GMT  

Following an Armed Dispute between Two Families in Gaza, PCHR Calls upon the PNA to Act to End the Deteriorating Security Situation

PCHR is increasingly concerned at the continued deterioration in the internal security situation in light of a bloody family dispute that took place in Gaza City yesterday, 2 May 2005.  This armed family dispute resulted in injuries to eight persons.  Such alarming incidents require the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to take urgent action through serious and concrete measures to put an end to the state of internal security chaos and the proliferation and misuse of weapons. 

According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 15:30 on Monday a family dispute erupted between the families of al-Deiri and al-Khour in al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City.  Firearms were used extensively in the dispute, which resulted in the injuries of eight Palestinian civilians, mostly bystanders.  Two persons remain in a serious condition.  The exchange of fire between the two parties lasted for nearly two hours and various machine guns were used in the clashes.  The armed dispute took place in a densely populated area and endangered the lives of many civilians. The Palestinian police and other law enforcement bodies did not intervene to stop these clashes, which raises serious questions regarding the ability of law enforcement bodies to maintain law and order. 

The dispute erupted after the death of 16-year-old Asmaa’ Salman al-Khour who was shot in the head at approximately 22:00 on Friday, 29 April 2005, when she was on the balcony of her house in al-Sabra neighborhood.  The al-Khour family held the al-Deiri family responsible for the death of their daughter. 

PCHR strongly condemns these incidents and calls upon the PNA:

1) To investigate the incidents and bring those found responsible to justice through a fair trial.

2) To investigate the death of Asmaa’ al-Khout and bring those found responsible to justice through a fair trial. 

3) To regulate and organize the proliferation of weapons in accordance with Law 2 of 1998 related to firearms and ammunitions.

4) To form an inquiry commission to investigate the failure of law enforcement bodies to carry out their functions in protecting citizens and maintaining public order.   

“END”

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org