Field Updates

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights
(PCHR) condemns opening fire by a gunman inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
in Rafidia Surgical Hospital in the northern West Bank on Friday, 08 March
2013, which is part of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons in the
occupied Palestinian territory.

According to investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 11:00 on Friday, 08 March 2013, a skirmish broke out between
the doctor in charge at the ICU in Rafidia Hospital and ‘A. Q., who was
visiting his niece in the hospital, when the doctor asked him to leave the
ICU.  As the quarrel developed, ‘A.Q
raised a pistol, which he was carrying under his clothes, and threatened the
doctor he would shoot if he was not left by his niece’s bedside.  Immediately, two of the hospital’s security
personnel intervened to stop the gunman from shooting; however, a bullet was
fired inside the ICU and hit the ground. No casualties were reported.  The hospital security personnel managed to
control the gunman and lead him out of the ICU. 
He was later identified as a first lieutenant in the Palestinian police.

PCHR strongly condemns this attack, which
is part of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons in the occupied
Palestinian territory, and calls upon the Public Prosecution to investigate it
and bring the perpetrator before justice.