Security Chaos

Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Personnel

Field Update

9 February 2008

 

One Civilian Killed and Five Injured in Café Explosion in Central Gaza City

On Thursday, 5 February 2009, a civilian was killed and five others were injured when unidentified individuals blew up a café in the al-Remal neighborhood of central Gaza City.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 23:20 on 5 February, unidentified individuals detonated an explosive device near the entrance of al-Waha café in al-Remal neighborhood, whilst workers were cleaning the café after customers had left for the night. The powerful explosion killed Rami Jamil ‘Ashour, 27, a friend of the café owner, who was inside the café at the time. Thirty year old Mohammed Farid al-‘Ajrami, who was passing by the café at the time of the explosion, was seriously injured and subsequently admitted into the Intensive Care Unit at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Mohammed al-Masri, 22, and Ziyad Abu Hassira, who were both working in the café, were also injured, as were two customers, ‘Alaa’ al-Ghandoor, 15, and Mohammed Doula. Their injuries were described as moderate to light.

PCHR notes with grave concern that casualties continue to be caused in the Gaza Strip by misuse of weapons, which is a continuation of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons plaguing the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). PCHR calls upon all relevant authorities to open an immediate investigation into the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.