Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons

Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Personnel

Field Update

8 October 2006

One Person Killed in Rafah and Two Children Wounded in Jabalya by Unknown Persons

In the past 3 days, a Palestinian was killed by unknown persons in Rafah, and two children were wounded when a number of gunmen opened fire into the air.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 17:40 on Friday, 6 October 2006, 3 masked gunmen opened fire at Mohammed ‘Adnan ‘Atiya, 26, near his house in al-Tannour neighborhood in the east of Rafah. ‘Atiya was wounded by several live bullets to the abdomen and the legs.     He was evacuated to the hospital, but he died soon. No more information has been available concerning the reasons of this crime.

At approximately 11:45 on Thursday, 5 October 2006, a number of gunmen traveling in a civilian car (a white Peugeot 504) opened fire into the air for no apparent reason in al-Hawaja Streets in the center of Jabalya refugee camp, and then escaped. As a result, two children were wounded:

1.    ‘Essam Musleh al-Maqadma, 6, wounded by a live bullet to the buttock; and

2.    Ahmed Nabeel ‘Ali, 12, wounded by a live bullet to the right foot.

PCHR is gravely concerned over the continued misuse of weapons by armed individuals and groups, which constitutes a continuation of the security chaos in the OPT.  PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney General, to investigate these crimes and to bring the perpetrators to justice.