Ref: 32/2014
Date: 16 March 2014
Time: 12:30 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is concerned over the death of Aisha Mohammedin and injury of 5 others, including 3 children and a woman, as a home-made rocket landed on their house in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. PCHR calls upon the government in Gaza to open a serious investigation into the circumstances of the incident and take necessary measures to protect the Palestinian civilians and their property.

According to investigations and examination of the scene conducted by PCHR, at approximately 19:10 on Thursday, 13 March 2014, a home-made rocket landed on a house belonging to the family of Isma’il Abdul Fattah Mohammedin (35) on al-Wadi Street in Beit Hanoun town in the north of the Gaza Strip. The rocket made a hole whose diameter was one meter in the southeastern wall of the house and exploded inside. As a result, Aisha Atiya Mohammedin (52) sustained shrapnel injuries and amputation to the right hand, and she died because of the serious injuries at approximately 00:30 on Friday, 14 March 2014, at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Additionally, another 5 civilians, including 3 children, living in the house were injured:

1. Etab Jamal Mohammedin (24), sustained shrapnel injuries to the face and neck;
2. Wesam Isma’il Mohammedin (3), sustained shrapnel injuries to the legs; and
3. His sister Ranin (4);
4. His brother Abdul Fattah (5); and
5. Isma’il Mohammedin, the house’s owner, all sustained bruises throughout their bodies.

They were taken to Beit Hanoun Hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment and then transferred to Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. They were taken later to al-Auda Hospital in Jabalia refugee camp. Their wounds ranged between minor to moderate.
The Palestinian police arrived and initiated an investigation into the incident. They also collected the rocket’s shrapnel from the scene. PCHR learnt from the police sources that a home-made rocket landed accidently on a house belonging to the family of Isma’il Abdul Fattah Mohammedin.

In light of the above, PCHR:

1. Calls upon the government in Gaza to seriously investigate the circumstances of the incident and take the necessary measures to protect the Palestinian civilians and their property; and
2. Stresses the importance of taking the necessary measures to protect the lives of civilians and spare them any harm in accordance with the international humanitarian law standards.