Ref: 77/2007

Date: 31 July 2007

Time: 12:00 GMT

Palestinian General Intelligence Officer Kidnapped, Tortured, and Killed in Rafah

The body of Ismail El-Mashoukhi, a Palestinian intelligence officer, was found in the Mawasi area to the west of Rafah on Monday, 30 July 2007. The body bore signs of torture. El-Mashoukhi was kidnapped on Sunday, 29 July 2007.

PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at in the evening of Monday, 30 July 2007, the Executive Force found the body of Ismail Salama El-Mashoukhi (43) in the Mawasi area to the west of Rafah. El-Mashoukhi worked as an officer in the Palestinian General Intelligence. There were signs of severe torture on the body, which was taken to Mohammad Yusef El-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. The body was transferred to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The victim’s family indicated that Ismail went missing in the evening of Sunday, 29 July 2007. Sources in the Executive Force informed PCHR’s fieldworker that 3 suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder. One of the suspects is the victim’s friend and works in the Preventive Security Apparatus. The suspect confessed to interrogating the victim with the other suspects on undisclosed issues. The interrogation took place in the first suspect’s house in Juneina Quarter in Rafah.

Sources in Shifa Hospital indicated that El-Mashoukhi died due to severe torture and beating all over the body. No shots were fired at the body.

PCHR strongly condemns the murder of Ismail El-Mashoukhi, and calls for taking sufficient legal steps to prosecute the perpetrators. The Centre renews the call to the Attorney-General and the civilian police force to return to work in the Gaza Strip in order to protect the security and interests in the civilian population.