Ref: 119/2022

Date: 21 September 2022

Time: 09:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) alarmingly follows up the serious events in Nablus over the past two days following the Palestinian security services’ arrest of Mos’ab Ishtaya and ‘Amid Tbeilah and the successive acts of violence, primarily clashes between Palestinians and security services that included stone-throwing and shooting.  These clashes developed into exchange of fire between armed Palestinians and security officers as well as attacks and sabotage of public property.  As a result, a Palestinian was shot dead and 5 others were injured, including 2 in serious condition.  PCHR calls upon all parties to exercise restraint, adopt the language of dialogue, refer to law and maintain civil peace in society, warning of a slide into security chaos.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at around 22:45 on Monday, 19 September 2022, a civilian car traveled by Palestinian Preventive Security officers stopped another civilian car travelled by Mos’ab ‘Akef Ishtayah and ‘Amid Tbeilah, arrested them, and took them to an unknown destination.  Over the spread of the arrest news, young men burnt tires at al-Shuhadaa’ intersection in central Nablus and closed a number of surrounding streets.  Later, tens of young men, including gunmen, gathered, and chanted against the arrest of Ishtayah and Tbeilah, while exchange of fire occurred between the gunmen and security services; as a result, at around 23:25, 6 Palestinians sustained bullet and shrapnel wounds.  2 of them sustained serious injuries, including Feras Faris Fayez Ya;ish (55) who was wounded in the head when he was in front of his house, southwest of al-Shuhadaa’ Intersecition in the city center, and taken to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus, where he was pronounced dead yesterday morning.

Violence, tension and exchange of fire continued yesterday; as a result, Nablus streets were closed with dumpsters and burnt tires and governmental schools and universities as well as some organizations were shut down.  Also, the city witnessed attacks on public property by the protesters.

In light of these serious developments in Nablus, PCHR warns of expanding the cycle of violence and:

• Calls upon the Public Prosecution to investigate all these events, including the killing and injury of 6 Palestinians and attacks on public property, to announce the investigation results as soon as possible and take the necessary legal proceedings
• Calls upon all parties to adopt the language of dialogue, combat these regrettable events, implement the rule of law and not to slide into security chaos
• Demands all parties to keep residential communities away from proliferation of weapons and spare civilians and their property the risks of armed clashes.