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PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
PRESS RELEASE
Ref: 16/2004
Date: 06 February 2004
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemns the deadly events that occurred in Gaza yesterday between members of one of the Palestinian security apparatuses and the Palestinian police, resulting in the death of one policeman and the wounding of thirteen others.
According to PCHR’s investigations, around 1:30 yesterday afternoon, on Thursday, February 5, heavy gunfire was heard inside and around the general headquarters of Palestinian police in Gaza City. Soon after, ambulances evacuated fourteen wounded to Shifa hospital, some of them described as being in serious condition. All of the wounded were members of the Palestinian police. Later on, Palestinian medical sources at Shifa hospital announced the death of one of the wounded police, Khaled Shihato, 22, from Gaza City, who was shot in the chest.
Until the issuing of this press release, no reliable information was officially disclosed on the reasons or circumstances of the events, however, contradictory information was published by Palestinian security sources. Palestinian police issued a press release in which it claimed that “a group of outlaws attempted to assassinate the Palestinian chief commander and founder in his office in police headquarters in Gaza, directed by orders from those who do not want security and peace for the country.” In contrast, in another press release signed by an “official security source,” it was clarified that “the allegation that the event that occurred was an attempt to assassinate Mr. Ghazi Jabaly was untrue.” According to that second press release, four persons from one of the security apparatuses, while holding a meeting with Jabaly, were in the midst of a heated discussion that turned violent and resulted in the beating of Jabaly. The press release mentioned that soon after the violent beating, the four persons involved left his office and members of Palestinian police opened fire in all directions, which resulted in the number of wounded persons. The press release added that this event was contained through a joint investigative force, and that the Preventive Security Forces detained the four persons who carried out the attack.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemns these events in the strongest possible terms, and demands the following, that:
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A serious, fair, and transparent investigation is carried out on these events within a certain and well-known timetable.
The conclusions and results of the investigation are announced and published since the public has the right to be informed about events that threaten its safety and security.
Proper legal measures are carried out against those who are in fault in these events in order to assert and uphold the rule of law, since everyone is accountable to the rule of law.
An attempt is made to end to the current security chaos in the Palestinian territories by having all security apparatuses and their members controlled within a central administration that is completely subjected to the rule of the political leadership.
Urgent actions from the Palestinian legislative Council are made to exert pressure and put an end to the misuse of weaponry.
Public Document
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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
