Ref: 134/2007

Date: 04 October  2007

Time: 11:30 GMT

PCHR Concerned by Human Rights Violations in Gaza

PCHR has documented additional attacks on civilians in the Gaza Strip over the past 3 days. Some of these attacks were security chaos attacks; others attacks by unknown persons or armed groups; and others related to the conduct of police. The Centre condemns these attacks and renews the calls to the dismissed government in Gaza to take serious steps to stop them and to prosecute the perpetrators.

The Center’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 00:30 on Thursday, 4 October 2007, an explosive device planted in Asqoula Square in eastern Gaza City detonated and injured 3 policemen deployed in the area. One of the policemen was seriously injured. The injured policemen are:

–      Yusef Ismail Haniya (19), seriously injured by shrapnel throughout the body and suffered an dismembered right hand.

–      Ra’fat Nabil Shameya (27), injured by shrapnel in the hands and a broken right leg.

–      Shadi Seyam (20), injured by shrapnel in the hands.

At approximately 16:15 on Wednesday, 3 October 2007, the Police surrounded the Fatah’s Leadership Office in the Southern Governorates, located near the Fishermen’s Warf in Rashid Street in western Gaza City. One of the employees informed PCHR’s fieldworker that policemen, some of them masked, deployed inside the 5-story building and asked employees to leave. The employees left calmly; and the police still control the building.

At approximately 23:00 on Wednesday, Adel Abed M’doukh (35) from Naser Quarter in Gaza City and the Fatah leader in the quarter was found behind El-Durra Hospital in Daraj Quarter in Gaza City. He was injured by a bullet in the right leg. In addition, there were signs of beating and torture on his body. He was taken to Shifa Hospital where his condition was listed as serious. The victim’s father, Abed Kamel M’doukh (57) stated that maked gunmen traveling in a car abducted his son at 20:30 on the same day near his house.

At approximately 15:45 on Tuesday, 2 October 2007, a funeral procession of several hundred people were taking the bodies of 2 Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions members killed by Israeli Occupation Forces for burial. They passed near the welcome tent for a freed Fatah prisoner, Abd El-Hadi Hasan Hasanein, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Apparently, the people in the funeral procession were upset by Fatah songs in the welcome tent. Several people from the

procession attacked the welcome tent and destroyed the sound system and chairs. El-Qassam Battalions gunmen were among the attackers and fired in the air. A woman stated that she was hit on her head with a chair by one of the attackers. She was taken to hospital for treatment. In addition, the attackers also raided her house located near the welcome tent.

Several youth responded by throwing rocks. A police force accompanying the funeral procession raided the area and participated in the attack. The Police detained 4 persons and released them several hours later. One of the detainees stated that he was beaten during detention and interrogation in a security compound in El-Twan area in northern Gaza City and in the Jabalia police station.

Furthermore, Ahmad El-Haw (22) was injured by a bullet in the right foot by gunfire.

On Monday, 1 October 2007, Saber Hasan Khalil Mustafa (44) from Jabalia refugee camp was beaten and tortured in the Jabalia police station. He informed PCHR’s fieldworker that he was detained over an argument with the traffic police on that day, and that he was severely beaten by sticks on his bound arms, legs, and feet. He stated that he fainted and woke up in Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia.

On the same day, Mahmoud Mohammad El-Breim (57) went to answer a summoning order to a compound of Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions in Bani Suheila east of Khan Yunis. He stated tahthe was severely beaten by a plastic hose on his back, shoulders, hands, and legs during interrogation over communication with several relatives who are members of Fatah.

In light of these attacks, PCHR:

1. Calls upon the dismissed government to investigate the attacks and prosecute the perpetrators.
2. Is concerned over the continuation of security chaos incidents, including attacks by explosive devices and attacks by unknown gunmen; and calls for respecting the law and human rights in taking any countermeasures against them.
3. Calls for the withdrawal of the police from the Fatah Office in Gaza City and to ensure resumption of work in the office without interference.
4. Condemns the continued role of El-Qassam Battalions in carrying out illegal arrests. The Centre calls for an immediate stoppage to these acts and for closing all Battalions’ detention centers. The Centre affirms that the Battalions are not a law-enforcement agency; and is not authorized to deal in civilian matters.
5. Reminds that torture is outlawed by Palestinian Law, and does not fall by seniority; and that torture is a serious violation of human rights and international human rights standards, including the UN Convention against Torture.
6. Affirms that arrests are regulated by Palestinian Law and are the authority of law-enforcement parties, represented by the civilian police under orders and supervision of the Attorney-General.