Field Update

21 September 2023

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns in the strongest terms yesterday and this morning’s assaults on public figures and property in Hebron, including a shooting by unknown persons on the Hebron Deputy Mayor’s car. PCHR calls on the Public Prosecution to investigate these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at around 23:00 on Wednesday, 20 September 2023, a masked gunman riding a motorbike opened fire at a car belonging to the Hebron Deputy Mayor, Asmaa Hatem Nasser Al-Shurbati, when it was parked in front of her house on al-Muqata’a Road in the city. As a result, al-Shurbati’s car sustained damage after receiving 12 shots.

At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, unknown gunmen opened fire at an electricity services office and Hebron Municipality’s parking lot for garbage trucks in al-Harayiq area at Hebron’s southern entrance, inflicting damage.

About an hour later, unknown persons opened fire at a clinic belonging to Dr. Amjad al-Hamouri, the Hebron Deputy Mayor’s husband, in ‘Ein Sara area in central Hebron, causing damage to it. Surveillance cameras in the clinic showed two people raiding the clinic, attacking Dr. Amjad, and accusing him and his wife of causing chaos. Afterwards, Palestinian police arrived at the scene and opened an investigation into the incident.

PCHR is deeply alarmed by the shooting at public figures and property, regardless of the motives and causes, expressing concern over the escalation of security chaos in the West Bank and the shooting by masked gunmen in recurrent incidents.

PCHR calls on the public prosecution to open a serious investigation into these incidents and all crimes pertaining to assault on the rule of law. PCHR also urges the Palestinian government to take effective measures to stop the state of security chaos that jeopardizes the right to life, the rule of law, and civil peace.