Ref: 20/2008

PCHR strongly condemns the assault by unknown gunmen on Mr. Ahmed Khader Abu Tawaheena, Director of Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, in Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, 2 March 2008. PCHR calls upon concerned authorities to investigate this assault, which is part of the state of state of lawlessness plaguing the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 18:45 on Sunday, 2 March 2008, a number of gunmen traveling in 2 vehicles intercepted Mr. Ahmed Khader Abu Tawaheena, 47, when he was traveling in his car in the center of Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip. At least 10 masked gunmen got out of the two vehicles. They besieged Abu Tawaheena’s car and forced him out of it. Immediately, a gunman violently beat him and fired 2 gunshots near his head to terrify him. The gunman then fired a third gunshot which hit a tire of Abu Tawaheena’s car. The gunmen then left the area. According to Abu Tawaheena, the attack was related to his work at Gaza Community Mental Health Programme.

PCHR strongly condemns this attack against Mr. Ahmed Abu Tawaheena, which is part of the state of lawlessness prevailing ion the OPT, and calls upon concerned authorities to investigate it and bring the perpetrators to justice.