HTML clipboard
| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
|
Ref: 118/2004
Date: 03 August 2004
Time: 12:30 GMT
PCHR Condemns attack and killing of prisoners from Gaza Central Prison
PCHR strongly condemns the attack committed by a number of armed Palestinians against a number of high-security prisoners in Gaza Central Prison. The prisoners were being held for collaborating with Israeli occupying forces. PCHR is also dismayed by subsequent developments, when a number of gunmen shot dead 2 prisoners inside Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where the two prisoners were receiving medical treatment as a result of the attack. These attacks reflect a state of lawlessness, the misuse and proliferation of small arms and the failure of the Palestinian National Authority and law enforcement officials to provide necessary protection for prisoners.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, at approximately 05:00 on Monday, 2 August 2004, an explosion occurred in a room in Gaza Central Prison (Saraya) in the center of Gaza City. An unknown person threw 2 hand grenades inside the room, where 7 security prisoners held for collaborating with Israeli occupying forces, were detained. Five of these prisoners were sentenced to death by the Palestinian State Security Court in 2002. The seven prisoners were all injured. They were evacuated to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
At approximately 11:00 on the same day, a group of masked armed persons broke into Shifa Hospital and fired at one of the injured, Mahmoud Mohammed al-Sharif, who was receiving medical treatment after having been injured by shrapnel in the limbs. Al-Sharif was instantly killed by several live bullets throughout the body. According to information available to PCHR, no one stopped the group, whose members left the hospital after killing the prisoner.
Later, medical sources at the hospital declared that Mousa ‘Ouda, one of the prisoners who were injured in the attack against Gaza Central Prison, died from his injury.
At approximately 18:10, a number of members of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas movement, broke into the intensive care unit at Shifa Hospital and fired at Waleed Hamdiya, who was critically injured in the attack against Gaza Central Prison and was later pronounced clinically dead. Hamdiya was instantly killed. In the evening, ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade issued a statement, in which it claimed responsibility for the attack against Gaza Central Prison and the killing of Hamdiya.
PCHR strongly condemns these extra-judicial executions, and reiterates its position towards the issue of killing collaborators:
1. Collaborators are an integral part of the occupation and one of the most dangerous tools planted in the body of the Palestinian people. They commit or contribute to crimes perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces against the Palestinian people.
2. Searching for, and prosecuting collaborators is a basic duty of the Palestinian National Authority in the context of the rule of law, and according to international human rights standards. In this context, the human rights movement criticized the interim agreements, in which the Palestine Liberation Organization provided guarantees not to search for, or prosecute collaborators, and thus conceding a legitimate right of the Palestinian people to search for, and prosecute collaborators.
3. PCHR absolutely rejects the legitimacy of vigilante justice, including extra-judicial executions of this form. Such acts weaken the rule of law and assist in the creation of a state of anarchy.
The Palestinian National Authority is fully responsible for the safety of prisoners under its care. The PNA is required to provide protection for them, especially those whose lives are directly threatened as a result of the offence they have committed. This should include those being held, accused, or convicted of collaborating with Israeli occupying forces.
Despite this duty of care, PCHR has observed an ongoing failure by the Palestinian National Authority and law enforcement officials to provide such protection.
On 28 December 2003, an armed person was able to enter Gaza Central Prison in Gaza City in a police uniform, and shot dead ‘Awni Abu Es’ayed, who was detained in the prison, in an act of revenge.
On 6 July 2003, a number of unknown persons broke into Ramallah District Court and killed Kayed Abu Shilbaya, who was being tried for a criminal offence.
On 5 February 2002, a number of armed persons broke into the National State Security Court in Jenin and killed 3 prisoners convicted of collaboration with Israel. On 14 July 2002, a number of armed persons broke into the State Security Court in Khan Yunis and killed a man who was being tried for collaboration with Israel.
PCHR urges the PNA to take account of these previous incidents in the coordination of all its security planning. PCHR reiterates its call for the Palestinian National Authority to assume its responsibilities and take necessary measures to prevent the repetition of such attacks in the future.
Public Document
**************************************
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
