Ref: 99/2009
Date: 15 August 2009
Time: 12:30 GMT
PCHR Condemns Bloody Clashes in Rafah;
28 Persons Killed and at Least 100 Others Wounded
On Friday afternoon, bloody confrontations erupted between the police and the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) on one side and members of an armed group known as “Soldiers of Allah’s Supporters” on the other side. The clashes continued until Saturday morning, taking lives of at least 28 persons and wounding more than 100 others, some of whom sustained serious wounds. The dead include 3 civilians, 3 police officers, 3 members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and 8 members of the armed group, including its leader, Sheikh ‘Abdul Latif Mousa.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 13:00 on Friday, 14 August 2009, during the Friday Sermon, Sheikh ‘Abdul Latif Mousa, the Imam of Ibn Taimiyah Mosque in al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah, declared the birth of an Islamic emirate and called for allegiance for him and his group, which he called “Soldiers of Allah’s Supporters.” Sheikh Mousa also criticized the Government in Gaza and threatened it with fighting if it attempts to storm and control the mosque.
The sermon was preceded by intensive deployment of members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and police officers in the vicinity of the mosque. At the end of the prayer, the worshippers left the mosque quietly. However, dozens of members of the armed group stayed in the mosque until the afternoon prayer (approximately 16:30). Shortly after 17:00, the besieging forces ordered all those who were inside the mosque to surrender. Families of a number of those who were inside the mosque intervened and demanded their relatives to get out of the mosque. Some of them accepted the demand and got out of the mosque. Soon after, gunmen opened fire from inside the mosque at members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and police officers. Consequently, a bloody confrontation erupted between the two sides, which continued until 06:00 on Saturday. At least 28 persons have been killed, including 5 ones who have not been identified so far. The dead include 3 civilians, 3 police officers, 3 members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and 8 members of the armed group, including its leader, Sheikh ‘Abdul Latif Mousa. At least 100 others have been wounded.
Members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and police officers controlled the mosque and its vicinity. Rescue operation are still ongoing under rubbles of two houses adjacent to the mosque, which belong to Sheikh Mousa and the Lafi family, where Shiekh Mousa’s body was found.
The police arrested at least 100 persons who are suspected to be members of the armed group, including some of the wounded persons. The police closed the area and the vicinity of the main hospital in the town and denied access of journalists.
At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, the web site of the Ministry of Interior in Gaza quoted Eihab al-Ghussain, Spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, as saying: “Palestinian security services have concluded a security operation in Rafah against an expiatory group headed by ‘Abdul Latif Mousa, who threatened the legitimate government in Gaza, declared secession and described Hamas as a secular movement that must be fought and killed.” Al-Ghussain accused members of the group of “having deviant ideologies, of expiating the population of Gaza and of carrying out several attacks against wedding parties and cafés.”
PCHR reiterates its condemnation for these bloody clashes, and:
1) Censures the declaration of the establishment of an Islamic emirate by an outlawed armed group, and stresses the oneness of authority and that the claim of this armed group constitutes a form of security chaos and an assault against the rule of law;
2) Strongly condemns resorting to violence, including using weapons, by whatever group to impose its thoughts and values coercively on the society;
3) Calls upon the Government in Gaza to investigates these bloody clashes and the circumstances of using weapons, which led to such high number of deaths and casualties;
4) Stresses that there must be clear and strict instructions regulating the use of force by law enforcement officials, even when facing serious situations and against outlawed militants, as it was the case in Rafah, to ensure maximum protection for civilians, especially in densely-populated areas.
5) Reiterates its astonishment by the involvement of members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades in these incidents, emphasizing that the brigades cannot be a law enforcement body, and its very involvement in the incidents is an encroachment into the powers of law enforcement bodies; and
6) Declares its full support for governmental efforts to collect illegal weapons and to combat aspects of security chaos and assaults against the rule of law, but in the framework of legal limits and respect for human rights and basic freedom, which are constitutionally ensured.