Ref: 35/2007
Date: 10 June 2007
Time: 11:30 GMT
PCHR Condemns Internal Fighting in Rafah
PCHR strongly condemns bloody internal fighting between Fatah and Hamas movements in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. PCHR calls upon the two movements to resort to dialogue and calm down the situation. PCHR further calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to investigate these latest clashes and bring those who have been involved in them, whatever their affiliations are, to justice. In the past 3 days, 3 Palestinians have been killed and at least 55 others, including a number of civilians, have been wounded in bloody clashes in various areas in Rafah town. A number of houses have also been burnt and mutual kidnappings between Fatah and Hamas movements have been reported.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 9 June 2007, armed clashes were resumed between members of Fatah movement and those of Hamas in Tal al-Sultan and al-Junaina neighborhoods and al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah. Militants from the two movements used machined guns, explosive devices and bombs in densely populated areas, threatening the lives of civilians. The armed clashes continued until Sunday dawn. They ended after the Egyptian security delegation present in the Gaza Strip and the national and Islamic factions had intervened to stop them. During these armed clashes, 2 Palestinians (a member of Hamas and a still-unidentified person) were killed and 44 others, including 3 children, were wounded. A number of houses were burnt and 10 members of the two movements were mutually kidnapped.
These bloody clashes followed similar clashes that took place between the two movements on Thursday, 7 June 2007, in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah and extended to other areas in the town. During those clashes, Wa’el Mahmoud Wahba, 26, was killed and 7 members of the two movements and 8 civilian bystanders were wounded. According to medical sources, ambulances faced difficulties and obstructions imposed by militants from the two movements in attending the wounded, and they were even searched.
PCHR reiterates its strong condemnation of these bloody clashes, and:
1) Calls upon the Palestinian President and Government to fulfill their responsibilities, and to take immediate steps to restore order and security, and to protect civilians from the effects of these disgraceful clashes.
2) Calls for a serious investigation into all these incidents, and for the prosecution of the perpetrators regardless of their identity.
3) Calls for the withdrawal of all forms of militancy from streets, intersections, and residential buildings, including members of security forces and militias, as continued militant presence threatens the lives of innocent civilians.
4) Calls upon all fighting parties to neutralize medical crews from any conflicts and allow ambulances to carry out their duties easily and feely
