Ref: 01/2021

Date: 03 January 2020

Time: 13:30 GMT

On Saturday 02 January 2020, a dispute broke out in Kafr ‘Aqab, north of occupied East Jerusalem, between members of al-Rajabi Family; during which firearms were used.  As a result, 3 persons were killed while 5 others were injured.

PCHR expresses its concern over the incident and emphasizes that a serious investigation should be opened, and its results published publicly and that due legal processes should be followed.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 14:30 on Saturday, 02 January 2020, a dispute renewed in al-Matar neighborhood in Kafr ‘Aqab village, and firearms were intensively used between members of al-Rajabi Family; the dispute original started on Friday where one person sustained a gunshot wound in the foot. On Saturday, one of the dispute-parties and his son attacked their relatives amidst a heavy exchange of fire.  As a result, 2 brothers, Dr. ‘Issam (44) and Haitham (42) Mousa al-Rajabi, and their nephew, ‘Adnan Walid al-Rajabi (24), were killed. The victims were not involved in the dispute and were there by mere chance.  Moreover, 4 other persons were injured: Zaid al-Rajabi and his son Mohammed; Anwar al-Rajabi and Ihab al-Rajabi.  All of the injured were taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah and Hadassah- al-Issawiya Medical Center in occupied East Jerusalem.

Afterwards, riots erupted, and several stores were burned down and destroyed. Hours later, Palestinian Special Security Forces arrived at the area and controlled the riots after coordinating with the Israeli authorities.

It should be noted that Kafr ‘Aqab village is located outside the boundaries of the Annexation Wall but it is under Israeli control.  However, the Israeli Municipality and Police have no presence in the area; meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority is not allowed to enter or maintain/restore order there except with the approval of the Israeli authorities.

Loay Izreiqat, Spokesperson of the Palestinian Police, stated that the Police and Public Prosecution opened an investigation into the incident.  In a later statement, Izreiqat said that the Palestinian Police arrested 2 suspects on Saturday evening on grounds of murder and they will be referred to the competent authorities for the proper legal proceedings.

PCHR notes with concern the growing phenomenon of weapon proliferation and condemns the use of firearms in family and personal disputes that jeopardize the right to life, the rule of law, and the Palestinian civil peace. Thereby, PCHR calls upon the Palestinian Cabinet to take serious and immediate steps to curb the state of weapon proliferation in the West Bank and impose the rule of law to protect civil peace especially with the recent increase of murder cases.