Ref: 71/2007

Date: 26 July 2007

Time: 12:15 GMT

PCHR Condemns the Bloody Clashes between El-Shabeba and Islamic Student Blocs inside El-Najah University in Nablus

PCHR condemns the clashes inside El-Najah University in Nablus on Tuesday, 24 July 2007, that included exchange of fire between members of El-Shabeba Fatah student bloc and the Islamic Bloc. The clashes resulted in the injury of 16 students, including 3 by bullets. One of the injured was pronounced clinically dead. The Centre condemns the attacks, arrests, and illegal detentions against Hamas activists in the West Bank, and warns against transporting the Fatah-Hamas clashes to the West Bank.

The Center’s preliminary investigation and eyewitness accounts indicate that at approximately 11:30 on Tuesday, 24 July 2007, a number of Islamic Bloc activists gathered on campus in solidarity with their colleagues detained by Israeli Occupation Forces earlier that day. As the activists were distributing a leaflet condemning the arrests, the University Security and Fatah activists tried to disburse the gathered students. Both sides clashed. Eyewitnesses stated that 3 members of the University Police fired from their weapons (2 pistols and 1 automatic rifle). In addition, gunmen in civilian clothes and others from security forces were seen inside the University. The clashes resulted in the injury of 3 students by bullets, including one who was pronounced clinically dead. Another 13 students sustained bruises.

At approximately 17:30, the University management held a press conference blaming the Islamic Bloc for the clashes by breaking a ban on all student activity after the clashes in the Gaza Strip. The University announced that it will remain closed till further notice.

The people injured by bullets are:

–         Mohammad Abd El-Rahman Dawud Radad (20), Islamic Bloc activist injured by a bullet to the head and is clinically dead.

–         Mohammad Samir Hussein Ismail (21), Islamic Bloc activist injured by a bullet in the left foot.

–         Hani Shaker Mesha (28), El-Shabeba activist, injured by a bullet in the right foot.

After the clash at the University, Palestinian security forces detained a number of Islamic Bloc activists, and took them to the Governorate building near the University. To protest these arrests, female students accompanied by PLC member Mona Mansour from the pro-Hamas Change and Reform Party held a sit-in at the University, and demanded the release of the detained students.

In the evening, fire was set to the Student Affairs building, previously the college of arts. A number of offices were burned.

The female students ended their sit-in and left campus after an agreement was reached between with the Governor to evaluate the cases of the students and release all those not involved in the clashes.

The University remains closed till now.

It is noted that similar clashes took place between activists from the same student blocs in Birzeit University on 11 July 2007. Birzeit closed and study was suspended till 16 July 2007.

In light of the bloody clashes at El-Najah University, PCHR:

–         Calls for investigating the clashes, especially the firing of weapons, and the circumstances surrounding the fire set to one of the buildings.

–         Condemns taking the clashes between Fatah and Hamas to educational institutions; and calls for preserving the security of universities to allow a suitable atmosphere for academic work and education.

–         Points with concern to the campaign of arrests by Palestinian security forces against Hamas activists, which led to the detention of dozens, mostly Islamic Bloc activists. The Centre calls for protecting the rights of these prisoners in accordance with the law.