Field Update  

On Saturday dawn, 29 June 2019, a police officer was killed after being hit with shrapnel of a live bullet when police intervened to disperse a family dispute, where firearms were used, in Sheikh Redwan neighborhood in Gaza City. This is part of the state of the proliferation of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 03:00 on Saturday, 29 June 2019, a dispute, where firearms were used, erupted between members of (Z.) family in Sheikh Redwan neighborhood. Officers from al-Shati Police Station rushed to the scene and intervened to disperse the dispute. As a result, a police officer namely Hassan Mohammed Mustafa al-Hasasnah (35), from al-Shati refugee camp, was hit with shrapnel of a live bullet and immediately died.

According to the statement of the Forensic Medicine Department at al-Shifa Hospital to PCHR’s fieldworker, al-Hasasnah was hit with shrapnel of a live bullet to the head, neck and chest, causing his immediate death.

On its website, Police said that they opened an investigation into the incident and is following the necessary legal action.  Police sources said to PCHR’s fieldwork that members of the abovementioned family were arrested and under investigation.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the increasing number of casualties due to the misuse of weapons. Thus, PCHR calls upon the competent authorities to prosecute the perpetrators and take the necessary action in order to guarantee civilians’ safety and non-recurrence of such incidents.