Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms

Clashes between Armed Groups and Security Forces

Field Update

10 May 2006

Renewal of Armed Clashes between Fatah and Hamas in Khan Yunis

Yesterday afternoon, armed clashes between Fatah and Hamas activists re-ignited in the town of New Abasan, east of Khan Yunis.  Two people, one of them a child, were injured during the funeral procession of two victims who had been killed during clashes on the previous day.

PCHR’s initial investigation indicates that at approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 9 May 2006, armed clashes erupted between members of Fatah and Hamas in New Abasan.  Two civilians were injured, including a 15-year-old boy.  The injured are:

–         Zeyad Hasan Qablan, 18, injured by a bullet to the left leg; and

–         Arkan Bahader El-Daghma, 15, injured by a bullet to the abdomen.

The fighting occurred during the funeral procession of the two Fatah victims, who had been killed during clashes in New Abasan on the previous day.

It is noted that on Monday, 8 May 2006, armed confrontations between Fatah and Hamas members resulted in three deaths and eleven injuries.

PCHR strongly condemns this violence, and:

1.         calls on both sides to demonstrate calm and self-restraint.  Both sides should engage in dialogue in order to resolve the crisis and ensure that it is not repeated in the future;

2.         calls upon all national and Islamic parties to intervene in order to ensure that the crisis does not escalate;

3.         calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate these attacks and to bring the perpetrators to justice; and

4.         points to the escalating internal violence and misuse of weapons by armed groups and individuals, which is causing further deterioration in the current state of security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.