Ref: 04/2006
Date: 05 January 2006
Time: 13:00 GMT
Security Chaos Deteriorates Daily: Two Egyptian Soldiers Killed by Palestinian Gunmen on the Egyptian Border, and a Palestinian is Killed by Gunmen in Gaza
Palestinian gunmen from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades destroyed parts of the border wall between Rafah and Egypt. They killed two Egyptian soldiers and injured 25 others. And 21 Palestinians were injured in the crowds attempting to cross the border. Egyptian security forces dispersed them and arrested 150.
A Hamas activist was killed by Palestinian gunmen in Gaza.
It is clear that there are serious efforts being made to escalate security tension internally in the OPT, and unsettle conditions, in order to undermine the electoral process, or to hold the elections in conditions that are not suitable for free and fair elections.
PCHR’s preliminary investigations indicate that on Wednesday, 4 January 2006, members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades commandeered a bulldozer belonging to the Rafah Municipality, and destroyed parts of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Egypt. This was perpetrated under heavy fire by Egyptian border guards. A large number of Palestinian civilians gathered to cross the border; and Egyptian security forces attempted to disperse them with sound charges. Palestinians retaliated by throwing stones at the Egyptians. Palestinian security forces reinforced their presence in the area. They attempted to stop the cross-border infiltration, and to close the gaps in the fence. Palestinian security exchanged fire with members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
According to Egyptian sources, the confrontations resulted in the death of 2 Egyptian soldiers and the injury of 25 others, 3 of whom are in a critical condition. 21 Palestinians were injured by stones and by stampeding in the area. The Egyptian authorities announced the arrest of 150 Palestinian infiltrators.
These incidents are a continuation of the state of anarchy that has overtaken Rafah since yesterday morning. Other incidents included members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades storming 4 governmental buildings, including the office of the Central Elections Committee; attempting to stop the work in Rafah International Crossing point; and attempting to kidnap the parents of Rachel Corrie, the international activist killed by IOF in Rafah in March 2003.
In Gaza City, Rami Talal El-Dalou (27-year old Hamas activist) was killed in the Naser neighborhood by Palestinian activists, while he was in front of his home. The killing came in the context of confrontations between Hamas and Fatah activists, caused by each side preventing the other from posting campaigning posters in different parts of the neighborhood, for candidates in the upcoming legislative elections. The problem escalated and tension between the two sides rose. As a result, community leaders and Mukhtars in the area intervened to resolve the confrontation between two families, each being the family of an activist involved in the dispute. When the Mukhtars and community leaders went to the house of the El-Dalou family, gunmen riding a car fired at members of the El-Dalou family and the visiting community leaders. Rami was hit with a bullet to the head and died. After the incident, angry Hamas activists burned tires and closed a number of streets.
PCHR strongly condemns the death of the two Egyptian soldiers and the Hamas activist. The Centre is gravely concerned that some elements have a premeditated intent to escalate internal violence in order to cancel the upcoming elections or hold them in conditions that do not guarantee the freedom and fairness of the elections. Further:
1. PCHR calls upon the PNA to fulfill its obligations to ensure public order and the security of citizens and to enforce the rule of law.
2. PCHR calls upon the Attorney General to investigate these incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.
3. PCHR calls upon national parties to confront the state of security chaos and make efforts to enforce the rule of law.
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