Field Update

On Friday, 16 September 2011, two Palestinians
were killed and another three ones were wounded in a familial dispute in Gaza
City. The wounds of one of the wounded
were described to be serious. All the
victims are members of the Fora family. In a separate incident that took place
last Thursday, Siham al-Ghmari/al-Ar’eir was killed by two bullets unleashed from
her husband’s firearm. These two incidents are part of the state of misuse of
weapons and attacks on the rule of law plaguing the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPT).

According to investigations conducted by the
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 22:45 on Friday,
16 September 2011, a dispute erupted among members of the Foraa family and
members of the Dalloul family near al-Imam al-Shafi Mosque in al-Zaytoon
neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Firearms were used in the dispute resulting in the deaths of Rami Fadel
Fora, 30, who was hit by several bullets throughout the body, and Abdullah Awad
Fora, 18, who was hit by a bullet to the neck. Additionally, three members of the Fora family were wounded. The wound
of one of them were described to be serious. The wounded are:

1. Kamel
Fadel Fora, 36, seriously wounded by a bullet to the pelvis;

2. Ahmed
Fadel Fora, 26, wounded by a bullet to the left thigh; and

3. Kamal
Fadel Fora, wounded by a bullet to the hand.

The Palestinian police arrived at the scene
immediately and opened an investigation into the incident. They arrested a number of the shooting
suspects.

In another incident, at approximately 10:30 on
Thursday, 15 September 2011, the body of Siham Faraj al-Ghmari/al-Arir, 27,
from al-Shujaiya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, was brought to Shifa
Hospital in Gaza City. Medical sources
stated to a PCHR fieldworker that al-Ghmari died as she was hit by two bullets
to the head and the left shoulder. The spokesman of the Palestinian police,
Major Ayman al-Batniji, stated to a PCHR fieldworker that that Palestinian
police opened an investigation into the incident and arrested al-Ghmari’s
husband. Initial information available
to the police indicates that victim did not handle the firearm.

PCHR is extremely concerned over casualties
resulting by the use of weapons in familial disputes, which is part of the
state of security chaos and attacks on the rule of law. PCHR calls upon the
office of the Public Prosecutor to open investigations into the reported
incidents and to bring perpetrators before justice.