PRESS RELEASE

Three Palestinians Killed in Regrettable Events in Gaza

 

Ref.,: 11/99

Date: 2^nd February 1999

Yesterday, February 1, 1999, regrettable events in the Gaza Strip resulted in the death of three citizens, including two children and an officer of the Palestinian Security Forces. The victims died during Palestinian security activities undertaken in order to arrest a number of wanted people from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It is believed that the wanted people were themselves members of a branch of the Palestinian Security Forces.

The events started at about 11 a.m. in Rafah when a Palestinian security vehicle was pursuing a car believed to be carrying at least one suspect. An eyewitness testified to PCHR that he saw a car driving at a very high speed. Immediately thereafter he saw a child lying on the ground. He carried the injured girl to the nearest clinic in a Palestinian security vehicle. The seven-year-old girl, Do’a Jerwana, who had been on her way to school, died as a result of her injuries.

Around 1:15 p.m. an armed clash took place in Rafah between a force of the Preventive Security Forces and a group of four persons who were believed to be working with a branch of Palestinian Security Forces and were wanted by the Israeli authorities because of their affiliation with Hamas. Rifat Juda, a 35-year-old officer with the Preventive Security Forces, was killed in the clash. The suspects escaped.

Around 4:00 p.m. a heavy presence of Palestinian Security Forces was witnessed along the beach road in Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. They surrounded one of the houses in which they believed suspects had taken refuge. Eyewitnesses testified that the police shot in the air to disperse people who gathered in the area. Three wanted people were arrested. Police forces withdrew to the police station in Gaza City around 5:00 p.m. PCHR fieldworkers reported that hundreds of people gathered and walked to the police station. Many of them threw stones at the police officers. The police responded by shooting and two civilians were injured. Jihad Bakr was injured in the arm and Tawfiq Bakr was injured in the shoulder by live ammunition fired by the police. The unrest lasted until approximately 7:00 p.m.

Around 5:00 p.m. a Palestinian security vehicle driving at a very high speed hit Mamdouh El-Yaziji, 11 years old from Gaza, near the police station. The child died at approximately 3:00 a.m. on February 2.

PCHR fieldworkers reported this morning that Palestinian security arrested many citizens from Rafah, Khan Younis, and Shati refugee camp.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has closely monitored these regrettable incidents and expresses its deep concern about the use of weapons. PCHR believes the day’s events represent a dramatic deterioration inside of Palestinian areas. PCHR calls upon all parties to condemn such behavior and believes that the events constitute a grave threat to the safety and lives of innocent civilians. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian Authority to establish an Investigation Committee and to publish results and conclusions of the investigation. Finally, those responsible should be held accountable for their deeds.

“END”