Lawlessness and Proliferation of Weapons

Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups and Security Forces

Field Update

8 March 2007

Two Children Wounded by Gunfire in a Wedding Party in Gaza

On Wednesday evening, 7 March 2007, two children from the Khalaf family in al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City were wounded, when a number of gunmen fired into the air celebrating a wedding.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 19:30 on Wednesday, two children, who were wounded by gunshots, were brought into Shifa Hospital in Gaza City:

1)      Nour Mohammed Khalaf, 7, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head; and

2)      Alaa’ Hafez Khalaf, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the left shoulder.

The two children were in the balcony of their house, when they wounded by gunshots as a number of gunmen opened fire into the air celebrating the wedding of a relative.

PCHR is gravely concerned over increasing casualties resulting from the misuse of weapons.  PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate these incidents and bring those who are found responsible to justice.