Field Update 

During the last two days, two civilians, including a child, were killed, and 2 others were wounded; one of whom is in serious condition, during family disputes in Jabalia and Nussairat in the Gaza Strip.  These two incidents are part of the state of proliferation of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

In Nussairat refugee camp, on Saturday afternoon, 11 November 2017, ‘Ammar Hussaein Abu Khater (34) was killed after being hit with several bullets throughout his body during a family dispute while his brother, Mohammed (36) was hit with a bullet to the shoulder.  The dispute erupted between Abu Khater family and another family yesterday on old financial disputes as the dispute renews from time to time.  The police opened an investigation into the incident to identify the circumstances.

Previously, a child was killed in Jabalia while his brother was wounded during a family dispute occurred on Thursday, 09 November 2017.  According to the Paelstinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR’s) investigations, Mohammed Ahmed ‘Ayesh Gerges Naser (17) was brought dead to the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia after being stabbed twice to the chest and neck with a knife during a dispute with members of another family in al-Falouja in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.  Moreover, during the dispute, Mohammed’s brother, ‘Abdullah (13), was stabbed as well to the chest, and his condition is very serious according to the hospital.   Following the death of Mohammed Nasser, members of his family closed the roads, set fire to tires, fired in the air, and attempted to attack the house of that person accused of killing their child.  However, the police heavily deployed in the area, prevented them from doing so and had the situation under control.

The police opened an investigation into the incident to identify the circumstances.  The police also arrested members of the accused person’s family and referred them to the Public Prosecution while the investigations are ongoing.

PCHR hereby condemns these crimes, which led to the death of two civilians, including a child, and injury of two others.  PCHR also calls upon the Attorney General to investigate seriously the crimes and their circumstances and to publish the results in public.  PCHR is also concerned over the increasing number of victims due to the use of firearms and so calls upon the competent authorities to take all necessary measures to end the proliferation of weapons and maintain civilians’ security and safety.