Field Update

On
Saturday, 04 April 2015, two civilians were injured due to the use of firearms
in a family dispute in Rafah.  This
incident is part of the security chaos and assault on the rule of law in the
occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According
to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR),
at approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 04 April 2015, a dispute erupted between
members of two families in al-Imam ‘Ali Street, northwest of Rafah, due to a quarrel
between children from the two families. The dispute escalated and three persons
used firearms (automatic machine guns), injuring two members of the Dahliz
family.  The injured persons were
identified as:

1. Fadel
Khader Dahliz (22) sustained bullet shrapnel wounds to the chest and his
condition is moderate as he was taken to Abu Yousif al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah
and then transferred to European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis; and

2. Ahmed
Mahmoud Dahliz (34) sustained bullet shrapnel wounded to the left leg and his
condition was moderate as well, and he was taken to Abu Yousif al-Najjar Hospital
in Rafah.

The Palestinian
police opened an investigation into the incident and are searching for persons
from the al-Qadi family accused of shooting, who fled the scene and did not
return to their homes. The police also arrested a number of family members. 

Palestinian
police sources stated that the gunmen did not shoot directly and this explains
finding bullet shrapnel in the bodies of both wounded persons and not full live
bullets.

PCHR
condemns this incident which is part of the security chaos and assault on the
rule of law in the oPt. PCHR calls upon the Attorney General’s office to
investigate this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.