Ref:101/2020

Date: 30 September 2020

Time: 08:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the violent family dispute in Qabatiya village, on Tuesday 29 September 2020, in which firearms were used. As a result, 2 Palestinian were killed, and several houses were assaulted, and some set ablaze. PCHR is deeply concerned over the incident’s developments and the ongoing assault on the rule of law in addition to the escalating use of firearms during family disputes and its threat to civil peace.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 29 September 2020, a family dispute broke out between (KH.) and (H.) families at al-Aqsa intersection at the western entrance to Qabatiya village, southeast of Jenin, in which firearms were used. As a result, ‘A. ‘A. H. (45) was shot with a live bullet in his chest. He was transported to Al-Razi Hospital (affiliated with Jenin Zakat Committee) where he was admitted to surgery room in a very serious health condition. Unfortunately, medical efforts failed to save his life and he died at approximately 17:30 on the same day.

Following his death, anger prevailed in the village and the dispute reignited as the victim’s family set fire to a number of houses belonging to  (KH.) family and attacked them with stones and sharp tools. As a result, M. K. H. (24), the victim’s nephew, was shot with a live bullet in his head. He was declared clinically dead upon arrival to at al-Razi Hospital, and was pronounced dead later that evening, at approximately  20:00.

Local media reported that police spokesman, Colonel Loai Irzeiqat, confirmed that security services deployed in the village and opened investigation into the incidents’ circumstances.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the increasing manifestations of social violence phenomenon and misuse of weapons in family and personal disputes that jeopardize the right to life, the rule of law, and the Palestinian civil peace.

PCHR notes that the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) witnessed several incidents of social violence in the last week, most notably was the increase of violent family disputes, the last of which was in al-Za’ayyem village in occupied East Jerusalem, which resulted in the killing of a Palestinian and injuring 5 others with live bullets. Another incident occurred in Southern Gaza Strip, as a  money changer was killed with a live bullet in Khan Younis. Many areas also witnessed family disputes in which firearms and sharp tools were used and many citizens were wounded.

PCHR calls upon the competent authorities to investigate the incidents in Qabatiya village, prosecute the perpetrators and bring them to justice. PCHR also calls upon the competent authorities to enforce more stringent measures in the face of the increasing manifestations of weapon-use outside the rule of law.