Ref: 7/2013
Date: 27th January 2013
Time: 13:00 GMT
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) calls for investigation of the incident in which two bystanders were wounded when Palestinian police officers opened fire while in pursuit in Rafah on Wednesday, 23rd January 2013.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimonies of the concerned victims and eyewitnesses, at approximately 20:30 hours on Wednesday, 23rd January 2013, Waleed Anwar Abu al-Einain (20) was wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen, and Jihad Abdullah Abu Zbaida (42) was wounded by a gunshot to his left arm. They both sustained these injuries, in a grocery shop belonging to Anwar Abu Al Einain in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the town of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip, as a result of Palestinian police officers opening fire while in pursuit of a car (a grey Hyundai Verna). The two wounded persons were taken to Martyr Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, where their wounds were described as moderate.
Sources of the Palestinian police told PCHR that members of Palestinian police force were chasing a car suspected of transporting drugs, and police officers fired in the air to force the car to stop. They further notified that an investigation into the incident has been opened.
It should be noted that police officers arrived at the scene of the incident on Sunday, 27th January 2013. They examined the scene and collected the testimonies of eyewitnesses.
In light of the above:
