Field Update

A young man was shot dead on Friday while his brother was wounded after being hit with a bullet to his feet during a family dispute in al-Ram village, north of occupied Jerusalem. This incident is part of the proliferation of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR’s) investigations and eyewitnesses’ accounts, at approximately 17:00 on Friday, 03 November 2017, a dispute erupted between members of K. and B. families near the petrol station at Abu Shahid intersection in al-Ram village, north of Jerusalem. The dispute developed into use of firearms. As a result, M. M. K. (28) was hit with a live bullet to the back while his brother was hit with a live bullet to the feet. Both wounded civilians were transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, where M. M. K. was later pronounced dead succumbing to his wounds.

As soon as the announcement of M. M. K.’s death, al-Ram intersection witnessed a stat of tension and outrage as dozens of young men set several shops on fire, including “Abu al-Haitham” Restaurant belonging to a person from al-Rajbi family. The Palestinian Civil Defense crews rushed to extinguish the fire that broke out in several places in the village. Moreover, the Palestinian security services surrounded the scene and forcibly imposed calmness.

Officer Louay Zreiqat, Spokesperson the police, said that “the police was informed on Friday afternoon that civilian K. arrived dead at the Palestine Medical Complex and his brother sustained a live bullet moderate wound to the feet.” The officer Zreiqat added, “The police and security services headed to the abovementioned village to maintain security and order while the General Investigation Service (GIS) conducted search and investigation procedures to identify the crime circumstances and reason behind the dispute.”

PCHR condemns this crime which led to the death of M. M. K. and calls upon the Attorney General to open a serious investigation into this incident and 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.