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9/2010
Serious Increase in Internal Violence in Gaza - Al Mezan: Gaza Government Must Pursue and Prosecute Perpetrators
Attacks targeted Palestinians by Palestinians in Gaza have seriously increased recently. Three persons were shot and another was stabbed in four separate incidents that occurred between 4 and 7 February 2010. The identities of the perpetrators who stand behind these crimes and their motivations have remained unknown. Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights condemns these attacks and demands that Gaza Government act upon its legal obligations by pursuing the perpetrators and prosecuting them. Accountability is essential for the protection of human rights and ensuring the rule of law.
According to information collected by Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, at approximately 5pm on Sunday 7 February 2010, Ref'at Salim Mheesin, 41, was stabbed in the back and the hand. Mheesin lives in Ash-Sheja'iya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. He works as the director of the Department of Referrals Abroad at the Ministry of Health. He was referred to Barzilai Medical Centre in Israel. According to medical sources, his injures are moderate.
In a separate incident, at approximately 2:20pm on Sunday 7 February 2010, Fadi Talal Bahjat Ismail, 29, who lives in Al-Maghazi refugee camp, died after he was shot with two live bullets in the abdomen. He was admitted to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah town in Middle Gaza district. He was referred to Forensic Department at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
At approximately 8:30am on Sunday 7 February 2010, two masked armed men opened fire at Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud At-Tian, 47, who lives in the vicinity of Shifa Hospital west of Gaza City. They shot him in the legs. The two men stopped the doctor's car while he was on his way to work at Shifa Hospital. The identity of the perpetrators and motivations behind this crime remain unknown.
At approximately 11pm on Thursday 4 February 2010, Khalid Ahmed As-Sma'na, 44, was admitted to Kamal Odwan Hospital in North Gaza District. He was injured from several live bullets in different parts of his body. Medical sources described his injuries as critical. He was wounded in the chest, the left leg, the right thigh, and the back. He also sustained fractures in the chest and the right thigh. The victim was referred to the intensive care unit at Shifa Hospital. As-Sama'na was found wounded in the vicinity of his neighborhood in the Sho'sha'a neighborhood, east of Jabalia town. Some of his family members carried him to the hospital in a private car. The perpetrators of this crime and their motivations remain unknown.
Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights expresses its deep concern by and condemnation of these crimes, which indicate a return to the status of security chaos to the Gaza Strip. These acts violate Palestinians human and civil rights; especially the rights to life and personal security. Al Mezan calls on the Gaza Government to act upon its obligations and to initiate prompt, effective investigations into these incidents; particularly those involving use of small arms in such attacks, and in family feuds, and to prosecute the perpetrators of such criminal acts without delay.
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