AL Mezan Center Condemns Kidnap of two Foreigners and a Palestinian Security Apparatus Member in the Gaza Strip

On July 29th 2005, at approximately 3:00 pm, members of the Abed family kidnapped Zoe Constantine, an Australian, and Steve Sabella, a Palestinian with a Jerusalem ID.
The two, who were both working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), were taken from in front of Adam Hotel in Gaza City.
The kidnappers drove the two to a house owned by the Abed family, located in Ibad Rahman, in Jabalia area.
Shortly afterwards, armed individuals with their faces covered closed the western entrance of the Jabalia refugee camp and started fires in the streets and alleyways around the area.
The abduction was allegedly in response to the July 28 kidnapping of Jihad Abed, a member of Palestinian security apparatus, by the Jenin Martyrs Brigade.
The Abed family demanded the PNA secure Jihad’s release in return for the release of the UNDP workers.
The UNDP workers were released at around 7:00pm, after intervention and mediation by Palestinian officials.
Jihad Abed was also released a day later around 1:30 am.
Al Mezan condemns the kidnap of the UNDP workers and the Palestinian security apparatus member and emphasizes that this act illustrates the continuing deterioration of the rule of law in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mezan calls for an end to the current state of insecurity, which continues to jeopardize personal and societal safety, and does a great disservice to both the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, particularly in the eyes of the international community.
Since the beginning of this year, Al Mezan has documented 249 Palestinian victims of the deterioration of the security situation in the Gaza Strip.
This figure includes the deaths of 39 Palestinians.
Additionally, assaults against public and private institutions have continued.
Al Mezan warns the PNA about the current situation and calls upon it to assume its responsibilities by preventing violations of the law and working to put an end to the state of insecurity in the OPT.
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