The escalation of the state of insecurity has continued as more attacks on NGOs and privately owned institutions occurred around Gaza.
These are believed to be organized attacks as the attackers' statements to the guards of targeted NGOs reflect.
The PNA has failed to yet take effective steps to protect individuals and property and ensure that persons who prove to be involved in criminal acts and who breached the security and freedom of individuals and the community face trial.
The continued kidnapping of Alan Johnston is yet another evidence of this turmoil.
According to the Center's field investigation, at app.
3am on 21 April 2007, seven unidentified armed men broke into the American School in the west of Beit Lahia.
They detained and tied the guards and destroyed parts of the management offices.
They have also detonated explosive devices at the school's cafeteria.
Seven computer sets and many books were destroyed.
The blast also caused serious damages to the secretariat room.
They fled the site upon hearing the security siren.
No available information on the identity of the perpetrators, who have formerly said they target all the institutions that spread 'corrupted values' in society.
In a separate incident, at app.
7.
15am on 22 April 2007, Ahmad Abu Mehsen, aged 19, was shot in the leg in a clash between two families in Rafah.
A shoe shop belonging to one of his relatives, Anis Abu Mehsen, was set on fire in the town's center.
Further, at 12.
10am on 21 April 2007, a car belonging to Dr.
Basil Al Sultan was destroyed with an explosive device while parked near his house in the As-Salateen neighborhood in north Gaza district.
The car was destroyed.
A grenade was thrown on a two-storey house belonging to his relative, Ezat Al Sultan, at app.
2am on the same day, causing little damage to the house.
Al Mezan fieldworkers reported that the two attacks come in the context of a familial clash that erupted in the early morning hours among members of the same As-Salateen family.
The clash was settled following intervention of community figures.
No casualties were reported.
Armed clashes erupted between the Executive Force and Al Ajrami family in Jabalia refugee camp on 21 April 2007.
Journalist Ashraf Al Ajrami, aged 45, was injured in his face while trying to settle the dispute.
In a separate incident, at 8pm on the same day, Arafat Farajallah, aged 33, who is a member of the Executive Force, was shot in the abdomen as the Force interfered to settle a family dispute in north Al Moghraqa village south to Gaza City.
He was transferred to Deir Balah Hospital.
Al Mezan reiterates its condemnation of the attacks of civilian life and property, which have caused increasing numbers of casualties around the Gaza Strip.
It also strongly condemns the attacks on cultural and educational NGOs and institutions.
The Center questions the PNA's failure to take effective actions to face the deteriorating state of insecurity.
The PNA has not released information on any efforts it has done in this respect despite the escalation of the state of insecurity and the continued kidnapping of Alan Johnston; both of which are indicative of the lack of the PNA's role.
Al Mezan therefore reiterates its calls upon the PNA and its institutions, particularly the Ministry of Interior, to undertake its obligations towards the citizens and their property and work seriously and immediately to put an end to the state of insecurity.
It also confirms that the kidnapping of Johnston for more than a month now reveals the PNA's failure to preserve security and order.
End