Al Mezan Center Condemns Attack on the House of the Head of the Higher Judiciary Council in Gaza

Despite the growing number of casualties and anger about the state of insecurity in the Gaza Strip, violent and fatal incidents are continuing to occur.
On August 2nd 2005, around midnight, unknown persons placed an explosive device near the house of the head of the Palestinian Higher Judiciary Council, Zuhair al-Sourani.
His house, which is near the Abbas police station in the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, was damaged, along with a nearby Peugeot car.
No casualties were reported.
Earlier that evening, at approximately 9:50pm, a locally made rocket went astray and hit the Al Ashqar house in the east of Beit Hanoun, a town in the northern Gaza Strip.
As a result, 6-year-old Yasser 'Adnan al-Ashqar was killed, 4 members of his family and 5 other relatives, who were visiting the Al Ashqar family at the time, were injured.
Three sustained serious injuries.
Those injured in the incident included: 'Adnan al-Ashqar, aged 50, Mousa al-Ashqar, aged 60, Jihad Hisham 'Abdul Raziq, aged 4 The following day at approximately 1:30 am, two were people injured as a result of the explosion of a locally made rocket in the Al Amal Neighborhood in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Additionally, two separate family disputes left Fathi Al Wadiya, aged 50, and Issam Mostafa Mesbeh, aged 20, dead.
Al Mezan strongly condemns the attack against the head of the Higher Judiciary Council.
In keeping with the attack against the Palestinian Prosecutor General the day before, this attack is directly aimed at those in the judicial branch, which is charged with protecting the rights of Palestinians and upholding the rule of law.
These attacks are therefore a double blow against the stability and respect for the rule of law that is needed in Gaza.
The continued use of locally made rockets, which frequently end up hitting Palestinian areas, also further endangers the physical safety of Palestinians.
Al Mezan remains deeply concerned by the continuing violence and the apparent deterioration of the security situation in the Gaza Strip.
Such deterioration can only serve to negatively impact the Palestinian people, both internally and in the eyes of the international community.
Al Mezan again reiterates its call to the Palestinian National Authority to uphold its responsibilities and support the rule of law and to take all necessary steps to put an end to the current state of insecurity.
End