Al Mezan Concerned over Rise in Misuse of Small Arms in Gaza, Calls for Measures to Control Problem

Incidents of misuse of small arms have recently escalated in the Gaza Strip.
 According to the information gathered by the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, small arms have been used in the majority of violent internal incidents occurring in the past ten days.
  According to the information available to Al Mezan, 99 internal incidents endangering human life have taken place since the beginning of the current year, as a result of which 28 people were killed, including nine children; 231 people were injured, including 17 children and three women.
 (These figures include victims of tunnel accidents as well as internal violence.
)  Small arms were used in 42 of these 99 incidents, resulting in 12 people killed, including four children, and 200 injured, including 15 children.
 This number is comparatively high, and indicates an overall increase in this phenomenon if incidents continue at a similar rate through the end of the year.
  Al Mezan has documented the most recent incidents of internal misuse of small arms as follows:   ·         At approximately 10:40 pm on Sunday 27 May 2012, a family feud broke out between two neighbors near the Al Hertani School in ‘Amer Project, a residential area in Jabaliya, North Gaza district.
  Small arms were used in the ensuing dispute, though no casualties or injuries were reported.
  The police opened an investigation into the incident and detained two persons for interrogation.
  ·         At approximately 6:00 am on Tuesday 29 May 2012, unknown persons opened fire at M.
J.
, 20, in Az-Zawaida village in Middle Gaza district, wounding the victim in the left leg.
 Medical sources at Al Aqsa Hospital described the injury as moderate.
 In his affidavit to Al Mezan, M.
J.
stated that he was standing in front of an auto repair shop owned by his family, near the local cemetery, when a white car slowed down and a person sitting in the front passenger seat fired three shots at him; one of the bullets hit his left leg.
 The police have opened an investigation into the incident.
  ·         At approximately 3:00 am on Wednesday 30 May 2012, medical sources at Abu Yousif An-Najjar Hospital announced the admission of M.
S.
, 28, with a bullet wound in the chest.
 Medical sources described the injury as moderate.
 According to initial police investigations, the victim was wounded when a family feud erupted in the Bashet area of Rafah refugee camp.
 The police arrived at the scene of the incident and detained a number of people for interrogation.
  ·         At approximately 2:30 pm on Friday 1 June 2012, A.
Sh.
, 20, was admitted to Nasser Hospital after sustaining three bullet wounds in the abdomen.
 He was sent to the intensive care unit and his injury was described as critical.
 At approximately 9:00 pm on the same day, medical sources reported the victim’s death.
  According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, A.
Sh.
was wounded in a gun-related accident.
  The police have opened an investigation into the incident.
  ·         At approximately 8:30 pm on Sunday 3 June 2012, J.
J.
, 37, was admitted to Kamal Odwan Hospital after sustaining a bullet wound in the left leg.
  Medical sources described his injury as moderate.
  According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, the injury occurred due to a family feud which erupted between two brothers in their house near the Beit Lahiya National Club in North Gaza district.
  ·         At approximately 2:20 pm on Sunday 3 June 2012, A.
N.
, 24, died from a bullet wound (entry and exit) to the head.
  She was killed while in her home in Ash-Shoka village near Rafah, and admitted dead on arrival to Abu Yousif An-Najjar Hospital.
  The police arrived at the scene of the incident and opened an investigation.
  The body was referred to Ash-Shifa Hospital for forensic examination.
  ·         At approximately 9:30 am on Monday 4 June 2012, four armed men broke into the house of A.
A.
, in the east of Jabaliya refugee camp.
 They beat the women present—there were no men home at the time—and kidnapped three children from their mother, who sustained bruises.
  The police have opened an investigation.
 According to Al Mezan’s field investigations, the attackers were the children’s father and several of his relatives, and the incident was connected to a family feud.
  ·         At approximately 9:45 pm on Tuesday 5 June 2012, an explosive device went off near the house of M.
L.
, 57, in the Al Mahattah area east of Deir Al Balah.
 Directly after the explosion, gunfire was directed at the same house.
 The house sustained light damages as a result.
 The three-story home hosts seven families, amounting to about 40 family members, including 24 children.
 The police arrived at the scene, opened an investigation, and arrested a number of young men.
 Some of the detainees were released two hours later.
  The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns these incidents of misuse of small arms and expresses its strong concern over the increase in such incidents, particularly in family feuds.
 It calls on the Gazan government to initiate prompt and effective investigations into these incidents, particularly those involving the use of small arms in assaults and family feuds, and to prosecute the perpetrators of such criminal acts without delay.
 It also calls on the Palestinian resistance and political parties to ensure that small arms are not used in family disputes or crimes, regardless of the political or factional affiliation of those involved.
  End