One year after disengagement... Security unrest rising in Gaza city

In the year that has passed since the completion of the unilateral Israeli disengagement, the Gaza Strip has witnessed unprecedented deterioration in the situation relating to insecurity and the rule of law, as well as in economic activity and living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza.
Furthermore, the IOF continue their ongoing offensive against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and have collectively punished Palestinian civilians, leading to a severe corrosion of the human rights situation in the Strip.
Following the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Al Mezan has documented hundreds of cases relating to the absence of the rule of law and the deterioration of the security situation, which jeopardize the personal and public safety of Palestinians.
These cases included the following types of incidents: Killings of citizens; Destruction of private and public property; Kidnappings of foreigners and Palestinians; Armed clashes between factions or extended families Assaults against Palestinian courts and the forced removal of defendants from the dock; Attacks on jails and the release of arrested relatives; Threats against judges to prevent them from performing their judicial duties with honesty and integrity.
The Palestinian government has made promises to develop the Palestinian economy, achieve stability and work towards an improved future for the Palestinians.
However, after the disengagement, instead of assisting in the development of evacuated settlement land, the Palestinian government left the land to be abandoned and refrained from intervening to stop the subsequent looting of the area.
Since the implementation of the Israeli disengagement plan, the number of victims of security unrest in the Gaza Strip has reached 174 killed, including 27 children, and 1195 injured, including 165 children.
22 incidents of honor killing resulted in the death of 14 persons.
Al Mezan also documented 111 family feuds in which weapons were used, 116 assaults against public institutions and 33 incidents where Gaza’s principal roads had to be closed.
Further, 70 persons were kidnapped, including 21 foreigners.
In 2003, 18 citizens were killed, and 111 injured, while in 2004, 75 were killed and 178 injured.
In addition, during 2005 and until the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip 54 persons were killed and 461 were injured.
These statistics demonstrate the serious deterioration in the rule of law in the Gaza strip.
Al Mezan strongly emphasizes that the Israeli occupation and the ongoing Israeli offensive has contributed to this deteriorating security situation in the Gaza strip.
The Center condemns this deterioration in the rule of law, and affirms that the PNA holds responsibility for not maintaining public security or reinforcing the rule of law, for yielding constantly to the demands of families and armed groups, and for not holding those who have taken the law into their hands, accountable for their crimes.
Al Mezan asserts that the state of insecurity is a result of the absence of the rule of law, and has contributed to numerous human rights violations and led to the enforcement of instability and absence of human security.
This phenomenon, which increases the suffering of Palestinians who are already exposed to ongoing aggression by the IOF, represents a serious threat for the development of the Palestinian economy which has severely deteriorated, and has also led to a high increase in poverty and unemployment rates.
In light of the continued deterioration of the security situation in the Gaza strip, al Mezan demands the PNA to undertake the following: Reinforce the rule of law, rebuild its organizations on a foundation of equality and respect for the rule of law, and to apply the law on its apparatuses that are violating it, particularly those responsible for enforcing the law.
Assume responsibility, and regain control within Palestinian society as a first step to ensure respect for the rule of law.
Provide training and rehabilitation for police officers to assist them in better performing their duties; prevent members of security bodies from carrying on their persons after work; and prohibit the use of weapons except for maintaining order and implementing the rule of law.
Take serious steps towards ensuring the rule of law through enforcement of the authority and independence of the judiciary system, and to ensure there is a separation of powers.
Initiate educational campaigns in cooperation with governmental organizations and political factions, in order to raise public awareness of the serious consequences of the state of insecurity on the future of the Palestinian Territories.
Al Mezan also calls upon political factions, and resistance groups to take the initiative to decrease the spread of weapons among their members, ensure that these weapons are used only for legal resistance to the occupation.
Most importantly, these groups must respect the law and work together with the PNA towards enforcing it.
End.