Misuse of weapons kills two women, injures four in Gaza Strip

Palestinians inspect the damage to Al-Waha resort after it was blown up in Gaza City early in the morning January 23, 2007. (MaanImages/Wesam Saleh)


A Woman Killed, Four Other Persons, Including a Woman, Wounded and an Explosive Device Detonated in a Tourist Resort in the Gaza Strip

In the past two days, the Gaza Strip has witnessed a serious escalation in the misuse of weapons, which is part of the sate of the state of lawlessness and misuse of weapons prevailing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. A woman was killed; four other persons, including a woman, were wounded; and an explosive device was detonated inside a tourist resort.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 23 January 2007, three unknown gunmen fired at Diab Mohammed Abu ‘Eida, 37, the director of the post office in Jabalya, when he was on his way to his work together with his wife. He was wounded by several live bullets to the legs. The motive of the attack is not apparent.

Earlier on Tuesday, at approximately 05:00, an unknown armed groups stormed al-Waha tourist resort at the coast of Beit Lahia and detonated an explosive device inside it. One of the resort’s guards told PCHR that at least 20 gunmen broke into the resort. They handcuffed and blindfolded the three guards of the resort. They then detonated an explosive device in the main lobby, causing severe damage.

At approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 21 January 2007, the body of Amal ‘Atallah Abu al-‘Ata, 36, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was brought to Shifa Hospital. According to initial information available to the Palestinian police, she was hit by a live bullet to the head when she was inside her house. The circumstances of the incident are not clear.

At approximately 16:10 also on Sunday, Zahra Salama Braik, 22, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded to the back, when a live bullet was unleashed by mistake from her father’s gun.

At approximately 17:00 also on Sunday, unknown gunmen fired at Ayman Yahia al-Shareef, 26, when he was on his way to his house in al-Nada hosing project in the north of the Gaza Strip. He was wounded by shrapnel from live bullets to the feet.

At approximately 20:00 also on Sundat, Nidal ‘Atallah Hamad, 33, from Rafah, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet to the chest. The live bullet was unleashed by mistake from Hamad’s machine gun, when he was checking it.

PCHR is gravely concerned over increasing casualties resulting from the misuse of weapons. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate these incidents and bring those who are found responsible to justice.

A Woman Killed in an Interfamily Quarrel in al-Boreij Refugee Camp

On Monday afternoon, a woman was killed in al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. She was hit by live bullets fired by mistake during an interfamily quarrel.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 15:30 on Monday, 22 January 2007, Sameeha Hammad ‘Eissa, 34, was killed by 3threelive bullets to the head fired by mistake, when she attempted to stop a quarrel between two of her brothers. Her body was transferred to the forensic medicine department at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

PCHR is gravely concerned over the continuation of the use of weapons in personal and family disputes, which is further aggravating the state of lawlessness in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority, represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate such attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Related Links

  • Palestinian Centre for Human Rights