Report: Palestinian groups executed, abused opponents

A civilian is injured in a blast at a coffee shop in Gaza City, 5 February 2009. (Wissam Nassar/MaanImages)


Since the launch of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) military offensive in the Gaza Strip on 27 December 2008, there has been a significant increase in human rights violations perpetrated by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. For the past five weeks, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has collected testimonies from victims and eyewitnesses regarding dozens of human rights violations perpetrated across the Gaza Strip by armed members of the Palestinian Security Services (PSS) and unidentified gunmen. According to PCHR documentation, at least 32 Palestinians have been killed by members of the PSS and unidentified gunmen during this reporting period. In addition, dozens of other people sustained injuries after being shot or severely beaten by unidentified gunmen who in some cases claimed to be members of the PSS.

The human rights violations perpetrated during the reporting period have included killings of fugitives, prisoners and detainees, injuries caused by severe physical violence, torture and misuse of weapons, the imposition of house arrest, and other restrictions that have been imposed on civil society organizations.

PCHR is gravely concerned about these continuing violations, which are criminal violations and offences. The Centre calls upon the government in Gaza to take all necessary action within the law to put an immediate end to these crimes and violations, to rigorously investigate all allegations, to bring the perpetrators to justice, and to publish all its findings publicly.

Download the full report [PDF]

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