ei: Nine university students kidnapped in Gaza

An armed member of Hamas takes position near the believed location of kidnapped BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, southern Gaza City, 3 July 2007. Armed clashes erupted between the Hamas militants and the kidnappers, witnesses said. (Wissam Nassar/MaanImages)

On Monday morning, 2 July 2007, nine students of the Islamic University in Gaza were kidnapped by militants from the "Army of Islam" in response to the abduction of one of its leaders by the Executive Force.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 01:30 on Monday, 2 July 2007, a number of militants from the "Army of Islam" raided a house near al-Salam Mosque in al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City and kidnapped a number of members of the Student Council of the Islamic University who live in the house. Apparently, this raid came in response to the abduction of a member of the "Army of Islam," Ahmed al-Mazloum who is also known as "Khattab al-Maqdessi," by the Executive Force. Al-Mazloum and his driver, Mohammed Dughmosh, were kidnapped in al-Daraj neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. PCHR also learnt that 15 members of the Dughmosh clan, to which the leader of the "Army of Islam" belongs, were also arrested last night.

On Tuesday, 3 July 2007, the Executive Force and the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) have been intensively deployed in Tal al-Hawa and al-Sabar neighborhood in Gaza City. According to eyewitnesses, members of the Executive Force took positions atop of high apartment buildings in the two neighborhoods.

It is worth noting that members of the "Army of Islam" has abducted BBC reporter Alan Johnston since 12 March 2007.

PCHR is gravely concerned over the persisting state of security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in the Gaza Strip, and calls on concerned parties to be committed to the law and ensure the security and safety of civilian in all circumstances.

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