PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 8:50 on Wednesday, 21 February 2007, Mahmoud Awad El-Sumeiri (34) from Wadi El-Salqa village (east of Deir El-Balah) was killed by shrapnel throughout his body. The shrapnel was the result of the explosion of a homemade bomb that exploded when the victim handled it in a farm near his house. El-Sumeiri was taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. He was transferred to the forensic medicine department at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 20 February 2007 Khalil Yunis Abu Tair (21, from Greater Abasan to the east of Khan Yunis) was injured by bullet shrapnel in the chest. The bullet was fired accidentally from a firearm the victim was handling. He was taken to Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis for treatment, where his injury was listed as moderate.

At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 19 February 2007, Abdel Rahman Khader Saqer (22 from Khan Yunis) was injured in his right hand by a bullet from an unidentified source. At the time of the injury, Saqer was working in a house near the the evacuated land of the former settlement of Nitzar Hazani, northwest of Khan Yunis. PCHR’s fieldworker learned that a number of gunmen were conducting live fire training in the area. Saqer was taken to Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis for treatment, where his injury was listed as moderate.

PCHR is concerned over the continued falling of victims due to the misuse of weapons. The Centre calls upon the PNA, represented by the Attorney-General, to seriously investigate these crimes, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

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