Al Mezan demands the PNA to end security unrest in Gaza Strip; Two citizens killed and 11 injured; assault against Rafah Electricity Company

The escalating security unrest in the Gaza strip has resulted in the killing of two more citizens, and the injuring of nine others, as well as an attack on Rafah district’s electricity company.

According to Al Mezan field sources, on 18 September at approximately 21:30, an armed family feud erupted in Al Shaja’ia neighborhood of Gaza city, resulting in the killing of Faiz Ahmed Al Ne’izi, 50, and Hamdi Ali Al Ne’izi, 55, and the injury of five others. The subject of the feud was the disputed ownership of a plot of land.

On the same day at approximately 20:30, armed clashes broke out between two families in the area around Al Nada towers in northern Gaza, due to another land dispute over state-owned property. Six Palestinians were reported injured as a result.

In yet another incident, on 19 September at approximately 01:55, a group of armed persons attacked the electricity company in Rafah, which is located close to Rafah Municipality, in Omar Bin Al Khattab Street, and destroyed computers, furniture, and the company’s technical unit. The attackers also fired on the new Egypt- generated power supply. Consequently, at approximately 11:00, the company’s personnel announced a strike protesting the assault against the company, and electricity was suspended over Rafah.

Al Mezan strongly condemns and warns against the growing state of insecurity and absence of the rule of law in the OPT. The Centre expresses deep concern over the tragic consequences of this problem, and the resulting human rights violations. Al Mezan calls upon the PNA to take all necessary procedures to halt the security unrest, which has killed around 182 Palestinians in the Gaza strip since the implementation of the Unilateral Israeli Disengagement Plan in September 2005.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is a Palestinian non-governmental non-partisan organization based in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip. Al Mezan’s mandate is to promote, protect and prevent violations of human rights in general and economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights in particular, to provide effective aid to those victims of such violations, and to enhance the quality of life of the community in marginalized sectors of the Gaza Strip.