A Child Dies from a Previous Wound, and Seven Persons Wounded in Renewed Armed Clashes between Two Families in Khan Yunis

At approximately 10:45 on Tuesday, 17 October 2006, armed clashes were resumed between the families of al-Masri and Abu Taha near the desalination plant in Khan Yunis. As a result, a child and a woman passing by the area were wounded:

1. Hussein Nasser Barbakh, 12, wounded by a live bullet to the right leg; and
2. Sirriya Hassan Kaware’, 65, wounded by a live bullet to the right foot.

At approximately 13:30 on Sunday, 15 October 2006, members of the al-Masri family burnt to a house and four shops belonging to the Abu Taha family during the funeral procession of Eyad Maher al-Masri, 13, who died from a wound he had sustained on 8 October 2006 during clashes between the two families. Soon after, armed clashes erupted between the two families in Jourat al-Lout area. As a result, four passing civilians, including two children, were wounded:

1. Ikhlas Mohammed ‘Abdul Ghafour, 16, wounded by a live bullet to the right hand;
2. ‘Abdul Saleem Shurrab, 17, wounded by a live bullet to the right thigh;
3. Akram Hamdan al-Bayouk, 30, wounded by shrapnel to the legs; and
4. ‘Abdul Nasser Mohammed al-Bayouk, 30, wounded by shrapnel to the feet.

At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 16 October 2006, armed clashes erupted between the two families the Castle area in the center of Khan Yunis. As a result, Ahmed Ibrahim al-Masri, 20, was wounded by two live bullets to the legs.

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

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is an independent legal body based in Gaza City dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and is an affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, the Federation Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH), and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. PCHR is a recipient of the 1996 French Republic Award for Human Rights.