Palestinian Centre for Human Rights calls Second Palestinian state "Hell On Earth"

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

#1 Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons
Extra-Judicial Killing for Family Honor

Field Update
23 August 2006

A Woman Killed in Nusairat Refugee Camp Allegedly for the
Protection Family Honor

On Tuesday noon, 22 August 2006, a woman was killed in the
central Gaza Strip allegedly to protect family honor.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 22 August 2006, Faiza 'Eid
Abu Sawawin, 35, from al-Hasaina area in the west of
Nusairat refugee camp, was brought dead to the al-Aqsa
Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She was hit by several live bullets throughout the body.
According to sources of the Attorney-General office in the
central Gaza Strip, the victim's brother, who is a member of
the Palestinian Preventive Security Service and lives in the
southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, shot her dead allegedly
to protect his family honor.

It is worth noting that killings committed allegedly to
protect family honor have escalated in the past two months.
According to PCHR's documentation, on 9 August 200,
the Palestinian police found the bodies of two
girls in al-Sawarha area, west of Nusairat refugee camp in
the central Gaza Strip.

The two victims' brother shot them dead allegedly to protect
his family honor. On 30 June 2006, the Palestinian police
took out the body of an 18-year-old girl from a cemetery in
Rafah.

PCHR strongly condemns such crimes, and stresses that:

1) Such crimes constitute an attack on the rule of
law;
2) They are a form of extra-judicial killing, and
constitute a flagrant violation of human rights, especially
the right to life and the right not to be subject to cruel
and inhumane treatment; and
3) The Palestinian National Authority is required to
take necessary steps to confront this phenomenon through pursuing the
perpetrators of these killings, and bringing them to justice.

#2 Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons Use of
Weapons in Personal and Family Disputes

Field Update
23 August 2006

A Person Killed and 6 Others Wounded in Family Disputes in
the Gaza Strip

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 22 August 2006, a dispute
erupted between the families of Madhi and Abu Nusaira in
Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip concerning the
ownership of a tract of land. The dispute developed and
firearms were used. As a result, 'Abdul Hakim Mohammed Abu Madhi, 35,
was killed by a live bullet to the head. Two other persons were also
wounded:

1. Jihad Mohammed Abu Madhi, 30, wounded to the head;
and
2. 'Emad Jouda al-'Adini, 30, a neighbor who attempted
to stop clashes between the two families, wounded by a
live bullet to the head.

At approximately 23:00 on Monday, 21 August 2006, Nader
Manar Sa'id Wadi, 26, from Khan Yunis refugee camp, was
evacuated to Nasser Hospital. He was wounded by shrapnel
from a live bullet to the neck, when a gunman fired at him
in a family dispute, in which firearms were used.

At approximately 19:30 on Sunday, 20 August 2006, a quarrel
among brothers from the al-'Assar family in Nusiarat refugee
camp escalated, and firearms were used. As a result, Fadi
Sabri al-'Assar, 26, was wounded by a live bullet to the
right foot; and 'Abdul Hamid Jamal al-Bayoumi, 25, a
neighbor, was wounded by a live bullet to the abdomen.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the continuation of internal
violence, including 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 such crimes and
bring the perpetrators to justice.


Public Document
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Strip, on +972 8
2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza,
Gaza Strip.
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org