18/5/2010
6/2010
The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) is gravely concerned about shooting of Hassan Saleh Abu Zeid, a 33 year old male resident of Gaza City, by unidentified assailants.
According to information obtained by ICHR, the aforementioned citizen was on his way home after midnight on Saturday 15/5/2010 when he was intercepted by a group of masked gunmen who attempted to kidnap him. The gunmen were driving in two vehicles: one Land Rover and one Golf. As he resisted the attackers, the gunmen shot at Abu Zeid at close range twice in the left foot then returned shortly after and shot his right knee.
It is worth mentioning that similar alarming incidents have taken place recently in the Gaza Strip. For example, on 2/04/2010 masked gunmen kidnapped Mohammed Abed Maddoukh, a 31 year old male resident of Gaza City, and took him to undisclosed location. He was interrogated about his relationship with Fatah before he was severely beaten and stabbed with a knife in his right leg and left side.
Moreover, on 14/03/2010, unidentified persons took Salah Mohammed Al-Masri, a 39-years-old male resident of Gaza City, to an undisclosed location where he was beaten and interrogated him about his relationship with individuals in Ramallah.
Furthermore, Hammad Mohammed Abu Jazar, 38-years-old male resident of Rafah, was also kidnapped on 03/13/2010 by unidentified persons who beat and assaulted him with their fist and rifle butts.
Through monitoring and follow up with the cases, ICHR observed that the majority of victims belong to Fateh movement and former security agencies. ICHR also found that the assailants carried out their attacks without deterrence or fear and that they identifies remain unidentified in most cases.
Therefore, ICHR calls upon the Deposed Government to take necessary urgent measures to stop such incidents, protect citizens from attacks, and ensure their right to safety. ICHR demands that:
- The Deposed government to must assume its responsibilities and adopt the necessary measures to stop these assaults.
- The Public Prosecution and security agencies must seriously investigate the aforementioned attacks.
- Necessary legal action must be taken against those who committed these attacks in order to bring them to justice.
