Ref: 88/2008

Date: 05 October 2008

Time: 12:00 GMT

 

PCHR Calls for Investigation into the Killing of Mohammed al-Masri in Khan Yunis

 

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) calls upon the office of the Attorney-General in Gaza to investigate the killing of Mohammed al-Masri by masked gunmen on Thursday, 2 October 2008, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 22:00 on Thursday, 2 October, a row erupted between members of the al-Masri clan and supporters of Hamas who were traveling in a bus that stopped in the Jourat al-Lout area of Khan Yunis due to a technical failure. The row escalated, with the two sides hurling stones at each other. In the meantime, masked gunmen who wore bandanas on which the words ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades’ were written, fired at members of the al-Masri clan. Nineteen year old Mohammed Farhan al-Masri, was wounded. He died en route to hospital.

 

Police spokesman Islam Shahwan subsequently informed PCHR that the police have launched an investigation into the incident.

 

1)      PCHR calls upon the Attorney-General’s office in Gaza to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.

2)      The Centre believes that the engagement of masked gunmen in such crimes is a continuation of the state of security chaos and assaults on the rule of law throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and reiterates that the civil police is the sole body in charge of law enforcement.