Press Releases
21 March 2018 |Reference 01/2018
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The latest death, of child Omar Abu Shmas, within a family feud in Gaza alarms Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and forms part of a trend of violence that occurs within the outbreak of family feuds in the Gaza Strip. The competent authorities must take the steps necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect Gaza’s residents.
On Wednesday, 3 January 2018, Omar Abu Shmas, 14, was killed in Deir Al Balah in the Middle Gaza district. Al Mezan’s monitoring and documentation shows that at around 12pm, a dispute broke out between two families living next to each other in Al Berka neighborhood in Deir Al Balah city. Firearms and blades were used, and Omar was hit with a bullet that pierced through his abdomen to his back. He was rushed to Shuhada Al Aqsa Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead at 12:30 pm. The police launched an investigation into his death.
Residents must resort to legal methods in such situations, and the competent authorities must in turn enforce the law in Gaza and institute mechanisms that deliver accountability.
Al Mezan calls on relevant authorities to:
Israel increases collective punishment measures by suspending goods exports from Gaza for the third consecutive day
Human rights organizations: Israel must immediately cease attacks on Gaza’s civilian population and re-open Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings
In parallel to its aggression, Israel closes Gaza crossings: Al Mezan warns of possible serious deterioration of humanitarian conditions
Al Mezan condemns Israel's ban on Gaza Christians from visiting West Bank holy sites for Easter
Israeli authorities at Erez arbitrarily arrested a cancer patient on his way back to Gaza from Jerusalem hospital