The number of casualties reported in the incidents of interfactional clashes and security chaos has increased in its third day.
As of noon hours today, Tuesday 3 October 2006, ten have been killed and some 134 wounded.
Fourteen of the wounded are in critical conditions at hospitals.
Clashes had erupted in Gaza on 1 October 2006, which was the third consecutive day of security members' protests against unpaid salaries.
The Palestinian government had announced the protest was illegal and threatened to disperse it by force if necessary.
Six were killed on Sunday October 1st, and two on the next day.
Additionally, two Palestinians were killed in a family fracas on October 2nd.
This has raised the number of casualties caused by this state of security chaos to ten in two days.
Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights reminds all parties to this situation that the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression must be respected and practiced peacefully under the law.
In practicing these rights, property and human rights of others should not be breached.
The democratic practice of these rights is an essential component of their content and must be kept in all circumstances.
Al Mezan emphasizes that the Palestinian authorities have an obligation to take the necessary steps that guarantee that its security personnel would respect and protect human rights when they deal with such situations to safeguard citizens' life and wellbeing and prevent any kind of persecution.
Among other things, the Palestinian Authority is obligated to train its security personnel on the minimum standards relevant to their performance in such situations and to pass clear orders to them in such a way that respects human rights on one hand, and keeps law and order on the other.
Al Mezan calls on the Palestinian civil society and all political and community bodies to get involved in this situation and call for all parties ensure immediate calm.
The Centre also calls on the Palestinian authorities, including the government and the presidency institution, to take all the necessary steps to restore law and order, and to guarantee due respect for human rights at this very critical time.
Respect for human rights principles and norms, both on the levels of discourse and practice, can contribute to finding a peaceful way out of the impasse lived by the Palestinian population of OPT now.
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