Ref: 32/2009

Date: 01 March 2009

Time: 12:00 GMT  

  

PCHR Calls for Investigation into Gaza City Murder

 

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights calls upon the government in Gaza to initiate an immediate investigation into the murder of Hamza Mahmoud al-Shoubaki, age 40, who was abducted by unidentified gunmen on Thursday, 26 February and subsequently died. PCHR reiterates that this murder is part of the state of security chaos and violations of the rule of law plaguing the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 22:00 on Thursday, 26 February, masked gunmen abducted Hamza al-Shoubaki, from the al-Daraj neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 27 February, al-Shoubaki's body was brought to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City after he had been shot dead by two gunshots to the head.

 

Al-Shoubaki's wife gave a testimony to PCHR, stating:

 

"On 25 July 2007, the Internal Security Service (ISS) arrested my husband, Hamza al-Shoubaki, and we did not know anything about him. We submitted complaints to human rights organizations and contacted members of Hamas to find his whereabouts, but all our efforts failed. Approximately four months later, I visited my husband at the ISS prison in al-Saraya security compound after I had received a phone call from him. He seemed weak and there were clear signs of beating and torture on his body.  Later, my husband appeared before a military court and a number of court sessions were held to consider his case. On 28 December 2008, my husband attempted to flee from the prison after the Israelis had bombarded al-Saraya compound, but he was abducted by militants. They fired at his legs and dumped him in Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City. We moved my husband to our house, where he received medical treatment for one month. On 4 and 18 February [2009], a number of gunmen came to our house. They claimed to be members of the ISS and asked about my husband, who was not at home.

“At approximately 22:00 on Thursday, 26 February, masked gunmen abducted my husband from a relative's house and took him to an unknown destination. At around 08:00 the following day, Friday [27 February] we received a phone call from Shifa Hospital. The hospital informed us that my husband had been admitted. His brothers went to hospital and found that he had been shot dead. They saw signs of beating throughout his body."

 

PCHR calls upon the government in Gaza to initiate an immediate investigation into this murder, to publish the results of the investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice according to the rule of law.