At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 5 March 2008, Safiya Mahmoud Mahdi, 75,
from al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City, was seriously wounded by a gunshot
to the abdomen when she was in front of a boutique in the camp. She died before
arrival at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. According to eyewitnesses, the woman was
hit by a bullet unleashed by mistake from the gun of one of the police officer
guarding the house of the dismissed Palestinian prime minister, when she was
approximately 50 meters away.
According to sources of the police, the woman was shot by mistake and the police
officer was taken to Gaza Central Prison in order for legal action to be taken
against him.
PCHR is gravely concerned over increasing
casualties resulting from the misuse of weapons. PCHR calls upon concerned
authorities to take effective steps to ensure their non-recurrence.
