Security Chaos and Misuse of Weapons
Attacks against Officials and Public
Institutions
Field Update
5 July 2009
Three
Murders in Hebron as a Result of Family Disputes and Misuse of Weapons
On the morning of 5 July 2009, Mohammed Nedal al-Harbawi, from Hebron, was
killed as a result of misuse of weapons by a gunman. In a second
incident, yesterday evening, 4 July 2009, Feras Imreizeq, from Hebron,
was killed in a family dispute. Maher Abu Snaina, also from Hebron, was
killed in a family dispute on 30 June 2009.
According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human
Rights (PCHR), in the early hours of Sunday, 5 July 2009, Mohammed Nedal
al-Harbawi, aged 47, from Hebron, was killed when he was hit by a bullet
from a firearm with which another civilian was playing. Sources from the
Palestinian police told PCHR that the police arrested [M. M.] after he
admitted to the crime. The sources confirmed that the accused would be
referred to the Attorney-General's office for necessary legal action and
presented to the judiciary.
In a separate incident, at approximately 23:00 yesterday evening, Saturday,
4 July 2009, the body of Feras Shafiq Imreizeq, 34, from Ethna village
in the northwest of Hebron, was found in the Baqar area on Halhoul-Noba
road, northwest of Hebron. His body was transferred to al-Ahli Hospital
in Hebron. Medical sources at the hospital reported that Imreizeq was
killed while driving his car by two bullets to the head and several
bullets in the upper chest. Local sources in Ethna reported that the
crime was a family revenge attack and that the victim was not directly
involved in the affair.
Colonel Ramadan ‘Awad, chief of the Palestinian police in Hebron, stated
that as soon as the police were informed of the crime in Halhoul
yesterday and the other incident south of Hebron city this morning, a
force from the police and the general bureau of investigations moved to
the crime scene and collected criminal evidence. He said that a
representative of the Attorney-General's office was present at the
evidence collection. ‘Awad added that the police arrested a number of
people suspected to be involved in the two crimes.
It should be noted that Maher Abdul Latif Abu Sneina, 29, from Hebron, was
killed last Tuesday, 30 June 2009, when a member of his family fired at
him after a previous dispute.
PCHR is concerned about the rising deaths and casualties resulting from the
misuse of weapons in personal and family disputes, which is a reflection
of the ongoing state of security chaos and misuse of weapons plaguing
the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR reiterates its calls upon the
Palestinian Authority, represented by the Attorney-General, to
investigate these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.
