During the last few days, unknown persons used
explosives to blow up al-‘Andalib café and the Gallery Café in Gaza
city. These two incidents are a part of the security chaos and misuse of
weapons plaguing the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT).
According to investigations conducted by the
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 04:30 am on
Sunday, 1 November 2009, unknown persons detonated an explosive charge
near the entrance of al-‘Andalib café in Jamal Abdul Naser street in the
west of Gaza city. Al-‘Andalib café is built on an area of 250 m2
and is owned by Mohammed Salem Taher. The explosion inflicted material
damages on the entrance and on the glass windows and doors. In addition,
a car that was parking near the targeted café was damaged. No casualties
were reported.
In a second incident, at a proximately 04:00
am on Friday, 30 October 2009, unknown persons detonated an explosive
charge near the entrance of the Gallery Café in Mustafa Hafez street in
the west of Gaza city. The café is owned by the Palestinian Contractors’
Union. Louay Abu al-Qomsan, 32, who is the guard of the café sustained
injuries by glass shrapnel produced as a result of the explosion. Heavy
damage was caused to the entrance of the café and interior furnishings.
PCHR is seriously concerned over the
continuation of such attacks which are a part of the security chaos and
misuse of weapons plaguing the OPT. PCHR calls upon the government in
Gaza and upon the security services to open serious investigations into
these attacks, prosecute perpetrators and bring them to justice.
