On Friday, 27 April 2012, Mo’men Mureed Shamallakh, 23, from Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City, was killed when he intervened to settle a dispute between the families of ‘Abdul Jawad and al-Burno.  This incident is part of the state of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons prevailing in the occupied Palestinian territory. 

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 11:00 on Friday, 27 April 2012, a dispute erupted between the families of ‘Abdul Jawad and al-Burno in Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood.  Members of the Shamallakh family intervened and were able to stop the dispute.  However, at approximately 13:30, a member of the Abdul Jawad family reinitiated the dispute and opened fire indiscriminately.  As a result, Mo’men Mureed Shamallakh, who intervened to stop the dispute, was killed. 

The Palestinian police arrived at the scene, opened an investigation and arrested 6 members of the ‘Abdul Jawad family, including the shooter. 

PCHR condemns the killing of Shamallakh due to the use of weapons in family disputes, which is part the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons prevailing in the occupied Palestinian territory.  PCHR calls upon the Attorney-General’s office to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators before justice.