A Citizen Killed and Another Wounded in Family Dispute in Balata Camp

Field update

On Monday, a citizen was killed and another one was wounded after being shot with live bullets during a family dispute, where firearms were used, in Balata Camp, east of Nablus. This incident is part of the state of proliferation of weapons and assault on the rule of law in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 19:40 on Monday, 06 May 2019, Osama Mahmoud Khalil ‘Asi (38) was killed after being shot with a live bullet to the back, and Mirsal ‘Abed al-Latif Mahmoud ‘Asi (25) was wounded after being shot with a live bullet to the left leg during a family dispute, where firearms were used, in central Balata Camp, east of Nablus. Both of them were then taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus.

The police spokesperson Col. Lu’ay Arzieqat said on his Facebook page that “the police started searching those suspected of shooting and collecting forensic evidence from the crime scene”. Arzieqat confirmed that the police and the Attorney General began the investigation while the latter decided to preserve the body and then refer it to the Forensic Medicine Institute at al-Najah University for autopsy and completing legal proceedings.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the increasing number of casualties due to the misuse of weapons. PCHR also calls upon the competent authorities to prosecute those responsible for committing these incidents and take the necessary action to guarantee civilians’ safety and ensure non-recurrence of such incidents.