An elderly man killed due to Misuse of Homemade Hand Grenade in Gaza

Field update

On Tuesday, 02 January 2018, an elderly man was killed by the explosion of a home-made hand grenade between his hands when he was inside his house in Gaza city. This incident represents the continuation of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons prevailing in the OPT.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 02 January 2017, Riyad Yehia Ghanem Rahmi (67), from Gaza City, was killed by the explosion of a home-made hand grenade between his hands inside his house.

According to the Forensic Medicine Department at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the explosion caused  Riyad injuries to the chest, abdomen, and viscera, so he immediately died.

Ayman al-Batniji, Spokesperson of the Palestinian Police in Gaza, said that the police officers immediately headed to the scene and clarified that there was a home-made hand grenade in Ryiad hands, which exploded and then immediately killed him when he was inside his house in al-Rimal neighborhood.

PCHR calls upon the Attorney General  to open a serious investigation into the incident and calls upon the competent authorities to take all necessary measures to end the proliferation of weapons and maintain civilians’ security and safety.