PCHR Condemns Armed Clashes in Gaza between Members of the Preventive Security Service and Military Intelligence and Repeats Its Warning about the Level of Instability as Regards to Internal Security

PCHR is gravely concerned for the bloody clashes between two groups of Palestinian security services that took place in Gaza City on Monday, 18 October 2004, in which 8 Palestinian security men were injured, one of whom sustained a serious injury. PCHR believes that these clashes indicate deterioration in the internal security situation, as they involved law enforcement officials, whose duties are to provide security for citizens not to terrify them.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Monday afternoon, 18 October 2004, armed clashed erupted between members of the Preventive Security Services (PPS) and members of the Military Intelligence in al-Fawakhir area near the central market in Gaza City. The area was crowded with passing civilians, who were shopping. An exchange of fire erupted between the two parties, and passing civilians were seen escaping from the area, extremely terrified and looking for a shelter from the gunfire.

Clashes between the two security services escalated in the evening, after the family of one of those who were injured kidnapped a number of members of the Military Intelligence. Members of the two security services used machine guns and hand grenades in the clashes that erupted near the Palestinian security compound, known as Saraya in the center of Gaza City. The area was crowded with people who were shopping. Eight security men were injured in these clashes. The clashes extended to the vicinity of the house of Colonel Mohammed Dahlan, former Chief of the PSS, near Saraya, and the vicinity of Major General Mousa Arafat, Head of the National Security Force in the Gaza Strip and Head of the Military Intelligence. Eight members of the two security services were inured. A number of houses were damaged. A number of security men broke houses during the clashes, posing a serious threat to the lives of inhabitants. Tension spread over Gaza City, and armed clashes took place between the two security services in various areas of the city. A number of checkpoints were erected on roads, stopping the traffic.

According to information available to PCHR, the armed clashes first erupted when a patrol of the PSS was passing in al-Fawakhir area, where the Abu Jarad family, whose members serve in the Military Intelligence, lives. The patrol included persons who are members of the "Death Team", an armed group whose members worked at the PSS. Some members of this team have already been sentenced for crimes they have perpetrated, including sentences to death, but these sentences have not been implemented. Members of the group intended to kidnap and beat a member of the Abu Jarad family, claiming that he was responsible for kidnapping Hussam Abu 'Aassi, a member of the PSS. Abu 'Aassi was kidnapped and beaten on 16 October 2004, for similar claims that he was responsible for kidnapping Mohammed al-Katanani, an officer of the PSS, on 6 October 2004, who was released on 11th October 2004.

According to available information, efforts of mediation by Major General Sa'eb al-'Aajez, Chief of Police; and Major General Amin al-Hindi, Head of the General Intelligence, succeeded in putting an end for the clashes. It is strange to have efforts of mediation with the Head of the Military Intelligence, who is also the Head of the National Security Force in the Gaza Strip, as he should have assumed his responsibility to ensure security and take immediate measures against those who were involved in the clashes.

PCHR strongly condemns these incidents, and expresses grave concerns for the spread and misuse of weapons in Occupied Palestinian Territories in an unprecedented manner, for which Palestinian civilians pay a high price. These incidents raise questions on the rule of law, and whether the duty of Palestinian security services, as law enforcement bodies, is to protect the security and safety of people or terrifying them, making them victims for conflicts among these services or their members.

In light of the above, PCHR calls for:

The conducting of an impartial and transparent investigation into these incidents by the Attorney General and the publication of the conclusions of such an investigation.

Taking the necessary legal measures against those who were involved in these incidents, to ensure the rule of law and that everyone is held accountable.

Putting and end to the chaos that passes for the state of security, especially by the security services themselves, and combining these services under a central leadership that is fully under the authority of the political leadership.