In the early morning hours today 31 May 2005, masked men attacked the building hosting Child Culture Center and Tomorrow Builders’ Club, both parts of the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA) in the town of Khan Younis. A fire started in the building and caused damage to it.

According to the affidavit given by Adil Jodeh, who works as a guard at the building, at approximately 1:45am Tuesday31 May 2005, three armed and masked men broke into the guard’s room. One of them stayed inside the room pointing his gun at Adil while the other two entered the building. One of the intruders carried a handbag with him. They stayed about 25 minutes in the building and just after they went out, the electricity current was cut-off and a fire started in the building. Al Mezan’s fieldworkers reported that the fire caused severe damage to the building appliances and furniture.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights is highly concerned by this attack and its motivation, which has serious impact on the freedom of social activity in the Gaza Strip. The Center consequently condemns this attack with the strongest terms, whatever its motive was, and calls the Palestinian National Authority to start an immediate investigation in the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice.