On Wednesday, a Palestinian minor is reported to have succumbed to gun-shot wounds he sustained, on Tuesday, when a Palestinian security force was dispatched to a gathering for a freed prisoner.
The celebrating crowd allegedly threw stones at the security force, and some armed men in the group shot rounds into the air, west of Qabatia, police responded by opening fire and firing tear-gas at the crowd.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is concerned about the incident and calls upon the Public Prosecution to open an investigation to identify the circumstances.
PCHR also calls upon the Palestinian Authority to take all necessary measures to end the prevailing security chaos and proliferation of weapons and to maintain civilians’ life in accordance with the relevant international covenants and standards.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 19:30 on Tuesday, February 18, a large force of Palestinian security services arrived to disperse a celebration, west of Qabatia, when unidentified gunmen opened fire in the air.
Amid the ongoing shooting by the gunmen, those celebrating threw stones at the security force, which in response opened fire and fired tear-gas canisters to disperse them.
As a result, Salah Mohammed Sa’id Zakarnah, 15, was wounded with a bullet in the abdomen; and Naser Faisal Khzeimiyah, 25, was wounded with a bullet that entered his abdomen and exited from the back.
The two wounded were taken to Khalil Soliman Governmental Hospital in Jenin, but due to their serious condition, they were transferred to An-Najah National Hospital in Nablus, where Wednesday morning, doctors declared Zakanrah’s death.
Following the incident, Palestinian media quoted a statement for Jenin Governor, Major General, Akarm Rojoub that a security force moved towards the village after being informed that gunmen intended to organize a military parade to welcome a prisoner released from the Israeli prisons.
When the security force arrived at the village, civilians threw stones and the gunmen opened fire. In response, the force fired tear-gas canisters and opened fire. He added that 15 security officers were wounded with the stones.
PCHR hereby condemns the killing of Zakarnah and:
