The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the crime of the use of excessive lethal force that resulted in the death of Rami Sa'id Salah al-'Absi, 16, from Hebron, by a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces (NSF) on Saturday afternoon, 1 May 2010. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian National Authority to form an independent judicial investigation committee to investigate the incident, publish the results of the investigation and bring the perpetrators to a fair trial.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and statements given by eyewitnesses, at approximately 11:30 on Saturday, 01 May 2010, a number of NSF members were deployed at the northern entrance of Hebron (Ras al-Jora intersection) and the northwestern entrance of the town (Be'r al-Mahjar intersection). They did not establish any clear police checkpoints or signs. A Palestinian white Peugeot 205 crossed the first entrance. A number of young men and children were travelling in the car. The NSF members tried to stop the car which continued to travel towards "Da'erat al-Sair" street that leads to " Be'r al-Mahjar-Farsh al-Hawa" Street to the north. The car was traveling at a high speed. The NSF members tried to stop the car near Ras al-JoUra intersection, but the car continued to travel and illegally crossed the intersection. The driver did not turn around the circle in the intersection and directly passed it from the right towards " Farsh al-Hawa" Street. When the car became between 200 and 250 meters far from the intersection, NSF members who were stationed in an under-construction building near the intersection fired into the air and then at the car. An NSF member then fired directly at the car. Al-'Absi was wounded by a bullet to the upper part of the back as a result. The car drove to the Ahli Hospital in the northwest of Hebron to provide medical treatment to al-'Absi. Medical sources at the Hospital told a PCHR fieldworker that al-'Absi arrived at the emergency department in the hospital and doctors tried to save his life, but their efforts failed and he died a few minutes after his arrival at the Hospital. The NSF members followed the car to the Hospital and arrested two persons of those who were traveling in IT.
In their narrative, Palestinian security sources stated that: "An NSF force fired at a Palestinian vehicle that tried to run over NSF members near a checkpoint in Hebron. The force ordered the driver of the car to stop, but he did not obey the order. The persons who were traveling in the car had robbed a clothing store in al-Mahd Street in Bethlehem. An NSF member fired at the car when the driver attempted to run down NSF members." The same official source reported that two persons who were traveling in the car were arrested in the Ahli Hospital while a third one died after he was wounded. Search is ongoing to find the car and the driver who managed to escape. Investigations were opened into the responsibility of the driver for the robbery of the commercial store in Bethlehem. Investigations were also opened into the death of al-'Absi," the sourceS added.
In this regard, Dr. Samir Abu Zneid, Acting Governor of Hebron, issued a decision, on Sunday, 2 May 2010, to form a committee to investigate into the death of Rami al-'Absi. He noted that the committee is formed of: Major Fadel Khallawi, Chief of the Military Intelligence Service; Major 'Issa 'Amr, Chief of Military Prosecution; and members from the security services in Hebron.
The victim's represented by Hassan Salah al-'Absi, the victim's uncle, stated that Rami was with his father and his brothers, Saleh and Muhannad, and his cousin Nasim who were going back home after they had visited Rami's uncles who are detained in al-Dhahreya prison. He denied any relation to the car with the robbery of the store in Bethlehem affirming that the car is not licensed and "they did not stop because they were afraid that the car could be confiscated."
In view of the above, PCHR
1. Strongly condemns the use of excessive lethal force by law enforcement officials and firing at a civilian car in which al-'Absi was travelling.
2. Emphasizes the need to have strict instructions that regulate the use of firearms by law enforcement officials to ensure the non-use of excessive force and respect for international human rights standards to preserve the security and safety of civilians.
3. Demands the Palestinian National Authority in Ramallah to form an independent judicial committee to immediately investigate this crime, publish the results of investigation, bring the perpetrators to a fair trial and take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
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