Report: 17 Palestinians killed in internal clashes in November

Tuesday December 04, 2007 16:05 by Ameen Abu Wardah - IMEMC News

The Palestinian independent committee for citizens' rights has issued its report for the month of November 2007. The report showed a decrease in the use of force by the Palestinian Authority security forces during this period.

PA forces file 2007

The report included information on attacks on; the freedom of press, personal safety and other infringements of rights. Attacks on physical safety and right to life: The committee reported that 17 Palestinians were killed due to either excessive force by the Palestinian Authority or the general state of lawlessness in the PA controlled areas.

Of the 17 killed in the month of November, 12 were in Gaza and 5 in the West Bank According to the report, firearms or homemade bombs were the cause of death in the case of 16 of the deceased, including two children. The other man was killed due to injuries sustained during a severe beating. The report also shows that 176 Palestinians were injured in 20 separate attacks by the PA in Gaza and the West Bank.

Seven of those killed were shot by Hamas security forces in Gaza during the Fatah-led commemoration of the late president Yasser Arafat on the 12th of November. One civilian was killed in the West Bank city of Hebron by Fatah affiliated security forces during a protest against the Annapolis conference on the 27th of November.

Attacks on freedom of speech In its report the committee documented several attacks that both Hamas and Fatah affiliated members of the Palestinian Authority carried out against journalists reporting events in both the West Bank and Gaza strip.

Among the victims of the attacks were journalists covering the Fatah rally commemorating Yasser Arafat on November 12th and journalists in Ramallah, Hebron and Bethlehem who were covering the anti-Annapolis rallies on November 27th Attacks on Non-governmental Organizations. The report documented eleven attacks on property belonging to NGOs, including personal property of their members.

The report stated the majority of those attacks occurred in the Gaza strip. There were also attacks on the Palestinian police in Gaza with at least 3 police vehicles destroyed by homemade shells.

The committee documented scores of abduction cases, the majority of which occurred in Gaza. Most incidents were in connection with the continuous infighting between the two Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah. In addition security forces associated with both movements continue to kidnap the members of their rival party across the West Bank and Gaza.

Translated by Ghassan Bannoura – IMEMC News.

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