PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
Attacking Public Institutions and Officials

Field Update
23 March 2006

In the first attack of its kind
A School Burned in Gaza on the Backdrop of Armed Clashes

A group of about 50 students burned the ground floor of the Nile Secondary
School for Boys in Tal El-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City. The arson took
place on the backdrop of clashes between Palestinian police and a clan in
the Gaza.

PCHR's initial investigation indicates that at approximately 8:30 in
Thursday, 23 March 2006, a group of 50 students thought to be members of the
clans that were took part in the armed clashes with the police the day
before burned the school in protest over the clashes, which led to the death
of Eyad Mohammad El-Deiri.[1]

The fire was caused by burning tires placed by the students at the door of
the principal's office and secretary's office. The fire burned the two
offices and guards' room completely. In addition, other parts of the ground
floor were damaged. The students left the school after taking a computer
with them.

PCHR learned that the school administration had decided to suspend school
today, fearing the repetition or escalation of the clashes that took place
on Wednesday.

PCHR is concerned about the continuation of these dangerous attacks, which
constitute a continuum of the state of security chaos in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory. The Centre reiterates its call upon the PNA,
represented by the Attorney-General, to investigate these attacks, and to
bring the perpetrators to justice.

Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
Attacking Public Institutions and Officials

Field Update
23 March 2006

Shots Fired at the Vehicles of the Acting Mayor of Qalqilya and the Mayor of
Birzeit

In the ongoing security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT),
gunmen fired shots at the cars of the acting mayor of Qalqilya and the mayor
of Birzeit, causing extensive damage to both vehicles.

PCHR's initial investigation indicates that at approximately 5:00 on
Tuesday, 21 March 2006, unknown gunmen travelling in a white car fired shots
at the house of Dr. Mohammad Hashem Amin El-Masri, the acting mayor of
Qalqilya, in Hussein Hilal Street in the center of the town. Dr. El-Masri
was inside the house at the time of the attack. When he came out to
investigate, El-Masri found that 5 bullets had hit his car, causing
extensive damage.

And at approximately 23:30 on Monday, 20 March 2006, unidentified gunmen
fired at the house of Dr. Yousef Ibrahim Yousef Naser, the mayor of Birzeit,
in the Old University Street in the centre of the town. When he went
outside to investigate the incident, Dr. Naser found that a number of
bullets had hit his Mercedes car, which was parked in front of the house.
The attack caused extensive damage to the car.

PCHR is concerned about the continuation of these dangerous attacks, which
serve to perpetuate the state of security chaos in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory. The Centre reiterates its call upon the PNA, represented by the
Attorney-General, to investigate these attacks, and to bring the
perpetrators to justice.

Public Document
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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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