Number: 70/ 2023
Date: July 27, 2023
Native language: Arabic
press release
The International Commission “Hashd”: calls on the Public Prosecution to open an investigation into the circumstances of the death of the citizen: Shadi Abu Quta.
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights “Hashd” mourns the death of citizen Shadi Attia Abdel Hamid Abu Quta (48), who was killed when a wall fell on him as part of a campaign to remove invasions carried out by the municipality of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.
The available information indicates that while Khan Yunis municipality crews were demolishing a house this morning, Thursday, corresponding to July 27, 2023, in the city of Khan Yunis in the Jouret al-Akkad area, as part of a campaign to remove encroachments, and when demolishing the wall of the house with a bulldozer, the outer wall fell on the citizen: Shadi Abu Quta; what led to his death; As many videos circulated in this regard showed.
The victim’s family members published a press release indicating that the bulldozer from the municipality had begun to break down the outside wall. When the victim protested, the police officers accompanying the municipal personnel shoved him and threw him to the ground, thereby completing the demolition operation. The statement confirmed that the victim had filed a request with the Urgent Matters Judge in the Khan Yunis Magistrate Court on 03/07/2023 to stop the implementation of the removal decision issued against his house, as it is a house belonging to the Khan Yunis camp and under UNRWA’s mandate. According to a news statement issued by Khan Yunis’ mayor In it, he acknowledged his acceptance of responsibility and announced his resignation, as well as the resignation of the town council.
Deploring the occurrence of this tragic tragedy, the International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (Hashd) expresses its solidarity with the victim and his family and holds the Municipal Council of Khan Yunis and the Ministry of Local Government accountable. as well as the associated police force, Welcoming all efforts aimed at building infrastructure and clearing invasions on public property in compliance with the legislation; Emphasizing the family’s right to reimbursement; Given that local governments must exercise extreme caution in enforcing the provisions of the law and the judiciary, including forced evictions; to ensure that they provide alternatives that guarantee their right to housing and prevent displacement, as this is a constitutional right.
It demands the following:
- The International Commission (Hashd): emphasizes the importance of the Gaza Strip’s authorities abiding by the regulations of the rule of law and respect for human rights while carrying out their responsibilities and powers in line with the concept of legality.
- The International Commission (Hashd): requests that the Public Prosecution open an independent and transparent investigation into the entirety of the incident’s circumstances, publish the results publicly, and present whoever proves that he violated justice as a guarantee of future non-recurrence.
- The International Commission (Hashd): Demands the police leadership in the Gaza Strip to quickly improve community safety and the values of law and justice in carrying out its responsibilities to enforce the law; This includes avoiding the use of force and coercion as much as possible when enforcing the law and implementing decisions and rulings to remove infringement.
- The International Commission (Hashd): calls on the Gaza Strip’s legitimate authorities to work hard in terms of harmonizing the systems and procedures for removing violations in a way that is corresponding with the current economic and social situation; Its application in a just and equitable manner takes into account the right of the poor and marginalized to adequate housing as a basic and constitutional right.
Finished.
The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (Hashd)
