Annual Report - Palestinian Center for Human Rights

including 5 children, in armed clashes between the Al-Masri and El-Kafarna families
in Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. This was one of a number of family feuds
that led to 23 deaths and dozens of injuries during the year. 43
Misuse of Weapons by Palestinian Resistance
A number of Palestinian civilians lost their lives during 2005 as a result of mistakes
made by Palestinian resistance factions or the accidental explosion of stored weapons
in inhabited areas. For example, Yaser Adnan El-Ashqar, 6, was killed on 2 August
2005 after sustaining shrapnel injuries all over his body from a rocket that landed in a
house in Beit Hanoun. The rocket, fired by Palestinian resistance groups, was
intended to hit Israeli targets northeast of the Strip. Nine other civilians, including
five children, were also injured in the incident. Adnan El-Ashqar, Yaser’s father, was
among the injured. He died two days later.
On 5 September 2005, a large explosion occurred at a house in the crowded Sheja’eya
neighborhood, in the east of Gaza City. The explosion was caused by a fire that broke
out in the house, which was being used by resistance groups to store explosive
devices, and the blaze led to the detonation of a number of these devices. Four people
were killed and 35 were injured, including 8 seriously, in the incident. The house
where the explosives were stored was completely destroyed and a heavy damage was
sustained in 3 nearby houses.
On 29 September 2005, 21 people were killed, including 11 children, as a result of an
explosion which occurred during a rally organized by Hamas in Jabalya. The
Attorney-General’s investigation indicated that the rally, attended by prominent
Hamas leaders, included a military parade by the Izzedeen El-Qassam Brigades, the
movement’s military wing. The parade was taking place when the explosion
occurred, which, according to the Attorney-General, was caused by rockets which had
been mounted on a jeep that was part of the parade.
43 For more details, please refer to PCHR’s press releases dated 15 June and 7 July 2005.
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