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Gaza rights org condemns massacre of Dogmushes
A Gaza-based human rights organization said it has opened an investigation into the violent raid by Hamas security forces that left 12 members of one family dead and 42 injured. Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights in Gaza called the armed incursion by Hamas forces against members of the Doghmush clan in the Sabra district in West Gaza last Tuesday a "mass murder" and condemned the escalation of violence. The fighting last Tuesday erupted when Hamas police moved to arrest members of the Doghmush clan accused of gunning down a police officer and turned into a several hours long gun fight that left 12 dead, including a toddler. "Flagrant violation of human rights" Al-Dameer called the action by Hamas forces a flagrant violation of human rights and condemned the use of weapons in such a densely populated area since it endangered the lives of innocent civilians, according to a statement issued by the organization. "Keeping law and order cannot be at any price and without maintaining the rules that protect the safety of citizens," the statement said. "The death of an 18-month old child was the result of the excessive use of armed force." The organization demanded an investigation to unravel the circumstances of the incident, especially in light of speculations that the killings were extralegal measures taken despite the possibility of arresting many of those who were instead murdered. Kafa Ali Hassan Doghmush told AlArabiya.net that a police force stormed her house and searched it then broke into one of the rooms where a number of the family members were gathered. They arrested Ibrahim Farouk Doghmush, who was disguised as a woman. He was injured, but the forces shot him in front of his father and family. "Then the forces shot everyone in the room," said Kafa. Differing accounts Makram Youssef Daghmash said her four sons were shot and that as she and Kafa were trying to save their sons Hamas police shot them both in the legs. "Why haven't they arrested them in the legal way? The government has to clarify how things reached that level," Makram told AlArabiya.net. The clashes took place in the aftermath of the assassination of officer Abdul-Karim Adel, 21, and the injury of officer Saleh Fouad, 32, who were shot while trying to arrest Jamil Doghmush, according to Ihab al-Ghosein, spokesman of the ousted Interior Ministry. According to Ghosein, the aim of the incursion was to arrest a number of outlaws, especially Jamil, who was accused of killing the officer. He said that Hamas security forces had warned members of the clan for more than a year that they were breaking the law. "We tried to talk them into turning themselves in, but no avail," said Ghosein. "The forces didn't start shooting until after one of the Doghmush clan snipers shot one of our officers, Sameh Mahmoud al-Naji." Ghosein added that the toddler's death was accidental. "But many of the family members insisted on committing their crimes, which aroused the resentment of citizens," he added. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-22 |
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