Human rights activist attacked twice in Gaza Strip

[toomuchtime_]

A prominent Palestinian human rights activist who criticized Palestinian armed groups for the use of "human shields" has been attacked twice since the beginning of the month, human rights groups in the Gaza Strip said Wednesday.

Mahmoud Abu Rahma, International Relations Director at Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, was stabbed last Friday in various parts of his body, according to the center.

He is reported to be in critical condition.

Several Palestinian human rights groups issued statements strongly condemning the stabbing of Abu Rahma and calling on the Hamas government to launch a serious investigation into the case.

.................................................

"Abu Rahma has received many threats on his mobile and email, including messages threatening his safety and life," the center said in a statement released Wednesday.

"According to the messages, the threats are motivated by an opinion article he had published under the title "The Gap between Resistance and Governance."

The human rights center said it had filed complaints with all the relevant authorities in the Gaza Strip, informing them of the details of the attack on Abu Rahma and urging them to take action.

No group has assumed responsibility for the attacks on Abu Rahma. However, Palestinian reporters in the Gaza Strip said they believed Hamas militiamen were behind the assaults.

Abu Rahma drew sharp from Hamas and other radical Palestinian groups for publishing an article strongly critical of Palestinian armed groups that exploit civilians in their war against Israel. He also wrote that some Palestinians have been killed and injured by explosive devices and rockets fired by local armed groups.

"Who will protect the people from the wrongful acts of the resistance and the government?" Abu Rahma asked in his article. "It's clear that the [Hamas] government is not willing to make the smallest act. It does not open investigations or even hold talks with the resistance groups to ensure that steps are taken to protect the vulnerable people. It's equally clear that the resistance continues to show the same carelessness towards violations committed by the government against the people."

...............................................

Abu Rahma also blasted human rights violations by the Hamas and Palestinian Authority governments.

"Every day, we see detention and summoning of citizens by the dozens, not for unlawful acts they committed, but mostly for who they are and what they think, or for their mere political affiliation," he added.

"We witnessed, with much agony, the outrageous attack upon free expression and peaceful assembly since March 2011. There are reports of hundreds of cases of torture and abuse. Several people died in detention and under torture in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The people of any nation have a responsibility to criticize those who lead them. We must look in the mirror before we can see ourselves clearly."

Human rights activist attacked twice in Ga... JPost - Middle East