Palestinian Aid Group Manager Shot Dead In Gaza, Allegedly Mistargeted

UNSPLASH/Maxim Hopman ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Islam Hijazy, manager of the HEAL Palestine program in Gaza, was shot dead while driving. The victim left a husband and two small children.

According to eyewitnesses and local journalist Khan Younis, a group of gunmen killed Hijazy. They said the gunmen who were in several cars stopped their cars and shot them several times. The identity of the attacker is unknown.

However, the victim's husband, Moumen Al-Farram, told CNN that the shooting was wrong.

"This seems to be an accidental murder due to an identity error. Members of the security forces opened fire on my wife's hood that he was driving," he said, Friday, September 27.

"Security forces are chasing someone who drives a sweater similar to the one my wife was traveling in," he continued.

A family statement said they postponed Hijazy's funeral until local authorities issued a statement explaining what had happened.

The insecurity in Gaza and the presence of many armed groups have made humanitarian work in the region increasingly difficult since October 2023.

Although Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2006, the conflict that has occurred over the past 11 months has reduced its ability to enforce security, and there has been an increase in criminal gangs.