JERUSALEM, July 21, 2016 (WAFA) – The United Nations expressed Wednesday concerns over the suspected arson attack that took place in the Nablus village of Duma.
United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov expressed his “concern” over the torching of a Palestinian house by suspected Israeli Jewish settlers in a fresh arson attack in Duma village.
Condemning the way Israel handles the perpetrators of such attack, Mladenov said: “Since the 31 July 2015 terrorist arson attack in which Jewish extremists torched the Dawabsha home, killing three family members and leaving four year-old Ahmed orphaned, indictments have been made, but the perpetrators of this terrible crime have yet to face justice.”
He urged Israeli authorities to “move swiftly” to locate and bring the perpetrators of this arson attack.
“I call upon the authorities to move swiftly in bringing the perpetrators of this terrible crime, as well as this latest incident, to justice,” the statement read.
“I also urge Israel, as the occupying power, to ensure that vulnerable Palestinian communities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are protected in line with its obligations under international law.”
Early Wednesday, suspected Israeli settlers set fire to the family house of Muhammad Dawabsha in Duma village almost a year after three members of the Dawabsha family were killed in a similar arson attack.
Fires broke out around 3 a.m. in the second floor of the family house of Dawabsha, whose relatives were killed in an arson attack in the Nablus village last summer. No injuries were reported though.
In a press release, Palestinian Civil Defense said investigators, who examined the scene, confirmed that a “highly inflammable material” was the main cause of the fire.
The press release pointed out that investigators ruled out “all other possible causes for the fire,” and refuted claims attributing the fire to an electrical short circuit after inspecting internal electrical cables and main home electrical board.
On July 31, 2015, suspected Israeli settlers set fire to a family house in Duma, burning Ali Dawabsha, an infant, alive. Ali’s parents, Riham, 28, and Sa‘ed succumbed to their wounds weeks later. The couple’s four-year-old son Ahmad is the only remaining survivor of the attack.
K.F.
