The director of the West Bank refugee camp of Nur es-Shams near Tulkarm was brutally murdered Wednesday morning by a gang of masked men, and six other members of his family were severely beaten, for reasons that arc yet unknown.
The victim, Ali Sa’id Kazkuk, 32, an official of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, was killed by masked men, who broke into his residence in the camp and used axes and knives to attack him and six members of the family.
The six survivors, who suffered serious wounds, were hospitalized at Tulkarm Hospital.
It was not clear Wednesday night what might have been the motive for the murder. Some residents of the camp said the man was known as a collaborator with the Israeli authorities. Others said he was simply corrupt. Recently, the walls in the camp were covered with slogans against him.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Press Service, which operates out of East Jerusalem, was allowed to reopen Wednesday. The service was closed two years ago by the authorities.
A general curfew was to be imposed on the Gaza Strip starting early Thursday, “until further notice.” The authorities believe that this may cut down disturbances on Land Day this Friday.
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