The deposed Hamas government published on Monday the probe's results of the bloody incidents erupted in a rally held in last November in Gaza City to commemorate the death of late leader Yasser Arafat.
In Nov. 12, 2007, Hamas police shot dead eight Palestinians and wounded 150 others at the end of the rally held in western Gaza City, which hundreds of thousands of rival Fatah movement supporters participated in.
Deposed Prime Minister Ismail Haneya issued instructions to the interior ministry to form a probe committee, which included lawyers, security officers and witnesses, to investigate the incidents.
The committee said in its final report e-mailed to the media that the police (of Hamas) were responsible for the incidents due to mistakes were committed by field police officers.
"Some field officers and policemen were not committed to the instructions and orders they received from their command leaders. This is the reason that caused friction with the crowds that led to chaos and violence," said the report.
The committee decided to punish nice high-ranking officers and 29 policemen by lowering their salaries and ranks and depriving them from getting work promotions.
It also said that the committee found out that the policemen lacked enough training in dealing with popular riots, adding that the police forces didn't have the potential equipment to fight riots and restore order.
Meanwhile, the committee also blamed Fatah movement in Gaza for what happened during the rally, adding that "Fatah movement didn't follow the rules needed for the preparation for the rally."
"Fatah movement didn't coordinate with the police and other security forces to guarantee the safety of the place and to guarantee a peaceful end of the rally," said the report.
Source:Xinhua
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