When Personal Security Becomes an Immediate Concern...

Writer

Montaser Hamdan

Personal security is no longer just an idea, theory, or slogan in our country; it has become a persistent concern accompanying every detail of citizens' lives, with fears of increasing crime rates, the spread of illegal weapons, and the field complications faced by security agencies in fulfilling their duties to achieve security and safety for citizens.

Hardly a day goes by without hearing about the murder of a citizen, a theft, or a brawl that escalated into gunfire, or innocent citizens being subjected to extortion or violence in various forms, clearly indicating the seriousness of the issue of personal security for the citizen who witnesses firsthand the indicators of the collapse of collective security for citizens due to a series of complex and compounded factors with both external and internal causes, placing the ordinary citizen in a real dilemma and raising the bigger question: Who will protect me and my family?

The sources of concern regarding personal security for the ordinary citizen stem from indicators of crimes in their various forms, such as murder, theft, drug trafficking, and family disputes that lead to the use of weapons. Another issue arises from the lack of trust citizens have in legal proceedings and resorting to the relevant authorities, including the judiciary, to restore rights to their rightful owners.

Standing before the courts and listening to the positions of the reviewers and the owners of the cases being heard in the courts, as well as their opinions on this matter, allows you to build clear indicators about the decline in the sense of security and the increase in dissatisfaction with the litigation procedures, which gradually contributes to the loss of trust among the majority of citizens in the justice system in general. This compels citizens to resort to family and tribal solutions instead of turning to the competent authorities that are originally tasked with providing security and protection for citizens.

Among the cases being followed in the courts, a woman in her mid-forties stood with her husband before the court waiting to be called to appear before the judge. She appeared angry after more than a year had passed since the case of an attack on her home, which resulted in her and her son sustaining minor injuries, and one of the attackers firing a gun without causing injuries. The more strange thing occurs when you hear her say: 'We have dried our throats as we moved from one place to another to prove our rights, even though we are victims of this attack,' indicating that the attackers used all means and methods to evade their responsibility for using the weapon in this attack, including attempts to manipulate, mislead, and take shelter over the months that began since the complaint was filed and the investigation or even the weapon was seized.

The loss of personal security and the slowdown of procedures and the prolongation of litigation enhances the citizen's feeling of unfairness, which contributes to the decline in the citizen's trust in the justice system. The growing dissatisfaction reinforces the culture of taking the law into one's own hands, which directly or indirectly leads to the feeling that the existing system has become incapable of protecting him from internal violence. At the same time, citizens find that when any incident or murder occurs, they openly and critically say, 'Where is the authority and its agencies?' Meanwhile, the security forces, specifically the Palestinian police, become the first refuge for critics when they are victims of such crimes.

Statistics and data from the Palestinian police for the year 2025 indicate the registration of (45) murders that resulted in the deaths of (48) citizens, including 41 males and 7 females, compared to the year 2024, which witnessed (50) murders.

Family disputes and conflicts are the leading cause of murder crimes, accounting for (31.3%), followed by murders motivated by what is known as "honor" at (8.3%), and financial disputes at (6.3%). Meanwhile, the same statistics show that firearms were the most commonly used means in murder crimes, being used in (25) cases at a rate of (52.1%), followed by sharp and solid objects in (12) cases at (25%). Other means were recorded at limited rates, such as trampling, beating with hands, burning, and others.

Such figures indicate the prevailing state of concern regarding personal security among citizens. It can be clearly pointed out based on the official statistics from the police that despite the political and security instability in the West Bank, tightening control over legal firearms and pursuing all forms of crime is an unavoidable option for citizens and the relevant security authorities, especially with the success of the Palestinian police in seizing (457) firearms last year. It also emphasizes the necessity of enhancing community awareness of the dangers of violence.

Building trust between citizens, who have the right to protection, and law enforcement agencies, which bear the primary responsibility for achieving that, is the result of professionalism in performance and credibility in dealings. This aligns with the notion that personal security is a natural right of the citizen that must be executed with responsibility and values that are consistent with the powers and responsibilities, ensuring the rule of law on one hand and preserving citizens' rights on the other, considering all of this as our national and collective responsibility.