On Tuesday morning, 24 June 2008, PCHR received in its main office in Gaza
City Mr. John Kjaer, Representative of the European Commission, Mr. Jerome
Bellion, Political Officer, and Ms. Maja Sverbrup, Political Advisor.
The visitors met with Mr. Jaber Wishah, Deputy Director of PCHR, and Mr.
Hamdi Shaqqura, Director of PCHR Democratic Development Unit. PCHR’s
representatives detailed the visitor on the human rights situation in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in the Gaza Strip. They also
highlighted the escalating crimes committed by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)
against Palestinians, especially killings of civilians, including children,
and expressed their deep concern over the increasing number of children
killed by IOF in the first half of this year, whose number is higher than
theirs in any complete year during the current Palestinian Intifada.
PCHR’s representatives further detailed the visitors on the siege imposed by
IOF on the Gaza Strip, especially in the last year, and its destructive
impacts on the Palestinian civilian population and economy, stressing that
the siege is a form of unjustified collective punishment against civilians.
Moreover, the meeting discussed the unprecedented deterioration in the human
rights situation at the internal level since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza
Strip in June 2007. The two PCHR’s representatives detailed the disastrous
impacts of the deterioration in the human rights situation as a result of
the political division and the sharp breakup in the executive, which have
impacted bother the legislature and the judiciary. Such division, they
asserted, has undermined human rights in both the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip, as public freedoms have been attacked in a context that is similar to
retaliatory actions, whose price has been paid by Palestinian civilians in
both areas.
Representative of the European Commission was interested in listening to
PCHR’s view of the Egypt-brokered truce between Hamas and Israel. PCHR’s
representatives expressed their hopes that the truce would remain effective
without any obstacles, but expressed reservations with regard to
expectations since things are essentially related to changes on the ground,
taking into consideration previous experiences, which witnessed Israeli
violations. They stressed that all previous truces concluded between Israel
and the Palestinian National Authority during the current Palestinian
Intifada did not last for long as Israel violated and disrespected them.
PCHR’s representatives stressed the need for reopening Rafah International
Crossing Point and called for a final agreement concerning it, since it is
the sole outlet for Palestinians to the outside world. They also talked
about the European role at the crossing point according to the
Israeli-Palestinian Border Crossings Agreement of 2005, as Israel repeatedly
made use of such role through closing the crossing point allegedly for the
non-presence of European observers. They further urged the European
delegation to make efforts to find other mechanisms to ensure continuous
operation of the crossing point in all circumstances.
At another level, PCHR’s representatives discussed the latest developments
with regard to the expansion of Euro-Israeli relations, and expressed their
astonishment towards developing such relations while IOF continue their
crimes against Palestinian civilians. They asserted that such development of
relations contradicts the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which links
commercial exchange with respect for human rights.
At the end of the meeting, PCHR’s representatives emphasized the need to end
the current Palestinian division, stressing that there is no other
alternative to dialogue between Fatah and Hamas movements. They further
stressed that it is important that Europe should support such dialogue.
