Ref: 86/2014
Date: 15 July 2014
Time: 13:00 GMT

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the attack on Jawad ‘Awwad, the Palestinian Minister of Health, and the accompanying delegation at Rafah International Crossing Point. PCHR calls upon the security services to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators before justice.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 15 July 2014, while the vehicle, in which the Minister ‘Awwad and his delegation were traveling, was exiting Rafah International Crossing Point, a group of persons the crossing’s entrance stopped the vehicle and threw stones and shoes at it. The driver tried to drive backwards, but the vehicle collided with a truck that was behind.Therefore, the driver hit the barrier established at the entrance and drove away. Some staff members of the Ministry of Health in Gaza, including Dr. Yusef Abu al-Reesh,Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, tried to protect the Minister, but they were attacked too.

The Minister’s vehicle was also attacked by a number of persons in the yard of Shifa Hospital in Gaza Citywhen it reached the hospital. As a result, the driver was also forced to drive away. PCHR learnt that the Minister’s vehicle went back to Rafah International Crossing Point and then to Egypt.

It should be noted that Minister ‘Awwad and an accompanying delegation arrived in Gaza today to observe the health conditions under the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.

PCHR condemns this attack against the Minister and the accompanying delegation and calls upon the Ministry of Interior to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators before justice.