Ref: 118/2012
Date: 05 November 2012
Time: 12:00 GMT

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns banning Jamal ‘Obaid and Salim al-Braim from traveling via Rafah International Crossing Point by the Internal Security Service (ISS), in violation of the law. PCHR calls upon the Attorney General and the government in Gaza to intervene and stop these restrictive measures and respect the right to travel and freedom of movement guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international human rights standards.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and testimonies of the affected persons, on Sunday morning, 04 November 2012, members of the ISS at Rafah International Crossing Point stopped Jamal Sa’id ‘Obeid, 44, from Jabalya refugee camp in the north of the Gaza Strip, who is a member of a prominent committee in Fatah Movement, from traveling. They took ‘Obeid’s passport while he was at the crossing. In his testimony to PCHR, ‘Obeid stated that he had been questioned by the ISS officers about the reason for his travel to Egypt. He explained that he was traveling to receive medical treatment because he suffers from a problem in his ears. ‘Obeid added that he waited at the crossing until 14:00, when the ISS members told him that he was banned from traveling and was giving back his passport.

In the same context, on Wednesday morning, 31 October 2012, the ISS members at Rafah International Crossing Point prevented Salim Yousef al-Braim, 34, from Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, from traveling to Egypt. Al-Braim, who works with the Ministry of Interior of the Ramallah government, stated to a PCHR fieldworker that after finishing the travel procedures at the crossing point an ISS officer summoned him for questioning. Al-Braim was questioned on the reason for his travel. He answered that he had joined an MA program at the Institute for Arab Studies and Research in Cairo and that he had obtained all the necessary documents. He added that the ISS members told him he was prevented from traveling and had to refer to the ISS head office in Khan Yunis. On Thursday morning, 01 November 2012, al-Braim went to the ISS head office in order to know the reason for banning him from traveling. There he was questioned again about the reason for his travel to Egypt. He was later told that he should go to the ISS head office in Abu Khadra governmental compound in Gaza City.

PCHR strongly condemns the illegal prevention of ‘Obaid and al-Braim from traveling, and:

1. Calls upon the Attorney General to put an end to these measures and to respect the right to travel and freedom of movement guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international human rights standards;
2. Stresses that the decision to prevent persons from traveling and restrict the freedom of movement is required to be taken upon a judicial ruling according to Article 11/2 of the Basic Law; and
3. Calls upon the government and security services in Gaza to respect international human rights standards, Palestinian National Authority’s Basic Law and other relevant laws.