Ref: 02/2012
Date: 8 January 2012
Time: 12:50 GMT

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is shocked by the indecent treatment of members of a delegation from the Fatah Movement, which arrived at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing coming from the West Bank on Friday, 06 January 2011, by security officers under the pretext of a lack of prior coordination. PCHR calls upon the Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip to respect public liberties and stop measures restricting the right to freedom of movement, which is ensured under the Palestinian constitution and under international human rights standards.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, and according to sources of security services, at approximately 13:45 on Friday, 06 January 2011, a delegation from the Fatah Movement, comprised of Sakher Bsaissu and Mohammed al-Madani, members of the Central Committee of the Fatah Movement; Rawhi Fattouh, advisor to the Palestinian President, former Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council and former President of the Palestinian National Authority; and Ismail Jaber, a leader of the Fatah Movement, arrived in the Gaza Strip from the West Bank through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. Security officers stationed at the Customs checkpoint took the ID cards of members of the delegation to register them. About ten minutes later, a security officer handed the ID cards back to members of the delegation and informed them that the registration was completed, but they had to wait because they had not informed Gaza officials about their visit in advance. A verbal quarrel started between the delegation and the security officers, consequent to which, they left the Gaza Strip back to the West Bank.

In turn, the Ministry of Interior issued a press release on its website in which it stated: “The Ministry of Interior and National Security asserts the freedom of movement into and out the Gaza Strip for all Palestinians, and we do not and will not prevent any eligible individuals from travelling. We do not object to the visit of the Fatah delegation to the Gaza Strip. The head of the delegation, Sakher Bsaissu, has to be ready to appear before a court for breaching the law for saying an anti-religious word.”

PCHR is shocked by the indecent treatment of members of the Fatah delegation, especially under the current atmosphere of reconciliation. PCHR stresses the right of each Palestinian to move freely between the two parts of the territory. PCHR calls upon the government in Gaza to stop such measures and respect the right to freedom of movement, which is ensured under the Palestinian constitution and under international human rights standards.