Ref: 126/2011

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
strongly condemns the arrest of two Palestinian patients by the Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) while travelling via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to
receive medical treatment in hospitals in the West Bank. PCHR is concerned that
these two Palestinian patients may be subjected to torture, especially as IOF
prevented PCHR lawyers from visiting them.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR,
on 30 November 2011, IOF arrested Ahmed Khamis Akkila, 25, from al-Shati
refugee camp, as he arrived at Beit Hanoun crossing after the Palestinian
Ministry of Health’s Civil Liaison Office received a request from IOF to make an
interview with Akkila, in order to allow him to travel for treatment in St.
John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

On 24 November, IOF positioned at Beit Hanoun
crossing arrested Eyad Shaaban Dawwas, 39, from Beit Lahia, while he was on his
way back to Gaza after having received medical treatment at al-Muttala’ (Augusta
Victoria) Hospital in Jerusalem.

As part of PCHR’s legal follow-up of the two
cases, PCHR lawyers were informed that Akkila and Dawwas were transferred to
Ashkelon Prison inside Israel.  PCHR is
concerned that Akkila and Dawwas may be subjected to torture or other forms of
cruel and degrading treatment, especially as IOF have prevented PCHR lawyers
from visiting them and checking their health and legal situation.  No justification for this prevention was provided
to PCHR.  On 01 December 2011, a PCHR
lawyer submitted an application to IOF requesting permission to visit Akkila,
but IOF told PCHR that Akkila is denied visitation rights until 07 December
2011.  On 30 November, a similar
application was submitted to IOF requesting permission to visit Dawwas, but IOF
informed PCHR that Dawwas is denied his visitation right until 11 December
2011.

PCHR notes that the continuation of the policy
adopted by IOF to arrest Palestinian patients constitutes a flagrant violation
of the international humanitarian law, and a form of cruel, inhumane and
degrading treatment. This policy coincides with the continued illegal closure
imposed on the Gaza Strip which aggravates the crisis of Palestinian patients
who cannot be provided medical treatment in the Gaza Strip.

It should be noted that the above reported
incidents are not the first of their kind.  IOF adopts the policy of extorting individuals
and patients travelling via Beit Hanoun which is the only crossing connecting the
Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank.

In view of the above, PCHR:

1. Strongly condemns IOF’s continued
policy to arrest Palestinian patients while travelling for medical treatment.
PCHR calls for immediate release of the detained patients and for guarantees that
the patients’ lives will not be endangered;

2. Reiterates that targeting
patients, abusing their need to receive treatment in hospitals in Israel or the
West Bank and extorting them constitute serious human rights violations;

3. Calls upon the international
community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention, to fulfill their obligations and take immediate action in order to
put an end to violations of international law committed by IOF against
Palestinian civilians.