Ref: 46/2017

On Tuesday morning, 28 November 2017, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) received Danielle Haven, Consul General of the Kingdom of Belgium, accompanied with Consul Marie Cherchari, Head of Political Affairs in the Consulate General, and Consul Katelijn De Nijs, from the Development Cooperation in the Consulate General.  The delegation met with lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, and his Deputy for Program Affairs, Hamdi Shaqqoura.

The meeting discussed the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and latest updates on the Palestinian National Reconciliation.  Sourani stressed the importance of the international community’s support for the reconciliation.  He also warned of pulling back this choice which is strategic for the Palestinian people who have suffered from a heavy legacy of an occupation ongoing for 50 years and its practices of systematic crimes against the Palestinian civilians, including ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem, unique model of apartheid in the West Bank, and inhuman closure and collective punishment imposed on 2 million people in the Gaza Strip.

Sourani added that the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, have suffered catastrophic repercussions for 11 years due to the division, which is added to the suffering from the Israeli practices.

The meeting also reviewed the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli closure and occupation.  He stressed that the international community should hold its responsibility and put pressure on the Israeli authorities to end the collective punishment and man-made humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip.