Ref: 72/2007

Date: 17 December  2007

In 2 Separate Meeting, PCHR Receives Head of Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights and Head of Mission of Medecins sans Frrontieres

On Sunday, 17 December 2007, PCHR received at its office in Gaza City the Head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Right, Mr. Guiseppe Calandruccio.

The visitor met with Mr. Jaber Wishah, Deputy Director of PCHR, who briefed him on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), especially the Gaza Strip, and violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law perpetrated by Israeli Occupation Forces against Palestinian civilians.

Mr. Wishah reiterated the call for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to increase its activities in the OPT, impacts of human rights violations on the economic and social conditions of Palestinian civilians. He stressed that the international community does not lack information about Israeli violations of human rights, but it does not have the political will to meet its obligation under the Fourth Geneva Convention. 

The visitor expressed his understanding for PCHR’s view with regard to increasing activities of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the OPT. He briefed Mr. Wishah on the Office’s plan of actions, and expressed the need to enhance coordination and cooperation with PCHR, especially as the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted the periodic review of human rights situations in the 192 State Members of the Council, including Israel, which will be required to submit its report in September 2008.

Later, PCHR received the Head of the Mission of Medicins Sans Frontieres, Mr. Duncan McLean. He met with Mr. Jaber Wishah at PCHR’s office in Gaza City. Mr. Wishah briefed the visitor on the human rights situation in the Gaza Strip, focusing on health conditions and the suffering of Palestinian patients under the Israeli siege.

Mr. Wishah further called for expanding the scope of activities of Medicins Sans Frontieres in the Gaza Strip, including establishing mechanisms to ensure the right of health for Palestinian civilians, and called for considering providing aid to victims of Israeli attacks and internal fighting to ensure their right to receive appropriate medical treatment.