Ref:
38/2013

On Sunday, 26 May 2013, Gaza Supreme Court
decided to consider the complaint filed by the Palestinian Centre for Human
Rights (PCHR) against the Interior Ministry to disclose the reasons for
preventing PCHR’s staff from traveling to the West Bank via Beit Hanoun (Erez)
crossing.  The Court also ordered the
defendant (the Interior Ministry) “to reveal the reasons for banning the
plaintiffs from traveling via Erez crossing within 15 days from the date the
Ministry receives the decision in due process.”

On 12 May 2013, PCHR filed a complaint to Gaza
Supreme Court challenging the measures taken by the Internal Security Service
(ISS) of the Interior Ministry against PCHR’s staff comprised of lawyer Iyad
al-Alami, PCHR’s Deputy Director for Legal and Administrative Affairs; and
lawyer Mohammed Bseiso.  The ISS banned
both lawyers from traveling to the West Bank via Erez crossing for an official
mission.  PCHR called upon the Supreme
Court to issue its preliminary decision to accept the complaint in form and to
oblige the defendant/the Minister of Interior and National Security in Gaza
represented by the Attorney General to disclose the reasons for banning the
plaintiffs from traveling via Erez crossing in violation of the law.
Furthermore, PCHR called upon the Court to issue a prompt and definite decision
to allow the plaintiffs to travel in accordance with the law.

It should be noted that the ISS officers at the
Interior Ministry checkpoint near Erez crossing prevented lawyers al-Alami and
Bseiso from traveling to the West Bank for an official mission on 12 May
2013.