Ref: 59/2010

The Palestinian Centre
for Human Rights (PCHR) demands that the two governments in the Gaza Strip and
the West Bank lift restrictions imposed on the publication and distribution of
al-Quds, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida newspapers in the Gaza Strip and
al-Resala and Palestine newspapers in the West Bank. PCHR calls upon the two governments to refrain
from using journalists and the media in the ongoing conflict between Fatah and
Hamas, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the right to freedom of
opinion and expression guaranteed by the Palestinian Basic Law and by relevant
international instruments. 

According to PCHR’s
field observation, the latest attack on the right to freedom of opinion and
expression took place last Wednesday, 07 July 2010. On 06 July 2010, the Israeli authorities
announced that they would allow the delivery of al-Quds, al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida newspapers into Gaza. The following day, 07 July 2010, the
distributors of these newspapers, which are published in the West Bank, arrived
at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern the Gaza Strip to receive copies
of the newspapers and distribute them in the Gaza Strip. However, security members who were stationed
at the checkpoint of the Ministry of Interior near Beit Hanoun crossing
prevented them from accessing the crossing to receive the newspapers. Distributors were also prevented from
accessing the crossing in the following days. After the distributors contacted the Ministry of Interior in Gaza, they
were informed that the entry of the three newspapers into the Gaza Strip is banned
as long as the government in the West Bank prevents the distribution of
al-Resala and Palestine newspapers which are published in the Gaza Strip. 

PCHR strongly condemns
restrictions imposed on the freedom of the publication and distribution of newspapers
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory by the two governments in the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip and:

1. Demands the government
in the West Bank to allow the publication and distribution of al-Resala and
Falastin newspapers in the West Bank. 

2. Demands the government
in the Gaza Strip to allow the publication and distribution of al-Quds,
al-Ayyam and al-Hayat al-Jadida newspapers in the Gaza Strip. 

3. Reiterates that the
right to freedom of opinion and expression and the freedom of the press are
guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and relevant international
instruments. 

4. Condemns the
restrictions imposed on the publication and distribution of newspapers in the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip. PCHR notes
that these restrictions are futile because the banned newspapers are also
available online for no cost.