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PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

Ref: 14/2003

Date: 23 January 2003

More than 800 Gazan pilgrims prevented from traveling to Saudi Arabia

The Israeli occupying forces have prevented more than 800 Palestinian pilgrims from the Gaza Strip from traveling through the Rafah Terminal at the Palestinian-Egyptian border. The pilgrims were on their way to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. According to PCHR’s investigation, a list was handed out by the Israeli military to the Palestinian side, which included the names of 836 Palestinian pilgrims from the Gaza Strip who will not be allowed to pass through the terminal. 396 were of families of Palestinians killed or injured by Israeli forces. This group has received assistance for the pilgrimage from the Palestinian President. The remaining 440 pilgrims on the list are being prevented passage for “security” reasons.  The first group of Palestinian pilgrims from the Gaza Strip is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia through the Rafah Terminal on Friday, 24 January 2003.

This measure is an further escalation of the Israeli policy of collective punishment of the Palestinian civilian population. Other measures of collective punishments are internal and external closure of the OPT’s and the demolition of houses of the families of Palestinians who have carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets. Collective punishment is a violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Furthermore the new measure violates the right to free worship and to conduct religious ceremonies both individually and collectively. 

PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to ensure the Palestinians their right to freedom of religion and worship.  PCHR also calls upon the United Nations bodies to pressure the Israeli authority to respect their legal obligations towards the Palestinian people, and allow these pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia.   

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 7 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. Web:http://www.pchrgaza.org