Ref: 83/2009

Date: 30 June 2009

Time: 12:00 GMT

PCHR Calls for an end to political arrests and for measures to ensure the success of unity dialogue.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is concerned over arrests and summons of activists of the Fatah movement in Gaza, and those of Hamas in the West Bank, while a round of dialogues are taking place in Cairo.  PCHR calls upon the two parties to respect their declared promises before the media, to immediately stop politically-motivated arrests and ensure the appropriate conditions for successful dialogue and an end to ongoing fragmentation. 

In Gaza City, the Internal Security Service (ISS) summoned on Monday evening and Tuesday morning, 28 and 29 June 2009, dozens of activists from the Fatah movements and members of former security services for questioning.  Most of those who were summoned were released later.  Some of them told PCHR that the questioning focused on their affiliation to the Fatah movement and their contacts with the Ramallah Government.  They were also warned against carrying out political or social activities for as long as Hamas members in the West Bank are prevented from carrying out activities, Dr. Azizi al-Dweik, speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, is prevented from assuming his job and political detainees are not released.

In the northern Gaza Strip, on Sunday morning, 28 June 2009, the ISS summoned at least 41 activists of the Fatah movement and members of former security services for questioning at the ISS center in Jabaliya.  Most of them were released later.

In the central Gaza Strip, on Monday morning, 29 June 2009, the ISS summoned at least 70 Fatah activists and members of former security services for questioning at the ISS headquarters in Deir al-Balah.  In the evening, all of them were released, excluding Wassef Abu Sharekh, aged 40, from al-Maghazi refugee camp. On Tuesday morning, a number of Fatah activists were summoned for questioning.  One of those who were summoned was identified as Khaled Fares al-Sarraj, 44.

In Khan Yunis, on Monday morning, 29 June 2009, the ISS summoned at least 200 Fatah activists and members of former security services.  A number of them told PCHR that dozens of persons were summoned to the ISS headquarters west of Khan Yunis, where they were forced to stand under the sun, were humiliated and were deprived of food and water.

In Rafah, on Monday morning, 29 June 2009, the ISS summoned at least 30 Fatah activists and members of former security services for questioning.  A number of them were referred to the ISS headquarters in Rafah where they were questioned and were ordered to come again next week.

In the West Bank, security services waged an arrest campaign that targeted dozens of Hamas members, including journalists, public figures, members of municipal councils, imams, university students and NGO officials.  A number of them were released after interrogation and after signing a document pledging not to carry out any activity in favour of Hamas.  However, dozens of others are still detained.

In Qalqiliya, security services arrested 46 persons, including Mo’ayad Yousef Shraim, member of the Municipal Council of Qalqiliya, who were later released, and two other members of the council, Bilal Swailem and Nasser ‘Ouda.

In Nablus, security services arrested 24 people, including Dr. Hafez Shahin, Deputy Mayor of Nablus, who was later released, and Dr. ‘Abdullah al-Hakawati, a lecturer at an-Najah National University. 

In Hebron, security services arrested 25 persons, including Nabil Ahmed Abu ‘Ayash, member of Beit Ummar Orphans Association; Ramadan Abu al-Kibash, member of the local council of al-Sammou’ village; and Yousef ‘Abdullah Eslaimiya, deputy mayor of Ethna.

In Salfit, security services arrested 17 persons.

In Jenin, security services arrested seven people, including journalist Qais Darwish Abu Samra, and Justice Abdullah Harb, from the Sharia’ Court of Appeal.

In Ramallah, security services arrested nine people and in Bethlehem, they arrested seven.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of torture, and all politically-motivated arrests, and:

1)      Draws attention to the Palestinian High Court of Justice ruling of 20 February 1999 which considers political arrests illegal; and calls upon all executive parties to respect the Court ruling and refrain from conducting illegal political arrests.

2)      Affirms that all forms of detention under the Palestinian Law are the mandate of judicial warranty bodies, represented by the civil police, working under instruction and supervision of the Attorney-General.

3)      Calls for the immediate release of all political detainees held by security services in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.