Ref: 71/‏2003‏

Israeli authorities are continuing to impose severe measures on
internationals moving in and out of the Gaza Strip. As of today, 18 May 2003,
with the exception of some United Nations staff and a small number of
humanitarian workers, internationals are being prevented from entering or
leaving the Gaza Strip.

Severe restrictions have been imposed on the Gaza Strip since the
beginning of May; however, last week witnessed a broadening of the scope of the
crackdown to include entry into Israel. On 13 May 2003, the Middle East and
North Africa Head of the Ford Foundation was denied entry into Israel, and on
14 May 2003, the Human Rights Officer from the same organisation was deported
back to Athens.

These unprecedented measures are severely affecting the international
community who work and reside in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the actions being
taken against internationals are resulting in negative repercussions for the
Palestinians who rely on international organisations for humanitarian aid and
assistance.

The crackdown on internationals in the Gaza Strip contradicts basic
human rights, in particular the right to freedom of movement, as the Israeli
authorities are preventing internationals from entering and exiting the Gaza
Strip, as well as denying freedom of movement within the confines of the Gaza
Strip as well.

As of Saturday 10 May 2003, UNAIS – an international NGO – has been
prevented from conducting its work in the Gaza Strip. As one of PCHR’s long
standing partners UNAIS, has been totally banned from carrying out its
activities in the Gaza Strip and 3 UNAIS Development Workers have been
prevented re-entry into the Gaza Strip. 

This denial of access is greatly affecting Palestinians who depend on
the assistance of international NGOs for medical and humanitarian aid. This
comes in the context of an already deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the
Gaza Strip that is just barely being held together by the goodwill of
international organisations living and working in the region.

PCHR believes that these policies towards internationals will also have
a negative impact on the work of UNRWA, the primary humanitarian organisation
for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. While the organisation continues to
provide services to most of the Gaza Strip’s population, UNRWA will be faced
with an increased workload due to the incapacity of many of their partner
organisations to conduct their work.

PCHR would like to reiterate that these measures come in the context of
an increase in criticism levelled at the Israeli government for illegal actions
carried out by Israeli occupying forces in the Gaza Strip, including house
demolitions, targeted assassinations, land levelling and restriction of
movement, as well as a series of attacks on internationals during the past three months:
Rachel Corrie, an American citizen was killed when an Israeli army bulldozer
ran her over; Brian Avery, an American citizen was seriously wounded when he
was shot in the face; Tom Hurndall, a British citizen is clinically dead after
being shot in the head by Israeli forces; and a British cameraman, James Miller
was killed while filming a documentary about the plight of Palestinian
children.

PCHR would also like to draw attention to the campaign that is being
waged by Israeli authorities against the commendable work of international
solidarity movements, who strive to bring attention to the plight of the
Palestinian people. However, as these movements and by extension awareness
about the Palestinian cause increases, Israeli authorities are defaming these
groups in the hopes of undermining their credibility. Individuals from
solidarity groups have also been directly targeted and in the last week a
number of members of solidarity groups in both the West Bank and Gaza were
imprisoned, pending deportation.  

PCHR deplores the harsh measures taken by Israel against
Palestinian solidarity groups, as well as the wider policies being applied to
internationals in general in the Gaza Strip and appeals to the international
community to step in to bring about an end to this situation.