Ref: 11/2021

Date: 09 February 2021

Lawyer Raji Sourani, Director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), met with Sarah Muscroft, Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), and Mr. Hamada al-Bayari, Humanitarian Affairs Analyst at OCHA – Gaza office.  The meeting was held at PCHR’s head office in Gaza City.

The meeting reviewed the human rights situation, including the latest developments relevant to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its Pre-Trial Chamber I’s decision on the Court’s territorial jurisdiction in the Situation in Palestine, extending the territories occupied by Israel since 1967.  During the meeting, Sourani tackled the Palestinian elections and stressed the significance of international community’s support to hold the elections. Sourani called upon the UN and international community to exert unremitting efforts in order to lift the Israeli-imposed inhuman closure and collective punishment on the Gaza Strip, where people face the biggest man-made disaster.

The meeting also addressed aspects of joint cooperation between PCHR and OCHA in the future by sustaining communication and holding meetings.