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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
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Ref: 163/2004
Date: 07 November 2004
Time: 11:00 GMT
PCHR expresses its grave concern by the Humanitarian Situation for Palestinian on the Egyptian Boarder waiting to return to Gaza.
PCHR is deeply concerned by the continued humanitarian and health situation of about 3000 Palestinians who are still stuck on the Egyptian side of the Rafah International Crossing Point. They are waiting to return to Gaza and have not been able to so since Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) close the Crossing Point on Sunday 31st October 2004.
PCHR is afraid that the international community, especially governments and the UN and international humanitarian organizations are not bring enough pressure to bear upon the Israeli government. To stop its massive violation of International Humanitarian Law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) related to the protection of civilians during times of war, and the mass collective punishment carried out against Gazan civilians by closing the Rafah International Crossing Point for the last 10 days. This prevent free movement of Palestinians and stops Gazans being able to travel aboard, as the Rafah crossing is the only place where Gazans are allowed access to the outside world.
According to information gathered by PCHR on Sunday 31st October 2004 IOF closed the Rafah International Crossing Point prohibiting 100s of Palestinian civilians from traveling either into Egypt or back into Gaza. This violates there right to freedom of movement. The Humanitarian situation on the Egyptian side rapidly worsened every day as 100s more Palestinians arrive in order to return to Gaza. Many of the Gazans waiting to return to Gaza have come from Saudi Arabia having completed their journey to Mecca during the holy month of Ramadan.
The International Crossing Point terminal in Egypt has a maximum capacity to hold 300 people. It lacks all basic services, including health services, food, places to sleep and properly wash. Yesterday (7/11/2004) the total number of Palestinians waiting to cross had reached approximately 3000. These people are in a dire situation and need to be able to return to Gaza.
Closing the Rafah International Crossing Point causes massive problems for Palestinians travelers especially those trying to re-enter Gaza. This is because there are no proper support mechanism or infrastructure for them on the Egyptian side of the crossing. According to Palestinian Civil Affairs there are 500 Palestinians inside the terminal itself and the rest (2500) are having to survive in the surrounding area in appalling conditions, with virtually no means of supporting themselves. Many of those waiting to re-enter Gaza are children. Another large group are the sick and elderly many of whom left Gaza in order to receive specialist medical care aboard and are now forced to wait in conditions that are extremely tough even for the young and fit.
This is the fourth time in the last four months that the IOF have totally closed Rafah International Crossing Point. The Palestinian travelers are suffering. Each time the Crossing Point is opened it is done so under a increasingly sever regime of rules and regulations imposed by the IOF.
A large number of Palestinian males aged between 16 and 35 have prevented from leaving Gaza from April 18th 2004 until now. The IOF did allow for a very limited number to leave up until 2 weeks before the current total closure, after a lengthy process of getting a coordination. The result of this is that large numbers of Palestinian students have lost there University places for this year. Large numbers of sick people have also lost their places in clinics and hospitals abroad. This is due to their inability to attend due to the closures. Many of these patients have waited along tome for these appointments as it is necessary to travel abroad to get the specialist treatment that they need.
PCHR condemns the continuation of these closures and rules. We consider them collective punishment which violates International Humanitarian Law. PCHR calls upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to pressure the Israeli government to respect its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949.
Public Document
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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
