Ref: 47/2007

Date: 06 September  2007

PCHR Hosts a European Delegation and a British Parliamentary Delegation

PCHR Director Raji Sourani met two official delegations in the Center’s main office in Gaza City today. The first delegation comprised of Fredrik Kirst (Consul for Political Affairs in the Swedish Consulate in Jerusalem), Tobias Tunkel (from the Swedish Consulate,) and Maja Svedrup (Political Advisor in the EU Special Representative Office). The second included 8 British MP’s and 3 UNRWA staff.

In his meetings, Sourani talked in detail about the recent developments in the human rights situation in tehOPT, especially the repercussions of the events of 15 June 2007. He stressed the importance of putting national goals ahead of factional interests as a way out of the current crisis.

Sourani also talked about the situation in the education, health, and judicial sectors. He called for neutralizing these sectors and refraining from politicizing them; noting that the politicization of these sectors has negatively impacted the interests of thousands of Palestinians.

On the living conditions of the civilian population, Sourani stated that the international sanctions after the January 2006 parliamentary elections have coincided with the accentuation of Israel’s policies of economic and social strangulation to cause unprecedented deterioration in the humanitarian situation of Palestinian civilians in the OPT.

Sourani also pointed to the continuation of Israel war crimes against Palestinian civilians and property, highlighting extra-judicial executions, willful killing and injury, closure and checkpoints, and the Wall. He stated that the year 2006 and 2007 have been the worst in Palestinian history with regards to Israeli crimes.

It is noted that the British Parliamentary delegation’s visit was coordinated by UNRWA. Furthermore, the Centre has received various international delegations over the past few weeks. These delegations visited PCHR and the Gaza Strip to assess the human rights situation.