Ref: 52/2007
Date: 25 September 2007
PCHR Hosts Representatives of Donor Countries including Diplomats, Ambassadors, and Representatives to the PNA
On 24 September 2007, PCHR hosted a 33-member delegation from several donor countries including Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium. Rolf Holmboe from Denmark headed the delegation that included several ambassadors, consuls, and representatives to the PNA.
Raji Sourani, PCHR’s Director, met the visiting delegation and thanked them for their initiative to assess the situation in Gaza on the ground. The meeting discussed several topics, most notably the international embargo on the Palestinian people, the impact of collective punishment on Palestinian civilians, the European and international role in supporting Israeli practices, International Law and International Humanitarian Law commitments on Israel and the international community, and the most notable Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians.
Sourani opened his talk to the visitors by stressing that International Law and International Humanitarian Law are the real victims of violations against Palestinian civilians, who should be protected by the 4th Geneva Convention. He talked about the impact of the international embargo on Palestinians since January 2006. He stressed that the embargo did not have any impact on Hamas, and that those who were really affected are the civilian population. He described the embargo as unjust, and that it is in reality collective punishment of Palestinians for practicing their democratic right. Sourani stated that Europe punished Palestinians through this siege and undermined their democratic experience.
On the impact of the international embargo, Sourani highlighted the severe deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation of the civilian population, stressing that Europe is a party to this suffering by its role in the embargo. In addition, he added that Europe’s silence over Israel’s violations against Palestinians makes it a party to these violations.
On the issue of Israel’s human rights violations, Sourani stated that the policy of closure and restrictions on the movement of individuals and goods to and from the Gaza Strip has transformed the territory into a large prison. On the 40th anniversary of the occupation, Sourani stated, the average Palestinian’s dream to enjoy freedom of movement.
Sourani stated that the latest Israeli announcement that the Gaza Strip is a “hostile entity” is nothing new; and that Israel has been treating the Strip as such for many years. He pointed that the announcement aims to free Israel of its obligation to respect the rights of the civilian population and to protect them. Instead the announcement lays the groundwork for inflicting further bloodshed and suffering on the civilian population under the cloak of the silent international community. Sourani affirmed that the main Palestinian demand was and still is the implementation of International Law and International Humanitarian Law. He demanded that the visiting countries return to their moral value and cease imposing unjust sanctions on Palestinian civilians.
It is noted that this is the second visit of its kind to PCHR. Last month, a 44-member delegation from different countries visited the Centre.
