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PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

PRESS RELEASE

Ref: 27/2004

Date: 15 February  2004

PCHR Receives Irish Delegation and Organizes a Visit to Khan Yunis and Rafah

 On Saturday morning, 14 February 2004, PCHR received a 4-member Irish delegation from the Irish Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority and the Irish Embassy.

 Director of PCHR Raji Sourani and Deputy Director Jaber Weshah met with members of the delegation and briefed them on the nature of PCHR’s work, and included reports of violations of human rights perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 

 PCHR also organized a visit for the delegation to Khan Yunis and Rafah.  Deputy Director of PCHR Jaber Weshah, Coordinator of the Economic and Social Rights Unit Khalil Shahin, Coordinator of the International Unit Victoria Metcalfe and Media Officer Ghadeer al-‘Omari, accompanied the delegation in this visit. 

 The delegation visited the area adjacent to al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis and witnessed the destruction incurred to the area by Israeli occupying forces.  Members of the delegation also visited al-Nimsawi neighborhood in Khan Yunis and observed the destruction that was incurred to dozens of houses. 

 In Rafah, the delegation saw ruins of houses that were destroyed by Israeli occupying forces in Block L and Block O.  During their presence in the area, members of the delegation heard sounds of Israeli gunfire and shelling against Palestinian civilians and property. 

 Also in Rafah, members the delegation met with members of the Committee for Destroyed Houses in Rafah Youth Sports Club.   They also met with families whose houses were destroyed and as a result forced to live in club rooms.  The families briefed members of the delegation on how their houses were destroyed, thus rendering them homeless. 

 In PCHR’s offices in Gaza city, members of the delegation met with a number of representatives of the Palestinian civil society, including ‘Omar Sha’ban, Director of Catholic Relief Service, ‘Eissa Saba, Director of Cana’an Pedagogical Institute, ‘Abdul al-Karim ‘Aashour, Director of Agricultural Relief Committees, and Dr. ‘Abdul Hamid ‘Afana from Gaza Community Mental Health Program.  In the meeting, the representatives of the civil society briefed members of the delegation on the nature of their work and how it has been negatively affected by the Israeli practices. 

 At the end of the visit, members of the delegation expressed their appreciation for PCHR’s work and its efforts to ensure respect for human rights.        

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:[email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org