Ref: 14/2010

Today, 10 February 2010,
the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) received Mr. Alan Bugeja, the
Representative of Malta to the Palestinian National Authority, in the PCHR head
office in Gaza City.

Bugeja met with Raji
Sourani, Director of PCHR, who spoke in detail about the deterioration of the human
rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in general and in the
Gaza Strip in particular.  He talked
about continued violations of human rights perpetrated by the Israeli
occupation forces.

Sourani further discussed the
destructive impact of the continued illegal closure imposed on the Gaza Strip.  He highlighted the catastrophic consequences
of this siege on various aspects on the lives of Palestinian civilians, who are
denied their right to freedom of movement and are suffering due to restrictions
imposed on the movement of goods from and to the Gaza Strip.  He explained how this blockade prevents the
reconstruction of the Gaza Strip more than one year after the latest Israeli
offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Sourani also discussed the
internal Palestinian situation and the ongoing political fragmentation,
reiterating that the ongoing crisis can only be overcome by national dialogue. He
concluded by stressing that it is important that the international community
puts an end to the continued violations perpetrated by Israel against
Palestinian civilians and their property.  He also stressed the importance of the recommendations
of the Goldstone Report and the role they assign to the international community
regarding the implementation of these recommendations in ensuring that perpetrators
of alleged war crimes cannot evade punishment.