Ref: 46/2011

Today morning, 12 July 2011, the Palestinian
Center for Human Rights (PCHR) received Mr. Chris Greenshields, the Representative
of Canada to the Palestinian Authority, in its head office in Gaza City. Hamdi Shaqqura, PCHR’s Deputy Director for
the Program Affairs, and Iyad al-Alami, PCHR’s Deputy Director for the
Administrative and legal Affairs, met with Greensields.

The meeting started with a review of the
developments of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).  Besides, PCHR’s representatives tackled the
Israeli violations perpetrated against the Palestinian civilians’ rights in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. They focused
on the Israeli-imposed siege and its impacts, which deny the Palestinian
civilians their basic rights, and thus confirm that the siege is the most
severe form of collective punishment imposed on the Palestinian civilians.

PCHR’s representatives also pointed out that
what is happening is an institutionalization of the siege, as no positive
changes have been witnessed although several months have passed after the
alleged Israeli declaration on “easing” the siege. Besides, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)
have been imposing a complete ban on the Gazan exports and preventing entry of
basic items that are necessary for industry and construction materials
necessary for the reconstruction of Gaza.

PCHR’s representatives further addressed the
conditions at the Palestinian level and the reconciliation. They pointed out that the international
community has to support the Palestinian reconciliation at a time when the
Palestinians look forward to stepping towards practical measures for creating
an appropriate atmosphere to organize the elections, the formation of the
government and reform in the Palestinian Authority’s institutions, including
the legislative, judicial and executive ones.