Ref: 21/2008
Date: 24 June 2008
PCHR Receives Representative of European Commission
On Tuesday morning, 24 June 2008, PCHR received in its main office in Gaza City Mr. John Kjaer, Representative of the European Commission, Mr. Jerome Bellion, Political Officer, and Ms. Maja Sverbrup, Political Advisor.
The visitors met with Mr. Jaber Wishah, Deputy Director of PCHR, and Mr. Hamdi Shaqqura, Director of PCHR Democratic Development Unit. PCHR’s representatives detailed the visitor on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in the Gaza Strip. They also highlighted the escalating crimes committed by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against Palestinians, especially killings of civilians, including children, and expressed their deep concern over the increasing number of children killed by IOF in the first half of this year, whose number is higher than theirs in any complete year during the current Palestinian Intifada.
PCHR’s representatives further detailed the visitors on the siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip, especially in the last year, and its destructive impacts on the Palestinian civilian population and economy, stressing that the siege is a form of unjustified collective punishment against civilians.
Moreover, the meeting discussed the unprecedented deterioration in the human rights situation at the internal level since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. The two PCHR’s representatives detailed the disastrous impacts of the deterioration in the human rights situation as a result of the political division and the sharp breakup in the executive, which have impacted bother the legislature and the judiciary. Such division, they asserted, has undermined human rights in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as public freedoms have been attacked in a context that is similar to retaliatory actions, whose price has been paid by Palestinian civilians in both areas.
Representative of the European Commission was interested in listening to PCHR’s view of the Egypt-brokered truce between Hamas and Israel. PCHR’s representatives expressed their hopes that the truce would remain effective without any obstacles, but expressed reservations with regard to expectations since things are essentially related to changes on the ground, taking into consideration previous experiences, which witnessed Israeli violations. They stressed that all previous truces concluded between Israel and the Palestinian National Authority during the current Palestinian Intifada did not last for long as Israel violated and disrespected them.
PCHR’s representatives stressed the need for reopening Rafah International Crossing Point and called for a final agreement concerning it, since it is the sole outlet for Palestinians to the outside world. They also talked about the European role at the crossing point according to the Israeli-Palestinian Border Crossings Agreement of 2005, as Israel repeatedly made use of such role through closing the crossing point allegedly for the non-presence of European observers. They further urged the European delegation to make efforts to find other mechanisms to ensure continuous operation of the crossing point in all circumstances.
At another level, PCHR’s representatives discussed the latest developments with regard to the expansion of Euro-Israeli relations, and expressed their astonishment towards developing such relations while IOF continue their crimes against Palestinian civilians. They asserted that such development of relations contradicts the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which links commercial exchange with respect for human rights.
At the end of the meeting, PCHR’s representatives emphasized the need to end the current Palestinian division, stressing that there is no other alternative to dialogue between Fatah and Hamas movements. They further stressed that it is important that Europe should support such dialogue.
