Ref: 63/2013
Date: 16 June 2013
Date: 10:30 GMT

On Sunday morning, 16 June 2013, Gaza Supreme Court held its 3rd session to consider the complaint submitted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) against the Interior Ministry to disclose the reasons for preventing PCHR’s staff from traveling to the West Bank via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing

The Court decided to adjourn consideration of the complaint to Sunday, 23 June 2013, and obliged the defendant – the Ministry of Interior – to present a detailed rejoinder explaining the reasons for compelling the plaintiffs to obtain permits from the Ministry of Interior before passing through Beit Hanoun crossing.

The Public Prosecution gave the Court its reply, claiming that, “The plaintiffs are not banned from travelling and they are not listed on the travel ban lists; what happened in their case is that they were asked to show passing permits, but they refused to present such permits.” The Public Prosecution pleaded to rejecting the request, which was objected to by the representative for the plaintiffs, explaining that the cause of the request still stands as the plaintiffs are still required to obtain permits from the Ministry of Interior before passing through Beit Hanoun crossing, and that they will be banned from traveling unless they represent such permits, or risk violating the law.

It should be noted that PCHR filed a complaint on 12 May 2013 to Gaza Supreme Court challenging the measures taken by the Internal Security Service (ISS) of the Interior Ministry against PCHR’s staff, comprised of lawyer Iyad al-Alami, PCHR’s Deputy Director for Legal and Administrative Affairs; and lawyer Mohammed Bseiso. The ISS banned both lawyers from traveling to the West Bank via the Erez crossing for an official mission. PCHR called upon the Supreme Court to issue its preliminary decision to accept the complaint in form and to oblige the defendant/the Minister of Interior and National Security in Gaza, represented by the Attorney General, to disclose the reasons for banning the plaintiffs from traveling via the Erez crossing, an act in violation of the law. Furthermore, PCHR called upon the Court to issue a prompt and definite decision to allow the plaintiffs to travel in accordance with the law.

It should be noted that on 12 May 2013, ISS, stationed at the Ministry of Interior’s checkpoint near Beit Hanoun crossing, denied lawyer Iyad al-Alami, PCHR’s Deputy Director for Legal and Administrative Affairs; and lawyer Mohammed Bseiso from travelling to the West Bank on an official mission.