Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Rights group decries political arrests in Gaza, West Bank



The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights expresses is concern regarding the arrest campaign waged by security services acting on behalf of the governments in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. These campaigns target members of the political opposition: Hamas activists have been arrested in the West Bank, while Fatah activists have been arrested in the Gaza Strip. 

Economic siege of Gaza leading to humanitarian crisis



PCHR is gravely concerned for the tightened siege imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) through the closure of all border crossings, including the Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border. PCHR warns of the consequences of the policy of collective punishment practiced against the Palestinian civilian population. PCHR calls upon all states and all humanitarian organizations to immediately take steps to pressurize IOF to allow the normal flow of basic supplies into the Gaza Strip to avoid an imminent crisis. 

Weekly Report on Human Rights Violations



During the reporting period, a Palestinian civilian and a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, respectively. Three Palestinian civilians were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. A French solidarity activist was wounded by IOF gunfire in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. IOF conducted 28 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 55 Palestinian civilians, including six children and a woman. IOF arrested a Palestinian civilian in the Gaza Strip. 

Weekly Report on Human Rights Violations



During the reporting period nine Palestinians, including two children, were killed by the IOF in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Four of the victims were extrajudicially executed by the IOF. Eighteen civilians were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Thirteen of these civilians, including a journalist, four women and four international human rights defenders, were wounded when IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration against the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein. 

Election Irregularities: PCHR Lodges Appeal with Election Court Against CEC Decision



9 January 2005, 20:00 GMT — The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has, tonight, lodged an appeal with the Palestinian Election Appeals Court against the decision by the Central Election Commission to allow citizens to vote with their Palestinian identity cards, even if their names were not on the electoral register. In its appeal, which will be heard on Monday the 10th of December at 1000hrs (GMT), PCHR has asked the Court to issue a clear judgment canceling the decision by the CEC to allow citizens to vote with their identity cards and to annul all the legal consequences which arise from this.   

PCHR publishes an evaluation report on election campaign conduct



Today, 9 January 2005, PCHR has published a report evaluating the election campaign for the Palestinian presidential election and related violations of the regulations prescribed by the electoral law concerning this campaign.  The report examines the commitment of candidates and related parties with the regulations prescribed by the electoral law during the official period of the election campaign, 25 December 2004 – 7 January 2005. The report is part of the effort to monitor all stages of Palestinian elections by PCHR in cooperation with 26 Palestinian civil society groups throughout the Gaza Strip. 

Election Irregularities: Palestinian civilians still being denied access to al-Mawasi in Gaza



8 January 2005, 14:00 GMTPCHR is gravely concerned that at least 180 residents of al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling back to their homes in the area by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). This measure will further increase the suffering of these Palestinians, as it particularly deprives them of participation in the Palestinian presidential election on Sunday, 9 January 2005.