PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights LTD (non profit)
Press Release

Ref: 70/2009
Date: 01 June 2009
Time: 09:50 GMT

Gaza Security Services Prevent Fatah PLC Members from Traveling to Ramallah

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the travel ban
imposed by the security services of the Gaza Government on four Fatah
members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The ban prevented the
PLC members from traveling to Ramallah on Sunday morning, 31 May 2009, to
attend a meeting of the Fatah Bloc in the PLC. PCHR calls upon the Gaza
government to cease such measures, which restrict the right to freedom of
movement ensured by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights
standards.

According to PLC Member 'Abdul Hamid al-'Eila, 50, he and three other PLC
Members representing the Fatah movement, Mohammed Hijazi, 62; Raja'ei
Baraka, 50; and Dr. Ibrahim al-Musaddar, 57, travelled towards Beit Hanoun
(Erez) crossing at approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 31 May 209. The four
intended to travel to Ramallah in order to discuss the formation of the new
government in Ramallah. When they arrived at the Customs checkpoint to the
south of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, they were stopped by police officers.
The officers ordered them out of their car and held them in a car park for
nearly one hour, awaiting the arrival of three officers of the Internal
Security Service (ISS). Al-'Eila informed PCHR that the three security
officers confiscated the PLC Members' identification documents, including
passports, and forced them to wait under the sun for nearly an hour. The PLC
Members' bags were searched, and their mobile phones confiscated. The
security officers then ordered the PLC Members to travel back to Gaza City
and to report to the offices of the ISS in Abu Khadra governmental complex
on Sunday, 07 June 2009, in order to retrieve their documents and mobile
phones.

PCHR is concerned by the movement restrictions placed on PLC Members by
Palestinian security services. PCHR calls upon the government in Gaza to
cease these measures and to abstain from restricting the right to freedom of
movement ensured by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human right
standards.

Public Document
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