PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Press Release

Ref: 123/2009
Date: 07 December 2009
Time: 12:00 GMT

Ministry of Interior's Decision, Palestinian Police Obstruct of Travel of
Patients Receive Medical Treatment in Hospitals outside Gaza;
PCHR Calls on Gaza Government to Immediately Cancel Such Measures

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns external travel
restrictions imposed on the population of the Gaza Strip. These restrictions
also apply to patients seeking medical treatment unavailable in the Gaza
Strip. PCHR calls upon the Government in Gaza to remove all travel
restrictions imposed, in particular the obligation to obtain permission from
the Ministry of Interior in Gaza; these obligations contradict the
provisions of the Palestinian Basic Law and international standards related
to the freedom of movement.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Monday morning, 07
December 2009, the Palestinian police stationed at the Customs Checkpoint
near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing prevented 37 patients and their companions
from heading towards the crossing to travel to hospitals in the West Bank,
including Jerusalem, and Israel. The police claimed that these patients did
not obtain exit permits from the Office of Traveling Registration in the
Ministry of Interior. According to a number of these patients, they were
forced to travel back to the governmental complex to apply for permission,
where they were forced to wait for more than three hours. A number of these
patients are scheduled for surgery in Palestinian or Israeli hospitals
today, these measures have obstructed their travel to hospital, raising
concerns regarding their health.

On 25 November 2009, the Ministry of Interior declared the opening of an
office for the registration of travelers in Abu Khadra governmental complex
in Gaza City. The Ministry requested each individual in the Gaza Strip
wishing to travel abroad to refer to that office to obtain permission three
days prior to the time of travel. The application form for such permission
is divided into three sections: personal information; destination and
purpose of travel and companions; and a pledge that needs signatures. In
additional, two personal photographs, photocopies of the identity card and
the passport, photocopies of documents that explain the purpose of travel
and a photocopy of the permit obtained from the other side (Israel) must be
annexed to the application form. The originals of all of those documents
must be brought to the office to confirm they are true copies.

These restrictive measures are imposed as the Palestinian civilian
population in the Gaza Strip suffer from the impacts of the total ban
imposed by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) on their travel outside the Gaza
Strip since 25 June 2006, when IOF tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza
Strip. Under this closure regime, the majority of the Palestinian civilian
population have been prevented from traveling outside the Gaza Strip through
Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, excluding a very limited number of patients and
traders. In addition, dozens of patients have been enduring the
complications of obtaining permission to receive medical treatment in
Palestinian and/or Israeli hospitals, and many of them have been prevented
from traveling even though they have permits and others have had to wait for
long hours and even days. It is worth noting that the issuance of permits
by IOF for patients is often declared late at night, and patients are
instructed to travel to Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing on the following
morning, which makes it impossible to meet the condition to obtain travel
permission from the Ministry of Interior in Gaza.

PCHR follows up with utmost concern the restrictions and hindrances imposed
by the Ministry of Interior, which limit the travel of the Gaza population
abroad. PCHR believes that such measures violate the right of each
Palestinian to freedom of movement, including traveling outside the
Palestinian National Authority (PNA) controlled areas; in particular, they
violate Article 9 of the Palestinian Basic Law, which calls for equality
before the judiciary and the law. They also prejudice the right to freedom
of movement and residence of the population, both their freedom to travel
within their territory and from and back to their territory whenever they
wish. Additionally, such illegal measures violate international human
rights standards, including Article 12 of International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, which the PNA has declared its commitment to. PCHR is
concerned that such measures may lead to violations of Palestinian civilians'
right to have maximum adequate physical and mental care.

PCHR strongly condemns the measures imposed by the Government in Gaza, which
restrict the freedom of movement of the population of the Gaza Strip, and
calls upon the Palestinian Government in the Gaza Strip to:

1) Nullify the requirement to obtain permission for traveling from the
Gaza Strip to the West Bank and/or abroad from the Office of Traveling
Registration in the Ministry of Interior, as it constitutes a violation of
their right to freedom of movement.
2) Take all necessary measures to facilitate the travel of patients
from the Gaza Strip, especially to Palestinian hospitals in the West Bank,
including Jerusalem, or Israeli hospitals; all documents held by patients
are official ones that are issued by the External Medical Treatment
Department in accordance with accredited procedures that include signatures
of specialized doctors, the Higher Committee for External Medical Treatment
and the Service Purchase Department in the Ministry of Health.

Public Document
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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8
2824776 - 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
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