Israel Matzav: 'Palestinian Centre for Human Rights' blasts Hamas travel restrictions

'Palestinian Centre for Human Rights' blasts Hamas travel restrictions

The 'Palestinian Centre for Human Rights' has blasted Gaza's Hamas rulers for the restrictions they place on 'Palestinians' leaving Gaza.

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.

Of course, the mainstream media, which has been condemning Israel for 'blockading' Gaza for more than two years, didn't even notice.

Israel Matzav: 'Palestinian Centre for Human Rights' blasts Hamas travel restrictions