Ref: 44/2011

Today morning, 5 July 2011, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) received a delegation from the Irish Representative Office and Irish Aid in its head office in Gaza City. The delegation included Ms. Fionnuala Callanan, Deputy Representative of Ireland to the Palestinian National Authority; Ms. Ciara O'Brien; Ms. Nuala O'Brien and Mary Ryan from the Emergency and Recovery Section at Irish Aid. Mr. Iyad al-Alami, PCHR's Deputy Director for the Administrative Affairs, Mr. Hamdi Shaqqoura, PCHR's Deputy Director for the Program Affairs and Rami Abu Sha'ban, PCHR’s accountant, met with the delegation.

The meeting started with a review of the developments of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Besides, PCHR’s representatives tackled the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip for years and its impacts on all aspects of life, stressing that throughout the past year, since the alleged Israeli declaration on "easing the siege, no positive changes have been witnessed. Additionally, the blockade has been still imposed, particularly, regarding the strategic materials necessary for industry and construction materials to reconstruct what had been destroyed prior to, during and after the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip - 'Operation Cast Lead.' Israel has been banning Gazan exports, excluding some agricultural products, a matter that institutionalizes the siege. PCHR's representatives called upon the international community to make efforts to put an end to the siege.

Additionally, PCHR's representatives pointed to the continued human rights violations perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially, in the buffer zone area along the border and in high seas, and the continued violations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

PCHR's representatives further addressed the conditions at the Palestinian level, explaining that reconciliation has been at a standstill, while the atmosphere of optimism after signing the reconciliation agreement last May has retreated. They highlighted that the international community has to support the efforts done to make the Palestinian reconciliation a success at a time when the Palestinians look forward to stepping towards practical measures for the formation of the government, reform in the Palestinian Authority's institutions, including the legislative, judicial and executive ones, and creating an appropriate atmosphere to organize free and fair elections.

Today afternoon, PCHR received another delegation from CARE that included David White, the Regional Director, Sarah Raliston, his assistant and CARE’s representative in the Gaza Strip. Hamdi Shaqqoura, PCHR's Deputy Director for the Program Affairs, met with the delegation. The meeting tackled human rights conditions in OPT pointing to the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip in particular, which has left disastrous impacts on social and economic rights of the Palestinian civilians. The meeting addressed also the current developments at the Palestinian level and what the Palestinians aspire for in a time when the Palestinian reconciliation has been at a standstill. PCHR stressed that it is necessary for the international organization to carry out more activities and programs in OPT.

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