Israeli Evil Actions Against Internationals And Palestinians
Severe restrictions have been imposed on the Gaza Strip since the beginning of May; however, last week witnessed a broadening of the scope of the crackdown to include entry into Israel. On 13 May 2003, the Middle East and North Africa Head of the Ford Foundation was denied entry into Israel, and on 14 May 2003, the Human Rights Officer from the same organisation was deported back to Athens.
These unprecedented measures are severely affecting the international community who work and reside in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the actions being taken against internationals are resulting in negative repercussions for the Palestinians who rely on international organisations for humanitarian aid and assistance.
The crackdown on internationals in the Gaza Strip contradicts basic human rights, in particular the right to freedom of movement, as the Israeli authorities are preventing internationals from entering and exiting the Gaza Strip, as well as denying freedom of movement within the confines of the Gaza Strip as well.
As of Saturday 10 May 2003, UNAIS - an international NGO - has been prevented from conducting its work in the Gaza Strip. As one of PCHR's long standing partners UNAIS, has been totally banned from carrying out its activities in the Gaza Strip and 3 UNAIS Development Workers have been prevented re-entry into the Gaza Strip.
This denial of access is greatly affecting Palestinians who depend on the assistance of international NGOs for medical and humanitarian aid. This comes in the context of an already deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip that is just barely being held together by the goodwill of international organisations living and working in the region.
PCHR believes that these policies towards internationals will also have a negative impact on the work of UNRWA, the primary humanitarian organisation for the Occupied Palestinian Territories. While the organisation continues to provide services to most of the Gaza Strip's population, UNRWA will be faced with an increased workload due to the incapacity of many of their partner organisations to conduct their work.
PCHR would like to reiterate that these measures come in the context of an increase in criticism levelled at the Israeli government for illegal actions carried out by Israeli occupying forces in the Gaza Strip, including house demolitions, targeted assassinations, land levelling and restriction of movement, as well as a series of attacks on internationals during the past three months: Rachel Corrie, an American citizen was killed when an Israeli army bulldozer ran her over; Brian Avery, an American citizen was seriously wounded when he was shot in the face; Tom Hurndall, a British citizen is clinically dead after being shot in the head by Israeli forces; and a British cameraman, James Miller was killed while filming a documentary about the plight of Palestinian children.
PCHR would also like to draw attention to the campaign that is being waged by Israeli authorities against the commendable work of international solidarity movements, who strive to bring attention to the plight of the Palestinian people. However, as these movements and by extension awareness about the Palestinian cause increases, Israeli authorities are defaming these groups in the hopes of undermining their credibility. Individuals from solidarity groups have also been directly targeted and in the last week a number of members of solidarity groups in both the West Bank and Gaza were imprisoned, pending deportation.
PCHR deplores the harsh measures taken by Israel against Palestinian solidarity groups, as well as the wider policies being applied to internationals in general in the Gaza Strip and appeals to the international community to step in to bring about an end to this situation.
"End"
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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Others Press Release
FIDH- INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Press release Israel
Israel : Recent crackdown on international human rights defenders
Paris May 12, 2003 - The FIDH and the OMCT, in the framework of their joint programme the Observatory for the protection of Human Rights Defenders, express their deepest concern after Israel's crackdown on human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory as Israeli forces arrested several defenders, raided the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the West Bank and imposed new restrictions to foreigners for entry into the Gaza Strip.
According to the information received, on May 9, 2003, the Israeli forces sent a truck and 15 vehicles to the offices of the International Solidarity Movement in Beit Sahour in the West Bank. ISM has deployed dozens of foreign volunteers in West Bank and Gaza combat zones in an effort to protect Palestinian civilians from Israeli military actions. In the past months, an American member of the ISM, Rachel Corrie, was killed by a bulldozer during a house demolition, and on May 10, Briton Tom Hurndall was hit by a sniper fire and is listed as clinically dead. During the raid, the soldiers took the laptops and files of the organization. Miranda Sissons, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) researcher for Israel and the Middle East was detained while making a routine visit to the ISM; a Palestinian and US national were arrested at the same time. Ms. Sissons has been charged with violating a military order banning foreigners from entering Area A of the Palestinian Occupied Territories. She was arrested and held at a facility in Hadera, pending deportation from the country. HRW stressed the fact that the organization's researchers had conducted monitoring and research in these areas for years, with the full knowledge of the Israeli authorities.
On the same day, several Amnesty International delegates were denied access to Gaza. They refused to comply with a decision from the Israeli authorities, implemented on Friday, May 9, which requires foreigners entering Gaza to sign "waivers" that absolve Israel from responsibility should they be killed or injured. The declaration to be signed states, among other things, that the individual "accepts that the government of the state of Israel and its organs cannot be held responsible for death, injury and/or damage/loss of property which may be incurred as a result of military activity". The document further states that "any foreigner should undertake not to disrupt IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) operations in any way". This waiver is the latest step in a series of measures imposing severe restrictions on internationals entering the Gaza strip. Israeli authorities have restricted access to tourists, journalists, humanitarian and human rights workers and medical personnel, making some individuals wait up to 9 hours for access from the Gaza strip to Israel. In the latest development, according to information from the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), as of May 10, 2003, the Erez border crossing was completely closed to all internationals, except for United Nations staff and diplomats.
The recent measures appear as an attempt by the Israeli army to block foreign scrutiny of its actions and constitute a clear violation of international human rights standards and humanitarian law.
The FIDH and the OMCT ask the Israeli authorities to:
- immediately put an end to any kind of repression against human rights defenders and human rights organisations, including the ISM and respect the freedom of circulation, as guaranteed in particular by Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights, and freedom of action of human rights defenders - abide by the provisions of the Declaration on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders adopted on December 9, 1998 by the UN General Assembly and in particular Article 1 "Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international level" - conform more generally with the provisions of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and all other human rights instruments ratified by Israel
Press contact : +33 1 43 55 25 18
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To: Quartet Envoys, TFPI, LACC From: Members of the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) Date: Monday 12 May 2003
Re: End of international NGO activity in the Gaza Strip?
Less than 24 hours after the departure of US Secretary of State Colin Powell, and promise by the GoI to ease movement restrictions as a 'goodwill gesture', the IDF has imposed a full closure over the entire Gaza Strip (GS). Today, the COGAT Erez office has been informing international NGOs (INGOs) that they will be barred from entering the GS indefinitely.
If this situation is not resolved soon, the entire INGO community will be forced to cease its operations in the GS, in the context of an already deteriorating humanitarian situation.
>From informal conversations with a number of NGO Heads of Mission this morning, it is clear that INGOs have reached a point where they can no longer carry out their work in the GS. As a result, some have ceased operations altogether. For those still trying to work, their staff inside the GS are too afraid to leave, if and when the closure is lifted, in case they will not be allowed back in. In the last few months, many INGOs have been spending, on average, up to 50% of their working hours either trying to gain access to project sites in the GS or, filing complaints to COGAT and the international community on their continued inability to undertake their work in any kind of consistent or effective manner.
The feeling of disempowerment and outright despondency amongst international staff is now overwhelming. It would seem that the GoI does not want to facilitate our work in the GS, and does not want an international presence there. In addition, there is no evidence, or feeling, amongst INGOs that the situation will improve in the near future, despite the recent introduction of the 'Road Map'. Since 1st May, the entire international community has faced delays and obstructions on entry to, and exit from, the GS caused by 'new' security checks at Erez Crossing. These new measures indicate a policy change on the part of the IDF, although they have not been formally communicated by COGAT through any of the established channels that were specifically set up to provide such a liaison and communication function. In addition, their application has been sporadic and applied in an arbitrary manner. The only consistency is our continued inability to fully undertake our humanitarian and development activities in the GS.
Over the past two years, the international community has forwarded a number of letters, statements and demarches to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, and the Prime Ministers Office. To date, none have received an official response. In addition, INGOs in particular file regular reports to COGAT, but seldom receives feedback or sees changes on the ground. As COGAT does not have the authority to influence or effect change to IDF policy and planning, consequently, the INGO community has little faith in the ability of COGAT to resolve this situation.
The INGO community as a whole has not entered into formal status agreements with the Israeli authorities, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, such that might allow us to officially protest these new measures. Therefore, our ability to resist is extremely limited due to the absence of any formal channels, and accompanying legal protection. Given this, it is essential that the most senior levels of the international community bring this matter immediately to the attention of the GoI, on our behalf, by:
1) Demanding a formal explanation of this new policy from both the Prime Ministers Office, and the IDF Chief of General Staff and Southern Command. 2) Insist on a resumption of 'normal' access to the Gaza Strip, as existed before April 16, 2003, with a view to further improvements in the overall level of access.
ANNEX
Chronology of events specific to INGO movement:-
Wed. 16 April: Gaza Strip closed to all Palestinians. Internationals continue to have access.
Sat. 26 April: NGOs first report 'new' security procedures at Erez Crossing; an additional (3rd) security check to Tel Aviv/GSS, resulting in longer than usual delays. COGAT Erez was not available for comment, and COGAT Tel Aviv, when contacted, claimed that they were not aware of the new policy.
Wed. 30 April: Suicide bombing at 'Mikes Place', Tel Aviv.
Thur. 1st May: International staff of INGOs begins to experience excessive delays for up to 7 hours, and questioning on their activities. Some were told that they could not enter or exit Gaza without undergoing these interviews.
Mon. 5th May: First international INGO staff member (US citizen) denied entry to GS at Erez. No reason given.
Thur. 8th May: IDF announce (through informal channels) that foreign nationals entering the Gaza Strip have to sign a waiver freeing the Israeli army from any responsibility for death or injury incurred as a result of military activity, and also effectively banning access to flashpoints or areas considered 'sensitive' (NB. A number of INGOs work in areas that potentially fall under this category).
Fri. 9th May: IDF announce 3 new security rules; 1) People holding tourist visas (B2) will not be allowed into Gaza (UN staff with service visas will be allowed in; their spouses with B2's will not). 2) Those with tourist visas wishing to enter the GS need to coordinate in advance with COGAT Erez (NB: this is in contradiction to the 'no tourist visa' policy). 3) Only diplomats will be allowed to enter and exit Gaza between 08:00-20:00.
Sat. 10th May: 6 international INGO staff (2 British, 2 American, 1 Dutch, 1 Spanish) denied entry to Gaza. All have a B1 working visa, and have been working in the GS for at least 1 year.
Mon. 12th May: 9 international INGO staff denied entry to, and exit from Gaza, including 1 Head of Mission.
Summary of important points:
*
INGO staff is currently denied entry, regardless of whether they have a tourist visa (B2) or a working visa (B1). *
INGOs have NOT been asked to sign the waiver/declaration since Friday. [One or two signed it on Thursday simply in order to gain entry]. *
INGOs have been given mixed messages by COGAT Erez about coordinating in advance. Some have been told it is required, and have sent lists of names and passport numbers in advance. In no instances has this facilitated their access. Contrary to this, others have specifically been informed that coordinating in advance will not facilitate their access. *
INGOs continue to be informally contacted by COGAT Erez and/or the GSS asking for information on their organization, projects, staff members, funding sources etc.
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