GAZA, December 7, 2009 (WAFA)- The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemned 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 called upon Hamas to remove all travel restrictions imposed, in particular the obligation to obtain permission from it; 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, the gunmen 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 gunmen claimed that these patients did not obtain exit permits. 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.
