"Stop Immediately the Expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip" - Hamoked

Today, 25.5.10, Hamoked – Center for the Defence of the Individual served a petition to the HCJ, along with 15 other Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations, regarding the practice of expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip solely on the basis of their registered address.

This practice affects Palestinians who have, in many cases, lived in the West Bank for many years, sometimes even a decade or more. They have established their lives in the West Bank, married, had children, and provide for their families. Israel refuses to correct and update these individuals’ addresses, declaring them in Israel’s registries as "living in Gaza Strip".

This situation creates daily difficulties and may culminate in the sudden expulsion of these people to the Gaza Strip, sometimes from their homes, sometimes from a military checkpoint, and all within a period of a few hours. Thousands of people live in constant fear of being expelled, terrified of a simple walk to the grocery store, school, or work. Their only "crime" is having an address which Israel refuses to correct. The policy of expulsion causes severe damage to thousands of people and their families, and is in breach of Israeli and international law. Such expulsion is defined as "forced transfer" under international law, which is a clear war crime.

In the petition, the organizations demand an immediate stop to the unacceptable practice of forced transfer, and, in addition, for the prompt correction of addresses in Israel's documents.

The organizations who are part of the petition are: Hamoked – Center for the Defence of the Individual, Adalah - The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Al Dameer Association for Human Rights, Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights – Gaza, the Association for Civil Right in Israel, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center, Machsom Watch – Women against the Occupation and for Human Rights, PCHR - Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Rabbis for Human Rights, Yesh Din – Volunteers for Human Rights.

For further details: Elad Cahana, Legal Department, Hamoked: 0543-347353