PCHR is gravely concerned at the living conditions of thousands of Palestinians in Egypt and Jordan who have not been able to travel back to the Gaza Strip due to the continuing closure of Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world, by Israeli occupation forces (IOF). PCHR calls upon the international community, including government and inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, to pressure the Israeli belligerent occupation government to abide with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and allow thousands of Palestinians (who traveled outside the Gaza Strip before 13 December 2004 for medical treatment, studying or visiting relatives) to travel back to the Gaza Strip to join their families.

Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border has been closed by IOF since 13 December 2004. Subsequently, thousands of Palestinian civilians have been waiting at the Egyptian side of the crossing point, in Jordan or other countries, waiting to be allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip. These civilians, including children, women and elderly people, lack basic humanitarian needs as some of them are patients and others had expended their money during this long period of closure. A number of Palestinian patients died at the Egyptian side of the crossing and the IOF refused to transfer their bodies into the Gaza Strip, so their families were forced to bury them in Egypt. Under this closure, IOF have prevented Palestinian patients who are in need of urgent medical treatment abroad, from traveling through the crossing point, in violation of their right to health.

PCHR reiterates its call for the international community to exert pressure on IOF to reopen Rafah International Crossing Point to allow thousands of Palestinians to travel back to the Gaza Strip to join their families during Eid al-Adha. PCHR draws the attention of the international community to these ongoing measures by the IOF which violate the letter and spirit of international humanitarian law. Consequently, PCHR calls upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to pressure the Israeli belligerent occupation government to comply with its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.