The Director of PCHR Raji Sourani met with UNRWA Commissioner General Peter Hansen. Sourani expressed PCHR's solidarity with Mr. Hansen following the decision by the UN Secretary General not to re-appoint him to his post.

During the meeting, Mr. Sourani expressed PCHR's congratulations to Mr. Hansen on his persistence and reliability on the question of human rights and international humanitarian law throughout his 9-year tenure in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). Mr. Sourani emphasized his support to Mr. Hansen, declaring that PCHR's voice joins voices of thousands of Palestinians who highly respect him and his staff for their direct care provided to millions of Palestinian refugees.

Furthermore, Mr. Sourani presented PCHR's souvenir emblem to Mr. Hansen in appreciation for his role in serving the cause of Palestinian refugees throughout his tenure as the leader of an organization that provides free education and health services for refugees, and his future role in defending the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and the rights of refugees.

Repeated attacks by the Israeli government against Mr. Hansen and his staff is proof of the honourable role played by them in serving Palestinian refugees and ensuring their rights.

Mr. Peter Hansen has been a firm moral, legal and above all human voice in defending the rights of the Palestinian people, particularly refugees. With his departure, the Palestinian people, particularly refugees, will lose one of their most outspoken voices for human rights and, significantly, a strong voice for the implementation of international humanitarian law in the OPT.