26 September 1997

Palestinian police closed and sealed 16 Islamic welfare institutions in Gaza, bowing to US and Israeli pressure to crack down on Hamas activists.

These institutions provide social services like day care, vocational training and orphan shelters that the PA has been unable to provide. Some of the organizations are: · The Islamic Society and all its branches, Gaza (welfare organization, culture, religion, sports);
· Islamic Headquarters
· Islamic Society Club
· Muslim Girls Association (similar to the YWCA)
· Holy Land Institute (grants for needy students)
· The Islamic Welfare Society and all its branches (orphanage)
· Society of the Alms Givers, and all its branches.

Hamas leaders have noted that the closure of these institutions does not affect the operation of Hamas, but rather harms the Palestinian people and the infrastructure that serves them. These services are currently unavailable elsewhere, and the ongoing crippling closure has added to the number of people in need of such charitable services.

In the West Bank, the PA police closed the Afaq TV station and arrested owner Issa Abu Aliz. In addition, another 13 Hamas members were arrested by the PA police, bringing to over 90 the number of Palestinians arrested illegally by the PA police since 4 September.

LAW and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights notes with grave concern that the PA has essentially been forced by the United States and Israel to carry out repressive and illegal measures against its own people. This kind of pressure cannot be seen as a justification to deny Palestinian citizens the fundamental human rights of due process, association and expression. LAW calls on the PA to re-open the charitable organizations, to stop interference with the media and re-open the Afaq radio station, and either to bring to trial or release immediately all those illegally arrested.

LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). The Palestinian Center for Human Rights is an independent legal agency dedicated to protecting and promoting human rights. PCHR is also an affiliate member of FIDH.