GAZA (PIC)– Israeli occupation authorities barred a Palestinian human rights activist from traveling from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank and detained her at the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.
IOF troops stationed at the Erez crossing stopped Ibtisam Zaqout Al ‘Aaidi 44 who works with the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) as the Director of Field Work.
According to a press release issued by PCHR Al ‘Aaidi went to Erez crossing at approximately 08:30 on Wednesday 7 March 2007 to travel to the West Bank in response to an invitation from the Swedish Kvinna Till Kvinna. The Palestinian civil liaison informed her that IOF had issued a permit for her. At approximately 09:00 she entered the crossing. There IOF soldiers took her identity card and ordered her to wait for 10 minutes to be able to pass through. However 8 hours passed without any explanation for blocking her from traveling. During this period IOF soldiers treated her as a detainee. At approximately 17:30 when no one was still at the crossing except for her IOF soldiers gave her the identity card and the permit and ordered her to travel back to Gaza.
According to al-‘Aaidi IOF prevented many Palestinians from traveling through the crossing although they have valid permits. Others were allowed to pass through the crossing after they had been interrogated by IOF intelligence officers.
