The Israeli occupying forces have prevented more than 800 Palestinian pilgrims from the Gaza Strip from traveling through the Rafah Terminal at the Palestinian-Egyptian border. The pilgrims were on their way to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage.
According to Palestinian Center for Human Rights investigation, a list was handed out by the Israeli military to the Palestinian side, which included the names of 836 Palestinian pilgrims from the Gaza Strip who will not be allowed to pass through the terminal. 396 were of families of Palestinians killed or injured by Israeli forces.
This group has received assistance for the pilgrimage from the Palestinian President. The remaining 440 pilgrims on the list are being prevented passage for "security" reasons. The first group of Palestinian pilgrims from the
Gaza Strip is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia through the Rafah Terminal on Friday, 24 January 2003.
According to PCHR, this israeli measure is a further escalation of the Israeli policy of collective punishment of the Palestinian civilian population.
Furthermore, the new measure violates the right to free worship and to conduct religious ceremonies both individually and collectively. (Albawaba.com)
