The human Rights situation in Gaza Strip has seen rapid deterioration recently because of the Israeli blockade, which has brought about negative impacts on the enjoyment of basic human rights, and threatens to impede the activities of the different Palestinian and international human rights and humanitarian organizations in the Strip.
Under a sharp lack of fuel as well as materials and equipment essential for their work, such as printing paper, ink, and computers, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, like many other organizations, has had to reduce its activities during the last few months.
Al Mezan, however, has managed to maintain its work on human rights priorities despite these obstacles.
However, under the current full blockade and lack of fuel, it has been compelled to relocate its staff in its three offices because they have been unable to reach the offices where they work.
Furthermore, the Center is now unable to operate its power generator during electricity cuts.
The fuel crisis has affected negatively the Center's legal work which requires follow up with victims both in and Gaza and Israel.
The Center's lawyers can not access their offices or conduct field visits to detention centers.
This crisis also affected the monitoring and documentation activities.
It has become extremely difficult for field workers to conduct investigations and visits to areas of human rights violations, or collect data and affidavits from victims and eyewitnesses.
Further, most of the Center's training and awareness activities were suspended; including awareness and training activities at UNRWA schools.
These activities depend completely on people's participation and staff members and trainers to reach people.
Al Mezan, while announces the suspension of its activities, calls on the international community to immediately intervene to lift the tight siege imposed by the IOF on the Gaza Strip, which led to severe deterioration to the humanitarian situation and, if it is allowed to continue, threatens all aspects of life in Gaza.
The Center also calls on international human rights organizations to express their solidarity with their Palestinian peers, whose work is about to stop completely as a result of the illegal collective punishment that the IOF impose on Gaza's population.
Al Mezan calls the Human Rights Council and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to act urgently to bring IOF's gross and systematic human rights violations to an end, and to enable the independent human rights organizations to perform their activities.
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