Al Mezan Center for Human Rights recently welcomed the new head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Gaza, Mr. Neil Tobin, and two OHCHR human rights officers based in Gaza, Ms. Paula Simas Magalhães and Saber Al-Nirab. Al Mezan’s Director General, Mr. Issam Younis, briefed the visitors on the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, especially in the Gaza Strip. He relayed Al Mezan’s concern about the continued cycle of escalations that lead to increased violations of human rights and the aggravation of the already dire living conditions. By sharing some of Al Mezan’s success stories, Mr. Younis stressed how important it is that Al Mezan and OHCHR continue our close collaboration and strategic partnership and support the protection of the rights of civilian population in Gaza under dire conditions.

Mr. Younis also met Mr. Josef Martin Hinterseher, the First Secretary for Political Affairs at the German Representative Office to the Palestinian Authority (GRO), and Mr. Motasem Al-Ashaab, a consultant working at the GRO. Mr. Younis stressed that the continuation of Israel’s closure and blockade policy is the main catalyst of the alarming deterioration of the humanitarian and human rights situation in Gaza. Mr. Younis added that the Palestinian internal division also assumes a prominent role in undermining respect for human rights in the oPt. he welcomed diplomatic visits to Gaza and voiced the hope that Germany plays a constructive role in alleviating the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza and support human rights.