Five non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were raided and some of their belongings were confiscated by persons who presented themselves as members of the Gaza internal security apparatus.
When they broke into the NGOs offices, these persons did not provide their names.
They did not have any documents from courts or any other authorized bodies that would enable them to lawfully search the NGOs offices.
According to affidavits given to Al Mezan by persons employed by the NGOs, between 10am and 12am on Monday 31 May 2010, the Gaza Government’s internal security apparatus broke into four NGOs offices in the town of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.
The NGOs are: Sharik Youth Institution, Bonat Al-Mustaqbal (Future Builders) Society, the South Society for Women's Health, and the Women and Children Society.
The raiders searched the offices and made a list of the equipment and other belongings in the NGOs.
Later, between 6pm and 8pm on the same day, a group of persons, who also identified themselves as from the internal security apparatus, went to the offices of the same NGOs and called the directors by telephone.
They confiscated most of the equipment and belongings, including computers, faxes, cameras, part of the documents, reports as well as the keys to their doors.
The security members informed the directors that their organizations were closed.
They did not provide any reasons behind this decision.
In a separate incident, at approximately, 8am on Tuesday 1 June 2010, a group of persons who identified themselves as from the internal security apparatus broke into and Palestinian Mini Parliament and the National Reconciliation Committee.
They confiscated the keys to their doors and ordered them closed