Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights met yesterday with Mr.
Robert Serry, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Peace Process in the Middle East (UNSCO).
The meeting took place in the UNSCO office in Gaza City.
  The meeting focused on the human rights situation in the Gaza Strip.
Mr.
Mahmoud Abu Rahma, Coordinator of Communications at Al Mezan Centre, briefed Mr.
Serry on the current situation, which is stained by a very high volume of human rights violations emanating from the continued Israeli siege of, and attacks on, the Gaza Strip, but also the on-going Palestinian internal division.
  Mr.
Abu Rahma voiced the concerns shared by the human rights community with regard to Israel’s maintaining of the Gaza siege, asserting that the measures taken by Israel do not even come close to a start of lifting the illegal siege of Gaza.
He voiced concerns about limiting the easing of the siege to allowing for more flow of consumer goods into Gaza through Israeli-controlled crossings, while maintaining the restrictions on the imports of raw materials and exports as well as the movement of people; especially between Gaza and the West Bank.
While agreeing with Mr.
Serry that the developments represent a positive change, Mr.
Abu Rahma said that an illegal situation might be allowed to continue for a long time in the form of easing the siege measures.
The siege should not have been tolerated in the first place.
He said that the current situation represents a precious opportunity where international community is involved and has leverage to insist on a full lifting of the siege and ensure more respect for international law.
  Mr.
Abu Rahma praised the UN’s focus on the rights of women within the context of the conflict and siege.
He indicated that Al Mezan Centre and the human rights community in Gaza are concerned by the deteriorated situation for Palestinian women.
Women continue to be the ultimate victims of violence in the Strip and must be protected as well as empowered to challenge this reality.
  Mr.
Serry shed light on the UN position vis-à-vis the Israeli blockade of Gaza and indicated his active and direct involvement with the view to see a full lifting of it.
He voiced his belief that the lifting of the blockade could support the efforts to end Palestinian disunity.
  Ends