The Israeli Supreme Court yesterday rejected a petition by human rights organisations against the Israeli policy which bans Gaza’s residents who filed complaints against the Israeli army or their witnesses from entering Israel to attend hearings, local Palestinian news agency Sama reported.
Several human rights centres, including Adalah, Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights have filed complaints on behalf of four people from Gaza harmed by Israeli forces during the recent war on the enclave.
The Israeli Supreme Court denied the plaintiffs’ entry to Israel on several occasions. Judge Elyakim Rubinstein said Israel is wearing two hats at the same time: “The country is responsible for security and it is the culprit at the same time.”
In wake of the lawsuits, the Israeli Public Prosecution suggested the Supreme Court check the entrance permits for Palestinians from Gaza for the purpose of following up judicial proceedings.
The court did not mention in its ruling the violation of the constitutional rights given for the complainants and their rights to obtain compensation for the harm the Israeli army caused them during the war.
Rubinstein explained this issue must be seen “not from an absolute constitutional view”, but from a “security view”.
Adalah said that this decision prevents Gaza’s residents from reaching Israeli courts and it approves “illegal” systems which harm the complainants’ constitutional rights.
This decision, Adalah continued, also prevents lawyers from meeting their Gaza-based clients.