Ramallah, 31-12-07: Khaldiyya Hamdan, 55, was murdered yesterday by Israeli soldiers at the Erez crossing on her way back from Mecca. This is but the latest crime in a string of grave human rights violations perpetrated against Gazan pilgrims by the Israeli military. From denial to exit the Strip to denial to re-enter, from arbitrary delays to random violence, Gazan muslims suffered grave infringements of their freedom of religion during this year‘s Hajj pilgrimage.
Equally disturbing, this Christmas Palestinian Christians also suffered from Israeli policies aimed at denying their freedom of religion: denial of entry for pilgrims and priests, and new regulations against Christian Arab clergy, as well as against Christian foreigners volunteering with Christian institutions and service providers.
Dr Barghouthi MP, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative condemned these attacks against freedom of religion. "The Israeli occupation has established an Apartheid system against Palestinians, and their religious rights are denied like all their other fundamental rights".