The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns storming the office of Ashraf Jom'a, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) representing Fatah movement, in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, and arresting at least 30 persons by the Internal Security Service (ISS).

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 11:45 on Thursday, 11 November 2010, an ISS force stormed the office of PLC Member Ashraf Jom'a on the fourth floor of Qishta building in Rafah, while a documentary about the late Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad), one of the most prominent leaders of Fatah movement and Palestine Liberation Organization, was being shown. The ISS members cut off electricity from the office and attempted to confiscate computer sets and other equipment, but Jom'a stopped them. Before leaving the office, the ISS members arrested at least 30 out of about 50 persons who were in the office, and forced the others to leave the office. The detainees were transported to the ISS headquarters in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah, where they were interrogated. The detainees were also forced to sign an oath not to participate in any activity organized by Fatah movement or for the commemoration of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. They were then released. The ISS members also arrested 4 journalists who were in Jom'a's office: Bassam Mas'oud, Ahmed Zaqqout, and Ibrahim Abu Mustafa, working for Reuters; and Mohammed al-Jahjouh, working for al-Arabiya Satellite Channel. Journalist Mas'oud stated to PCHR that ISS members transported them to the ISS headquarters, where their mobile phones and camera tapes were confiscated, and they were held for an hour. Mas'oud added that the ISS members returned the confiscated equipment to them and released them following the intervention of a number of public figures.

In light of the above:

1) PCHR strongly denounces storming the office of PLC Member Ashraf Jom'a and arresting 30 persons, in spite of the immunity Mr. Jom'a enjoys under the Palestinian Basic Law.

2) PCHR emphasizes that the right to peaceful assembly is ensured under the Palestinian Basic Law, Public Meetings Law and relevant international standards.

3) PCHR condemns the detention of journalists and obstruction of their work, stressing that the right to freedom of media work, expression and opinion is ensured under the Palestinian constitution and relevant international human rights standards.