UNHCR Alarmed by Israeli Treatment of Palestinians Returning to Gaza

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has expressed concern over increasing reports of Palestinians returning to the Gaza Strip being subjected to physical violence, threats, humiliating treatment, and intrusive searches by Israeli soldiers and other armed individuals acting under Israeli authority. The UNHCR has received widespread reports of the seizure of medicines, medical supplies, personal documents, academic certificates, money, and other personal belongings without any mechanism for their recovery. On a single day in July alone, 54 out of 92 returnees reported that some or all of their personal belongings had been seized, including medicines and assistive devices. Returnees have also described verbal abuse, intimidation, interrogation, and theft of their belongings' contents.