The Heinrich Böll Stiftung in Ramallah invited Raji Sourani, head of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), to Germany. During the trip he briefed officials, NGO activists and politicians from all parties represented in the German Parliament about the current situation in Palestine and the Gaza strip.
While the international media was focused on the prisoner exchange and the homecoming of Gilad Shalit and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, Sourani told German policymakers that now an end of the Gaza blockade was crucial. "Freedom of movement is not a luxury", Sourani said in talks with Kerstin Müller, Green Speaker on Foreign Policy and with Ruprecht Polenz, Chairmen of the Foreign Committee " It is a basic, fundamental right. After the successful exchange of prisoners, the Israeli closure of the Gaza strip has to end immediately."
During an evening event in Berlin he told the audience at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights about the dire consequences of the total Israeli closure of the Gaza strip and how a whole generation - more than 50% of Gaza's inhabitants are under 18 - is deprived of their opportunities. Also, the population is traumatized by ongoing war and confronted with grave human rights abuses both by the Israeli occupation and Palestinian militants.
Sourani's Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), a NGO based in Gaza City, is dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Centre monitors Human Rights violations and provides legal aid to individuals. More detailed information can be found at (PCHR) Official Website.