By Palestine Chronicle Staff

Human Rights Watch has called on the Jordanian government to lift the restrictions imposed based on issuing “non-objection papers” to Palestinians from Gaza who travel through the country.

Kenneth Roth, the Executive Director of HRW sent a letter to the Jordanian Prime Minister, which read: “Since August, residents of Gaza have found it increasingly difficult to obtain permission to transit via Jordan in order to travel abroad. I respectfully request that you look into the matter and take steps to facilitate such transit.”

Recently, more Palestinians from Gaza have complained about getting rejections or no response from the Jordanian authorities when they applied for the necessary paperwork.

The Palestine Chronicle contacted one such Palestinian in Gaza whose application for a “non-objection paper” was rejected: “I got rejected twice. I have no idea why. I lost my chance of traveling. There is no light at the end of the tunnel with the continuing closure of the Rafah Crossing and the refusal to issue needed paperwork by the Jordanian authorities.”

The HRW’s letter cited three cases from Gaza in which an MA student, a development worker and a researcher were denied permits by the Jordanian authorities.

Egypt opened the Rafah Crossing last week for two days for the first time in 85 days, allowing some 700 Palestinians out, who consist of only 2% of Palestinians registered to travel.

(PC)