Dr. Mahjoub, of Tunisian decent, a professor of psychology the University of Tunis and a member of the Academic Board of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme was held at the Ben Gurion International Airport for several hours before being deported and prevented from participating in the functions and activities of the Academic Board meeting held in Gaza.

The Israeli Authorities committed this arbitrary act claiming that he did not have an entry visa to Israel. However, Dr. Mahjoub mentioned he had visited Palestine before and has obtained the entry visa upon his arrival to Ben Gurion Airport. In addition, the Israeli consulate office in Tunisia notified Dr. Mahjoub he didn't need to have a visa ahead of his arrival.

Dr. Mahjoub was denied entry even though he intended to travel directly to Gaza to attend the academic board meeting without staying in Israel.

Foreigners are not allowed to enter Gaza through Erez crossing except by special coordination through the Israeli Liason Office. This in turn largely prohibits foreigner people entry into Gaza and reduces the opportunities of cooperation between the international community and Palestinian professionals in providing much needed services in many different fields.

Physicians for Human Rights, Israel has been coordinating entry into Gaza for the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme for visitors for over two years and coordinated the visit of Dr. Mahjoub.

We at the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme and the Academic Board express our astonishment and condemn such practices of the Israeli government. We consider these acts a blatant violation of human rights as it denies the basic right of freedom of movement.

We call upon all organizations that work on human rights, freedom, and justice to be in solidarity with the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme to stop all unjustified violations of our human rights and to apply pressure to end this oppression by Israel against the Palestinian people.

Gaza Community Mental Health Programme and the Academic Board Members:

Prof. Wim.H. G. Wolters
Chairman of Medical Psychology Center
Utrecht University, Holland.

Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj
Psychiatrist and Director General
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

Dr. Jan Ter Laak
Chairman, Medical Psychology Center.
Utrecht University, Holland.

Prof. Jess Ghannam
Chairman of Medical Psychiatry Department
University of California-San Francisco

Dr. Henrik Ronsbo
Senior Researcher, RCT.

Prof. Mohammad El. Helou.
Facility of Education
Islamic University

Dr. Abdel Hamid Afana,
Director of Training, Education, and Research
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

Dr. Ahmad Abu Tawahina
Deputy Director
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

Dr. Taysir Diab
Clinical Supervisor
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme

Dr. Samir Qouta
Consultant
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme