Rights group says Gazans refused passports

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- A Palestinian rights group has accused the Palestinian Authority of refusing to issue passports to Gazans.

The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights said Thursday it has submitted complaints to the Palestinian Authority on behalf of Gaza residents, but have yet to receive a response.

Gaza is governed by the Palestinian Authority's political rival Hamas.

The group said it also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, and asked him to intervene, urging him to comply with the Palestinian Basic Law that calls for issuance of passports to all Palestinian citizens without discrimination, the Palestinians Maan news agency said Thursday.

The group cited examples of two Gazans waiting to receive passports; cancer patient Ahmed Abu Fuad Subeh who is in need of a transplant, and Ala'a Sarhan, a paramedic who requires surgery.

The rights group said the two were mentioned in the letter sent to Fayyad.

It called on the Palestinian government to issue passports to all Palestinians who apply and stop "the flagrant violation of human rights."