Largest European parliamentary delegation to visit Gaza Friday

[ 13/01/2010 - 10:02 PM ]

LONDON, (PIC)-- The largest ever European parliamentary delegation is due to arrive in the post-war Gaza Strip on Friday through the Rafah border crossing to report about the tragic humanitarian situation there. The delegation is composed of more than 50 lawmakers from 12 European countries as well as former ministers and will work on reporting the impacts of the Israeli war and siege to their parliaments and governments. Dr. Arafat Madi, the head of the European campaign to end the siege, told a join news conference held in London in the presence of some members of the delegation that the visit will last two days, during which the delegation will visit the Palestinian legislative council and the committee for documenting war crimes as well as a number of NGOs and bombed areas.

Dr. Madi noted that the delegation received approval from the Egyptian authorities to visit Gaza.

For his part, British lawmaker Gerald Kaufman said that this delegation is serious about exploring the humanitarian situation in Gaza and will not only go to watch what is happening, affirming that this visit will be followed by moves throughout Europe to pressure the European union to end the blockade on Gaza people.

In another context, the government committee for the reception of delegations said Wednesday that the aid convoys which arrived in Gaza last year contributed to exposing the reality of the Israeli siege and alleviating the suffering of Gaza people.

Spokesman for the committee Hamdi Shaath pointed out that the committee received after the end of the Israeli war last year five European and Arab aid convoys including 721 activists.

Shaath affirmed that the committee has prepared a complete plan of action to receive convoys and delegations and facilitate their missions.