[ 09/12/2009 - 08:00 PM ]
GAZA, (PIC)-- The Israeli occupation authority (IOA) barred a European parliamentary delegation from entering the Gaza Strip through Erez crossing on Wednesday morning at the pretext of the presence of security risks.
Members of the delegation said that their visit was already scheduled and approved by the Israeli authorities, but it was rescinded a few hours after the EU council expressed Europe’s strong position in favor of an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders and an end to settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
In a statement, the delegation expressed its dismay at such a decision and demanded a full explanation of the security risks claimed by Israel.
The statement added that the delegation’s visit was intended for checking on humanitarian conditions in Gaza, and meeting with UNRWA operations director and members of the Palestinian legislative council.
For his part, Arafat Abu Madi, the head of the European campaign to end the siege on Gaza, strongly denounced the Israeli decision to prevent European lawmakers from visiting Gaza.
Abu Madi said that this step clearly reveals Israel’s arrogance and premeditated intent to conceal the traces of its crimes against Gaza people.
He called on the EU to use its influence in the region to pressure Israel to lift its blockade and respect its international commitments to the protection of human rights.
The activist also stressed the need to retain the Rafah border crossing open permanently away from any political extortion, noting that this crossing is the only Arab outlet for Gaza people.
MP Jamal Al-Khudari, who heads the popular committee against the siege, also deplored the Israeli decision, saying that prohibiting the entry of the delegation was the latest in a string of incidents where top European government officials were banned from Gaza.
Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Oghlo and French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner were also barred from Gaza recently, Khudari added.
He said that such a step is aimed to hide the facts and the enormity of suffering in Gaza and undermine any international support for ending the Israeli siege.
In another context, Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya on Wednesday called for sending more convoys to break the siege on Gaza and expressed his appreciation for the convoy of Miles of Smiles which brought a smile to the people with special needs in Gaza.
During a ceremony held today by the ministry of social affairs to celebrate the international day for the handicapped, Haneyya expressed his deep conviction that the handicapped people in Palestine are the ones who illuminate the path to freedom and independence.
“You are not disabled, but life and future makers, Haneyya said, expressing his government’s moral responsibility towards the fulfillment of this group’s needs despite the Israeli blockade on Gaza.
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