Sourani to a Visiting British Parliament Delegation: “They want Gaza an animal farm, Gaza a nation of beggars”

Palestinian Center for Human Rights, 12/09/07. Raji Sourani, PCHR Director, told a 7-member British parliamentary delegation visiting the Center’s office in Gaza that Israel’s policy of hermetic closure of Gaza allowing only food in has transformed Gaza’s 365 square kilometer area into an animal farm. He added that this closure transforms 1.6 million people in Gaza into a nation of beggars by only allowing food products to enter. Sourani stated that the US and Europe are parties to the crime against the Gaza Strip and its population by their consent and silence towards this policy. Sourani stated that it is not permissible, fair, or humane to punish a whole nation for exercising their democratic right in 3 rounds of fair and free elections from January 2005 to January 2006.

Also, Sourani highlighted Israeli human rights violations perpetrated against Palestinian civilians, including the policies of extra-judicial executions, willful killing, and indiscriminate detentions. He added that no one can claim that there is holy blood and unholy blood!

On another front, Sourani briefed the visitors on the human rights situation in the Gaza Strip, especially after Hamas takeover on 15 June 2007. He affirmed that the Palestinian scene witnessed a vertical political split; and that the decisive military action, subsequent presidential decrees, paralysis of the Palestinian parliament, and hindering the work of the judiciary will not solve the political crisis. He stated that Palestinian dialogue is the only savior from the storms wrecking the nation, and threatening to end the Palestinian cause and its future.

Sourani stressed that Israel is using the status quo to judaize Jerusalem and to ethnically cleanse Palestinains through settlement expansion and accelerating the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. He added that the 40^th anniversary of the occupation is the worst and bloodiest year since 1967 instead of being an anniversary to end the occupation. He added that the demands for independence and right of return have been reduced on this anniversary to demanding the mere movement of individuals and goods.

In the end, Sourani asked the British Parliamentarians to convey the true picture of Palestinian life, and to work with freedom lovers from around the world to uplift the current and historic injustice befalling Palestinians.

It is noted that UNRWA coordinated the British Parliamentary delegation’s visit; noting that this is the 4^th international delegation to visit PCHR since the start of September 2007. Delegations from Front Line Defenders, Swedish Consulate and EU, and another British Parliamentary Delegation have already visited the Centre this month.

Public Document

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PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org

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