On Sunday, 21 October 2007, Israeli occupation authorities prevented a Spanish
delegation from the Andalusia from entering the Gaza Strip through Beit Hanoun (Erez)
crossing for no apparent reason, although members of the delegation were
informed by the Spanish Consul-General in Jerusalem that the coordination for
their entry into the Gaza Strip was completed.
According to information available to PCHR from members of the Spanish
Delegation, they arrived at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing at approximately 11:00
coming form Jordan. They had been forced to wait for nearly 7 hours, during
which time they got conflicting answers with regard to their access to the Gaza
Strip. In the end, they were informed that they were banned from entering the
Gaza Strip. Although members of the delegation insisted to know the reasons for
preventing them from entering the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupation authorities did
not give any answers.
The 9-member delegation is headed by Christina Ruiz Sierra, Chairperson of al-Quds
Malaga Association. Some members of the delegation had visited the Gaza Strip
more than once before and they have strong relations with Palestinian civil
society organizations, including PCHR, Cana’an Pedagogical Institute, Gaza
Community Mental Health Programme, Women’s Affairs Center, Union of Palestinian
Writers, and others.
During their planned 3-day visit, the delegation intended to check the human
rights situation and the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip
as a result of the total siege, and to maintain cooperation, coordination and
networking with Palestinian civil society groups.
PCHR is concerned over preventing the Spanish delegation from entering the Gaza
Strip, especially as this measure coincides with increasing restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians and goods through the total siege imposed on
the Gaza Strip. Restrictions imposed by Israeli occupation authorities on the
movement of Palestinian civilians have transformed the Gaza Strip into an animal
farm. Such measures have also restricted access of international and human
rights defenders to the Gaza Strip.
