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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
Ref: 129/2005
Date: 17 October 2005
Swiss Civil Society Delegation Leaves the Gaza Strip
The 10-member Swiss civil society delegation hosted by PCHR for 6 days left Gaza City on 16 October 2005. During their stay, the visitors learnt about the living conditions of Palestinians in different parts of the Strip, especially after the implementation of the disengagement plan. They witnessed the extent of the destruction left by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in various areas including Rafah and Khan Younis.
PCHR organized a number of field tours to different areas of the Strip. The Center’s Deputy Director, Mr. Jaber Weshah; Public Relations Officer in Khan Yunis Branch, Abd El-Haleem Abu Samra; staff from PCHR’s International Unit and the Center’s Magazine Officer, Ghadeer El-Omari, accompanied the delegation during tours.
On 11 October, the delegation visited the industrial area in Beit Hanoun, and witnessed the destruction caused by the occupation. In addition, they visited the Strip’s lone power generation plant, and saw the occupation’s destruction there prior to the disengagement. The group also visited the evacuated Israeli settlements in the northern Gaza Strip. They met a number of residents of Al-Se’yafa area, and listened to detailed accounts of their suffering from occupation actions before the disengagement, and the current suffering because of the effects of the occupation’s destruction throughout 5 years, which included homes, agricultural land, and other areas of life.
After the field visit, the delegation met PCHR’s Director, Mr. Raji Sourani, in the Center’s main office in Gaza City. Mr. Sourani briefed the delegation on PCHR’s assessment of the current situation and position on the disengagement from the Gaza Strip.
On 12 October, the visitors went to the Khan Yunis area. They visited Al-Qarara and met residents victimized by IOF human rights violations. They listened to accounts of IOF measures against the people and their effects, which continue till now. Then the delegation visited the border area adjacent to the Kissufim checkpoint. The IOF bulldozing throughout the Intifada has made the area desolate. After that, the delegation toured the evacuated Gush Qatif settlements and Al-Mawasi area. They spent the night in Al-Mawasi and met a large number of fishermen and citizens who informed the guests about life under the occupation, which adopted a number of policies that deprived them of their rights.
The Swiss delegation visited the Rafah area on 13 October, where they toured the sites of evacuated settlements. In addition, they met the Governor of Rafah who informed them about the damages Rafah suffered from the occupation. In addition, the visitors toured a number of neighborhoods, and saw the large scale destruction perpetrated by the IOF. As a result, some of these areas are now completely uninhabited. Afterwards, the delegation visited Rafah International Crossing Point, the Philadelphi route, and Gaza International Airport.
On their way back from Rafah, the delegation met the mayor of Khan Yunis. He informed them about the living conditions of people and the damages they suffered as a result of occupation policies and practices.
On 14 October, the delegation split into two teams. The first continued their field tours with PCHR; this time in the evacuated settlements of Kfar Darom and Netzarim. The second team was hosted by the Palestinian of Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC). And the whole delegation spent 15 October with PARC.
On their last day in the Strip, the Swiss delegation visited the Palestinian Women’s Development Society (PWDS) in Bureij refugee camp. PWDS’s volunteer team informed the guest about their activities and projects designed to help women develop their skills and capacities. The delegation visited PWDS’s “Jenin Kindergarten” and performed a number of activities with children. In addition, they visited the site of the PWDS’s cultural center, which is under construction. The center is expected to provide a variety of services to hundreds of clients.
Also during their last day in Gaza, the delegation visited the “Palestinian Prisoners’ Home,” under establishment. Mr. Jaber Wishah informed the visitors about the purpose and sections of the Home. In addition, the guests visited the Prisoners Exhibition in the Ministry of Prisoners’ Affairs. There they saw the handicrafts and productions of scores of Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails.
The Swiss delegation expressed their happiness over Palestinian hospitality. In addition, they expressed shock at the magnitude of destruction in Rafah and Khan Yunis. They indicated that this is a strong incentive to encourage friends and colleagues to visit the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and witness Israel’s actions against Palestinian civilians and their properties. These actions are not, for the most part, portrayed in local media abroad.
PCHR hosts delegations and supervises their visit program and field tours in an effort to expose the true face of the occupation, and give the international community a true picture of what is happening in the OPT.
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