Ref: 91/2012

The Palestinian
Center for Human Rights (PCHR) hosts a 21-member solidarity delegation,
representing different sectors of the civil society organizations, from United
States of America.  The delegation
includes the family of the international solidarity movement activist, Rachel
Corrie, who was killed on 16 March 2003, when an Israeli bulldozer drove over
her while protesting against the demolition of houses in Rafah in the south of
the Gaza Strip.

PCHR scheduled
several activities for the delegation that will stay in Gaza for a week.  They will meet with the Director of UNRWA
Operations in the Gaza Strip; Dr. Ahmed Bahar, Deputy Speaker of the
Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC); representatives of political parties and
civil society organizations; additionally they will also meet figures from the
health, education, agriculture, and economic sectors. Their visit aims at briefing
them on the disastrous impacts of the latest Israeli offensive and the continuous
closure imposed on the Gaza Strip concerning these sectors. The American delegation’s
activities also include field visits to areas that sustained damages in the
Gaza Strip during the latest Israeli offensive, where they will meet owners of
demolished houses, farmers whose farms were bulldozed, fishermen, and destroyed
institutions.

The delegation
arrived in Gaza on Monday, 05 October 2012, via Rafah International Crossing
Point. They were received and welcomed by Mr. Jaber Weshah, PCHR’s Deputy
Director, Mr. Khalil Shaheen, Director of PCHR’s Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights Unit, Mr. Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Public Relations in Khan Yunis. They
thanked the delegation for exerting the efforts to come to Gaza and for being
in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Further, they explained
in detail the human rights situation in the Gaza Strip and the suffering of
Palestinians due to the continuous closure and Israel’s offensive on the strip.