Ref: 52/2009
Date: 27 October 2009
PCHR Receives an American Delegation
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has received an American delegation comprised of a number of physicians, medical professionals, and peace activists: Anne Hall, from the Lutheran Church; Cherie Eichholz, Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility in Washington DC; and Elliot Adams, William Cover and John Smith, from Veterans for Peace. The visitor are members of a larger delegation of physicians and medical professionals visiting the Gaza Strip in the context of a voluntary mission that will last until 04 November 2009.
On Monday, 26 October 2009, PCHR’s staff escorted members of the delegation on a field tour to areas subjected to destruction during the latest Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip. The visitors met with families of a number of victims, who informed them about their experiences, including during the offensive on the Gaza Strip (Dec 2008 – Jan 2009). Members of the delegation also visited a number of industrial facilities that were destroyed by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). They were briefed on efforts being made to re-operate these facilities and the hindrances arising from the illegal blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, under which machines and spare parts area denied entry.
Moreover, members of the delegation visited the destroyed Gaza International Airport and Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border and observed the suffering the Palestinian civilians resulting form its closure. Jaber Weshah, Deputy Director of PCHR, and Abdul Halim Abu Samra, Public Relations Officer in PCHR’s sub-office in Khan Yunis, briefed members of the delegation on the consequences of the closure of border crossings on alls aspects of life in the Gaza Strip, especially the educational and health sectors.
On Tuesday morning, 27 October 2009, members of the delegation visited PCHR’s head offices in Gaza City. They met with Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, and Jaber Wishah, Deputy Director of PCHR. Sourani and Wishah briefed the visitors on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the catastrophic impacts of the latest Israeli military offensive.
The meeting also discussed the aspirations of the Palestinian society and human rights organizations to activate working groups for peace, of which this delegation is part, to lobby with the US administration and policy-makers to change their blindly biased positions towards Israel.
From their side, members of the delegation pointed out that they were shocked by the destruction incurred to Palestinian civilian property by IOF, the impacts of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, and testimonies of victims with regard to practices by Israeli soldiers against them during the offensive.