News from the Holy Land

Statement about preventing the Italian delegation to enter the Gaza Strip

The Palestinian Territories are suffering form the siege imposed for years on the Palestinians specially in the Gaza strip, where 1,5 million people live under the sanctions and the closure of the passages.

In this week the Occupation authorities prevented an Italian delegation from entering the Strip to express their solidarity with the isolated people and to see how misery is the situation in Gaza, how do the sanctions affect their lives. The delegation also was schedule to estimate the medical situation in Gaza, which is on the verge to collapse due to the lack of the Medical supplies.

The delegation consisted from well-known figures, representatives, Academics and Human Rights’ activists from the Italian society, including the Senate "Fernando Rosse", and the member of "Gaza Will Live Committee" "Leonardo Mazzei".

Even they were not allowed, the delegation was determined to enter the Gaza Strip, they expressed their refusal to the Israeli prevention by making a sit-in in the Italian Consulate in Jerusalem and anther one near the Nativity Church, in spite of the coordination by the Italian Foreign Ministry to allow the delegation to enter the Strip and to meet with the Prime Minister Ismael Haniya and the Deputy Speaker Dr. Ahmad Bahar.

Thus, we consider not allowing such delegation to visit Gaza as an Israeli attempt to disguise the terrible facts resulted from the illegal sanctions and from the daily Israeli crimes, killings and assassinations to be witnessed by the Europeans.

Also, it is clear from the Israeli prevention that they do not want to see any kind of solidarity with people in Gaza.

We are very thankful and grateful to the Italian delegation for its attempts to visit us, and we invite all the international NGOs to send delegations to see how the Palestinians are suffering from an illegal isolation, and to convince your governments to pressure on the Occupiers to end their shameful crimes that do not differentiate between a child, woman or old-man.

We confirm to our people that we will keep working to break the siege, we will keep clinging to our national principles, we will disclose to the World the atrocities and crimes committed by Israel against our people and we will engage with the International Community for the purpose of reclaiming our rights.

Gaza, 26/12/07
http://www.infopal.it/testidet.php?id=7142

Italian Humanitarian Delegation DENIED ENTRY TO GAZA

(photo from Jer and Whit Visit Palestine)

Statement from Eretz checkpoint

Apropos concentration camps:

This morning the Italian solidarity delegation, which departed from Rome yesterday, was blocked by the Israeli military at the Eretz checkpoint. Entry into Gaza was denied.

The criminal embargo imposed by Israel, the U.S. and the European Union is not limited to goods but does cut all human contacts. The Gaza strip is not an open air prison but an outright concentration camp. Prisoners usually are allowed to receive visits, but not in Gaza.

With the lockout of this morning the Israeli government slapped as well in the face of the Italian authorities. The Italian foreign ministry had assured that all necessary steps had been taken to allow the delegation into Gaza.

In order to denounce the genocidal embargo the solidarity delegation will continue its activities in the forthcoming days. For tomorrow morning a press conference has been scheduled in Ramallah as well as a meeting with the Italian consulate in Jerusalem where we will express our protest in the strongest terms possible. In the afternoon we will demonstrate against the embargo in Bethlehem on the occasion of Christmas matins. Meanwhile we are contemplating about a new protest action at the Eretz checkpoint.

We will keep you informed.

Italian solidarity delegation “Gaza must live”

December 23, 2007

Response from Popular Committee Against Siege

Dear Italians, lovers of freedom,

We are very sorry for what happened to you but this is an indication of the false claims of our oppressors. Israelis claim that they are democratic, but you have seen that they are barbarous by denying your entry to Gaza strip. This shows how Israeli democracy is false. It's only a game to make the people believe that they are victims. Yet, you have seen that the are putting all Gaza residents in a big concentration camp to perish one by one. But, they will never succeed because we are supported by the real democratics like you, the real lovers of freedom who came from far places to say nay for Israeli's crime.

Your attempt has debunked the Israeli allegation that they are the paragon of democracy. Imagine that what you have faced is always happening to patients! They are being killed in cold blood. Israelis are violating human rights laws, accords, charters and the IV Geneva Conventions. However, USA and EU are supporting them in a very flagrant way.

Even though you were not allowed in, but our children were very happy that you tried to come and help them. They keep clinging hope on people like yourselves. We express our heartily thanks. We invite you to make more attempts to get into Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip is in bad conditions, so Israelis will do all steps to prevent others from seeing the real picture. The siege associated by Israeli media blackmail. Today, the number of death toll of Gaza patients under blockade has risen up to 50. So, again we stress on your visit to Gaza…. Or more people will die….

PCAS is still determined that you come to Gaza Strip to interact with what's going on. Your visit will make the world exposed to humanitarian crisis. If you tried again to get in and they prevent you we suggest the follows:

1-We will make a big demonstration to Eretz checkpoint.

2- You can organize a demonstration from your side associated with some Israeli peace bodies and groups.

3- We will organize a press conference on our side and you do the same on your side.

4- You have to attract more media coverage on your side.

5- We will be pleased to publish anything from your side in our website: http://www.freegaza.ps/

6- We invite you to bring more activists into Israel and to launch a big demonstration.

CAS is still waiting your visit to Gaza and it will facilitate all burdens from your side.

Looking forward for more coporation,

PCAS Chairman

Jamal N. KHOUDARY

Monday, December 24, 2007

http://peacepalestine.blogspot.com/2007/12/italian-humanitarian-delegation-denied.html

PCAS expresses solidarity with Italian delegation

Popular Committee against Siege (PCAS) is very sorry for what happened to you but this is an indication of the false claims of our oppressors. Israelis claim that they are democratic, but you have seen that they are barbarous by denying your entry to Gaza strip. This shows how Israeli democracy is false.

It's only a game to make the people believe that they are victims. Yet, you have seen that the are putting all Gaza residents in a big concentration camp to perish one by one. But, they will never succeed because we are supported by the real democratic like you, the real lovers of freedom who came from far places to say nay for Israeli's crime.

Your attempt has debunked the Israeli allegation that they are the paragon of democracy. Imagine that what you have faced is always happening to patients! They are being killed in cold blood. Israelis are violating human rights laws, accords, charters and the four Geneva conventions. However, USA and EU are supporting them in a very flagrant way.

The Gaza strip is in bad conditions, so Israelis will do all steps to prevent others from seeing the real picture. The siege associated with Israeli media blackmail. Today, the number of death toll of Gaza patients under blockade has risen up to 50. So, again we stress on your visit to Gaza…. Or more people will die….!!!

PCAS is still determined that you come to Gaza Strip to interact with what's going on. Your visit will make the world exposed to humanitarian crisis.

PCAS's Chairman

MP. Jamal N. KHOUDARY

Popular Committee Against Siege

Gaza - Palestine