Wednesday, 13 January 2010

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún to join largest parliamentary delegation to Gaza

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún will join parliamentarians and other elected representatives from across Europe as part of the largest ever parliamentary delegation to visit Gaza.

Sir Gerald Kaufman MP will be leader of the delegation. The organizer of the visit is the European Campaign to end the siege on Gaza (ECESG) which is an umbrella body of thirty NGOs across Europe.

This afternoon they are holding a press conference in the House of Commons to talk about the visit to Gaza

The fact-finding visit will take place on Friday 14th and Saturday 16th January.

Sinn Fein Mayor of Derry Paul Fleming will also participate in the delegation.

Speaking from Brussels before leaving for Gaza, Ms de Brun said:

"The fact-finding delegation will visit Gaza on Friday 14th and Saturday 16th January in order to see conditions there, to see what progress has been made with regard to reconstruction since the Israeli air strikes last year and to assess barriers to progress
"There have been worrying reports from Gaza in recent months and a number of delegations have been refused entry to Gaza by the Israeli government.

"The world was told last year after the horrendous damage, injury and loss of life that major reconstruction efforts would be launched immediately. Twelve months on we need to see those promises fulfilled.

"The siege of Gaza must end and there must be free movement of people and goods so that the people of Gaza can rebuild their lives" ENDS

This will be de Bairbre de Brún's second visit to Gaza in just under a year. Last year she visited Gaza just after the Israeli attacks which caused widespread destruction throughout the area. Sir Gerald Kaufman MP will be leader of the delegation. The organizer of the visit is the European Campaign to end the siege on Gaza (ECESG) which is an umbrella body of thirty NGOs across Europe.

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