Israel and Gaza Visit March 2009
Fabian Hamilton visit to Israel and Gaza - March 2009
Fabian Hamilton MP visited Israel and Gaza from the 16th to the 19th March as part of a Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee delegation. It was led by Sir John Stanley MP (Conservative) and also included Sandra Osborne MP (Labour) and Paul Keetch (Liberal Democrat). Their visit included opportunities to look at conditions both in Israel and Gaza. In the Gaza strip, the delegation was received by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and was allowed to inspect some of the damage left following the recent Israeli offensive against the Hamas launching of missiles against towns such as Sderot. Through his work with the Foreign Affairs Committee, Fabian Hamilton MP has worked hard to understand the deep-seated complex historical and political issues that are the background to events in the Middle East.
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The visit by MPs took them to the Gaza Strip and the surrounding area of Israel which has been most greatly affected by the recent conflict. The Gaza Strip next to the coast is an area that is home to to some 1.6 Million Palestinians. Israel withdrew from control of the Gaza Strip in 2005. In elections held in 2005 a majority of seats in Gaza were won by the party of Hamas which refuses to recognise Israel. In 2007, Hamas militants seized control of the whole Gaza strip from the Palestinan Authority. While Israel controls most of the frontier crossings, the border with Egypt is porous with hudreds of tunnels allowing goods and weapons to be imported into Gaza. |
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While in Sderot, Fabian was shown this grisly collection of missile debris. The photograph shows but a small fraction of the numbers of missiles that have fallen on the town. Some of them are home made. Others are extremely destructive. The latest Katusha rockets, manufactured in China, Russia or Bulgaria, allegedley supplied by Iran are smuggled through tunnels into Gaza. They are packed with explosives and ball bearings that are then projected lethally up to 100 yards from the point of impact. |
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A bomb shelter in Sderot that serves also a bus stop. It allows civilians to shelter when the warning sounds. |
A sad reminder of the way that the Middle East has been a theatre of war and conflict was when the Parliamentary delegation crossed into the Gaza strip and visited the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetry. From left to right: Fabian Hamilton MP, Sandra Osborne MP, Paul Keetch MP, the Palestinian curator of the cemetry and Sir John Stanley MP who led the delegation. |
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In Gaza itself evidence of the destruction caused by the Israeli bombing and troops invasion during the recent conflict was everywhere evident. Buildings targetted by precision bombing had left surrounding property often unscathed.
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This photograph shows Fabian with Paul Keetch MP in front of a Gaza Strip building that had been completely destroyed. |
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The delegation was welcomed in Gaza by Islamic Relief, an organisation funded by the United Nations and the European Union to provide relief to the victims of the war. Essential food, water and goods for basic hygiene are distributed each day. The infrastructure in Gaza has been badly damaged by the military action. There is little fuel for transport and public lighting has failed in many areas. One of the most useful aid supplies has been the distribution of lamps powered by portable gas cylinders.
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Fabian is shown here with Sandra Osborne MP holding one of the emergency aid parcels. |
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The United Nations also supports basic health services in Gaza and the delegation visited The Beach Health Centre funded by the United Nations Releif and Works Agency (UNRWA) where doctors and dentists have access to some modern equipment to help with care. The Beach Centre provides services for some 60,000 people. It has 31 professional staff and 29 'job creation' staff.
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A well equipped dental surgery at the Beach Centre |
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On this occasion there was no language barrier for Fabian. These members of staff at the Beach Centre were able to discuss issues with him through the help of their colleage who spoke French - the lady dressed in lilac. |
The delegation also discussed the situation with Dr Alsousi Head of Islamic Relief in Gaza. Dr Alsousi was educatued at Nottingham University, still retains a northen accent and now manages overseas aid distribution. This is a vital programme bringing aid and support to the Palestinians in this strip of land so caught up in Middle East conflicts over many years. |
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Is this young girl Palestinian or Iraeli? For Fabian and the rest of the parliamentray delegation the spectre of a future no different from the past, was very real. There will be greater risks to harmony from more powerful weapons and actions by governments of countries hostile to peace. The real victims will be the ordinary citizens of the region especially the children. whether they are Palestinian or Iraeli. They are at risk from getting caught up in entrenched attitudes with hatered being perpetuated. She is, in fact, Palestinian and from Gaza. Her Jewish counterpart lives just a few miles away but they never play together. Why can't they grow up to become friends? |
The demand for help and support is high and long queues form daily both for medical services and relief aid supplies.
