Torture organisation criticises Israel for refusing politicians entry to Gaza to visit community projects

Israeli authorities would not allow members of a parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee entry into the blockaded Gaza Strip via Israel earlier this week, according to public broadcaster DR.

The committee had planned to meet with the Red Cross and Palestinian organizations such as the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme as part of the planned trip to Israel, the West Bank, Syria and Lebanon this week.

Israel did, however, grant permission for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton to enter Gaza via Israel, prompting the Copenhagen-based Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) to strongly criticise the refusal of the Danish politicians.

‘It is unfortunate that Israel has refused the politicians entry into Gaza on their visit of Israel and the Palestinian territories,’ said Tue Magnussen, coordinator for RCT. ‘It is important that Western politicians see the consequences of the terrible blockade of Gaza with their own eyes.’