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The Scottish Parliment

 

The Scottish Parliament is currently in recess and Pauline is presently on a Medical Aid for Palestinians delegation to Israel and the occupied territories. She is sending updates when she can and the Constituency Office will provide them below.

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DAY 2

"Heading from Jerusalem to Gaza takes about an hour and a half, the Erez crossing was quiet when we arrived. We hand over papers and are told to wait. After around forty five minutes to an hour we are given the go-ahead and are allowed through the first turnstile.

 

A huge terminal building has recently been constructed, it is as big as an airport terminal but it is not needed today - since the incursion, virtually no Palestinians are getting in or out.

 

We are questioned about our reason for visit, but allowed in. There are a series of turnstiles and doors, long corridors, and eventually another little door which is controlled electronically. We wait a further few minutes, and then it opens to let us through, into Gaza.

 

Immediately it felt different, and warmer, the massive destruction of the area is plain to see also.

 

We walked down onto a road where some of the Palestinians picked up our heavier bags and the MAP generator we were bringing in for the El-Shifa Hospital, carrying things for travellers is a way for them to earn some money.

 

We meet Khalim from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights who acts as MAP’s representative in the Gaza Strip.  He has been waiting for hours.

Their are Israeli fighter planes overhead, they fly up and down and we are told that if they are going to target then planes are used to create noise while the helicopters do the shooting.

 

Around thirty women trying to access health care are refused access through the gate we have just entered, no reason is given.  The people here must pray for good health as taking ill does not guarantee treatment.

 

Heading for Rafa we stop on the way at Khan Younis and speak to the fisherman there, they have not fished for two months, there is no fuel for their boats and the water is polluted with sewage, a BBC news team have just left them.  It is good to see some Palestinian children on the beach they are having fun on the sand and they flock to see us and are excited about getting pictures taken with us. 

 

Get to Rafa where the wall came down at the Egyptian border, we are approached by Hamas forces, they are aggressive at first but are welcoming when we explain who we are.

 

The town of Rafa has been virtually destroyed by the Israelis to create a buffer zone there is rubble everywhere and we can get very close to the border.

 

We know we have to get backto the checkpoint by six or we won’t be allowed to leave today.

 

At the check point again we exit through the series of doors, all personal belongings are scanned and you cannot pass through with any metal on your person. We reach a glass box and have to step in, told to raise hands in the air and put feet in a marked position to be scanned all over.

 

Then more doors until you get to the security interview, a series of questions about the purpose of the visit, wanted to know if I had another passport and seemingly not happy with my answers.  I am sent back.

 

I meet the BBC crew again and the new correspondent who is replacing Alan Johnso,n since his kidnapping the crews are only allowed to stay in Gaza for short periods of time.

 

It takes another three hours and more questions before being allowed to leave this time  the questioning is more aggressive and the official is very angry with me.  I am told that all Israelis have to serve one month in the security service so many years after their military service. 

 

We head back and prepare for more check points to get back into Jerusalem.

 

PM

Gaza

10/04/08

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Pauline is accompanied on the MAP delegation by Anas Sarwar and members of the Glasgow muslim community.  They are due to return to the UK on Sunday 13 April.

For further information on MAP-UK please click here.

 

Last updated 11 April 2008

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