Chris Patten visit to Gaza

meeting the press

Visiting Gaza for the first time since becoming President of Medical Aid for Palestinians, fomer Hong Kong Governor, EU Commisioner and Tory Party Grandee Chris Patten spoke to the Guardian’s Jerusalem correspondent, and described Israel’s policy of blockading Gaza as a “terrible failure – immoral, illegal and ineffective”, which had “deliberately triggered an economic and social crisis which has many humanitarian consequences”.

Chris Patten said he found it “easier to get into a maximum security prison in the UK than to enter Gaza”.

Chris Patten had previously visited Gaza as EU Commissioner. One such trip was to provide Gaza with a runway, which the Israeli Defence Force destroyed.

The Siege of Gaza has nothing to do with security. It is collective punishment. It keeps the population of Gaza at near starvation level.

See

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Tags: Chris Patten, Gaza, Medical Aid for Palestine, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Palestine