“Right Livelihood Foundation’s” Delegation Ends its Solidarity Visit to Gaza

[Jefferson23]

The delegation observing damage to property caused by recent Israeli bombardment.


The Swedish Right Livelihood Award Foundation’s solidarity delegation to the Gaza Strip concluded its visit on Thursday, 30 October 2014. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights “PCHR” hosted the delegation during its two-day visit, and prepared an intensified schedule which included field tours to observe the destruction and consequences of the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, as well as various meetings with ministers in the Palestinian unity government, political factions, civil society organizations, business men and others.

The delegation was headed by Mr. Jakob von Uexkull, the founder of the Right Livelihood Award (RLA) and co-chair of the Board of Trustees, and it included: Archbishop Emeritus Andres Wejryd, European President of the World Council of Churches (WCC); Lawyer Agneta Johansson, Deputy Director of the International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC); Bitte Hammargren, Swedish journalist specializes in Middle East affairs; and Helen Mack Chang, human rights defender from Guatemala and 1992 RLA laureate.


In conclusion of its tour and meetings, the delegation held a press conference in Gaza on the evening of Wednesday, 29 October 2014, attended by a number of journalists, media and news agencies. Mr. Raji Sourani, PCHR Director, spoke of the delegation’s visit and its solidarity nature, particularly after the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, stressing the important role the delegation will play in spreading the word of the horror practiced against Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces. Additionally, Sourani spoke of the “Alternative” Nobel Prize” which he received from a foundation of high professional standards and credibility, affirming that the award goes to the human rights movement and Palestinian civil society, and in favor of victims, their families and Palestinian prisoners. Also, Sourani mentioned Mr. von Uexkull’s desire to visit Gaza, support its people and observe first-hand the crimes committed against them by the Israeli forces, how he wanted to meet and speak with the victims and make their voice be heard to the free world and the European consciousness, pointing that the delegation had visited the disaster areas in Beit Hanoun and Shuja’ya.


For his part, Mr. von Uexkull spoke of the importance of the “Alternative Nobel Prize” as it is given to those who have shown courage in defending victims, and to those who have provided great services for humanity, as he affirmed that the award was given to Sourani last year in appreciation for his role in defending victims, pointing that the delegation came to Gaza following Sourani’s invitation so that they would observe the situation following the Israeli offensive.

http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10704:right-livelihood-foundations-delegation-ends-its-solidarity-visit-to-gaza&catid=145:in-focus