Partners for Peace and Development for Palestinians (PPDP), which has been established to develop a Palestinian advocacy network operating from different international centres, has announced two initiatives to assist the embattled people of Gaza.
At a House of Commons reception on 16 July sponsored by Interpal and hosted by Phyllis Starkey MP as well as Martin Linton MP, the Secretary General of PPDP, Ibrahim Hewitt, said that PPDP’s business partner, the Norway-based European NGO Empowerment Services (ENES) has signed an agreement for 2,000 prefabricated housing units, at a total cost of $20 million, to be shipped to Gaza. “The first consignment is almost ready for shipment to Egypt, and from there to the beleaguered Gaza Strip. Discussions have already taken place with a number of governments to seek important diplomatic support for the units to be allowed through the Rafah crossing,” said Mr Hewitt.
The second project announced by PPDP, is a collaboration with the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza to sponsor a convoy of 100 minibuses, with medical equipment and educational and humanitarian aid primarily for schools and students. The intention, added Mr Hewitt, is for the aid to arrive in Gaza in time for the new academic year. Prominent Egyptians and Egyptian embassies in Europe are involved in this project and it is hoped to ship the buses to Port Said in late August.
Ibrahim Hewitt added that since PPDP’s founding conference in October 2007, a working committee has held a number of workshops with organisations such as the Palestine International Institute, INTRAC and the Qatar Foundation. “Our friends have been working closely with lawyers in Europe on cases involving Palestinians and Palestinian organisations providing humanitarian relief,” he said. “PPDP’s partner organisations include Geneva- based Droit pour Tous, and, in Paris, the One Justice group of lawyers.”
One of the aims of PPDP is to raise awareness of the conditions affecting Palestinians. Ibrahim Hewitt believes it is significant that the reception was held in the Palace of Westminster.
“Forty elected members of the Palestine Legislative Council are, as we speak, languishing in Israeli jails, without charge,” he said. “Here in the Mother of Parliaments, I call upon members of national parliamentarians imprisoned by the Israeli government.” PPDP will seek to take the campaign to parliamentarians across Europe.
The proceedings of the first founding conference were launched at the reception.
