Palestinian parliamentary delegation arrives in Switzerland

[P F Tinmore]

GENEVA, (PIC)-- A Palestinian parliamentary delegation of the Hamas-affiliated change and reform bloc arrived in Geneva on Saturday on a few days visit at the invitation of the international parliamentary union (IPU).

The three-member delegation headed by Mushir Al-Masri, who is the bloc’s spokesman, is to explain the issue of the Palestinian MPs detained in Israeli occupation jails and the deported Jerusalemite lawmakers.

The delegates would attend the 36th session of the IPU human rights committee, which is held twice every year.

The Palestinian MPs would have a number of official and public meetings and would attend a conference on the Israeli war on Gaza.

Palestinian parliamentary delegation arrives in Switzerland

 

[P F Tinmore]

CAIRO, (PIC)-- Secretary-general of Hamas change and reform parliamentary bloc Mushir Al-Masri said there were Israeli attempts to abort the visit intended by Palestinian lawmakers to Switzerland.

MP Masri told the PIC that the inter-parliamentary union (IPU) based in the Swiss city of Geneva invited Palestinian lawmakers to visit its headquarters to brief it on the situation of Palestinian lawmakers either in detention or facing exile from the holy city.

The MP said he would lead the delegation to Geneva in his capacity as the head of the international campaign for releasing the detained members of parliament.

The Hamas lawmaker noted that the Zionist lobby in Switzerland launched a media smear campaign against the Palestinian parliamentary delegation to thwart its visit to Geneva.

He said that some Swiss newspapers influenced or controlled by the Zionist lobby in Switzerland had published photos of the lawmakers intending to visit the IPU and labeled them as "persona non grata terrorists".

"Our visit to Switzerland comes to clarify who is the real terrorist because the truth should be crystal clear and the time has come to end the worldwide Zionist deception," the lawmaker stated, adding that such misleading media campaigns would not dissuade them from going to Geneva.

Zionist media campaign in bid to ruin Palestinian parliamentary visit to Geneva

 

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IPU sec-gen apologizes for Hamas participation

Hamas will not be allowed to participate in Inter-Parliamentary Union meetings, the NGO’s secretary-general Anders Johnsson told Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday.

Responding to a letter in which Rivlin said the Knesset is considering withdrawal from the IPU, because Hamas participated in a discussion on human rights, Johnsson wrote that he plans to keep his commitment and ban the terrorist organization.

Johnsson explained that the Hamas members came as part of a delegation and planned to describe Israel’s treatment of Palestinian prisoners.

He said he is sorry that the Palestinian delegation to the IPU took advantage of the committee, but that the IPU itself had no contact with Hamas.

In addition, Johnsson said that the committee rejected many of the Palestinians’ declarations in the meeting.

The IPU secretary-general also said he would raise the issue with the Human Rights Committee’s management.

IPU sec-gen apologizes for Hamas ... JPost - Diplomacy & Politics

 

[P F Tinmore]

An informed source told the Palestinian information center (PIC) that the Hamas delegation led by Mashaal would meet later with the Swiss envoy to the middle east Jean-Daniel Ruch.

Meanwhile, the Hamas parliamentary delegation, which arrived in Switzerland a few days ago, met with Swiss officials and briefed them on different Palestinian issues, most notably the issue of Palestinian lawmakers facing detention and exile.

Mashaal in Cairo to meet Egyptian officials and Swiss envoy