21/06/2024 Political Affairs and Democracy
Ending a five-day visit to the Middle East today (17-21 June), the Chair of PACE’s Sub-Committee on the Middle East Piero Fassino (Italy, SOC) has called for "a collective surge of responsibility to ensure the effective implementation of an immediate ceasefire, the safe return of hostages to their families, and unhindered access to essential humanitarian aid for the civilian population in Gaza".
Mr Fassino, who is also the rapporteur for follow-up to the Assembly’s Resolution 2524 on recent developments in the Middle East, added: "Since the appalling terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas on 7 October 2023, both Israelis and Palestinians have endured unspeakable suffering."
In Jerusalem he met Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, as well as other Israeli parliamentarians. In Ramallah he met Rawhi Fattouh, Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, and members of the Palestinian Authority.
He met the families of hostages, as well as families evacuated from the north of Israel, and visited sites and communities attacked by Hamas on 7 October 2023, including the site of the Nova Music Festival and Kibbutz Nir Oz. He also visited the Kerem Shalom border crossing to see how humanitarian aid and essential supplies were being transported into Gaza.
Mr Fassino will inform the PACE Sub-Committee on the Middle East about his visit on Monday during the Assembly’s summer plenary session in Strasbourg.
