Gaza – Ma’an – The Gaza Committee of Parents of Detainees called the conference on Palestinian prisoners in Jericho a "great national step" in efforts to gain international recognition for the abuse of prisoners by Israeli officials, but expressed disappointment over their exclusion from the proceedings.
Members of the Gaza delegation said they had been promised invitations by conference organizers, but said they never received any sort of request for their attendance. According to organizers however, the conference, which ended Wednesday, was not attended by any delegates from Gaza because they could not secure permits for travel to the West Bank.
Delegates were frustrated with the lack of communication from the conference organizers, saying they were promised follow-up via the Ministry of Prisoners Affairs.
A statement from the group said they were surprised to have been ignored by the organizers, and disappointed that there was no one present at the conference to represent prisoners from Gaza.
