Three deputies from Seine-Saint-Denis will, this Sunday afternoon, be part of the very first trip of national parliamentarians to the southern border of the Gaza Strip, to the Rafah border post in Palestine.
This trip, aimed at “popularizing a lasting and immediate ceasefire” while the conflict between Israel and Hamas has lasted for almost four months, is organized by Éric Coquerel (LFI), elected from the 1st constituency of the department.
It includes sixteen deputies and senators as well as four parliamentary collaborators.
Thomas Portes (LFI), from the 3rd district, and Soumya Bourouaha (PCF), from the 4th, are taking part.
“I did not specifically go looking for deputies from 93 but it is no coincidence that their representation was strong during the trip,” recognizes Éric Coquerel, contacted by telephone this Friday.
This is a subject that greatly raises awareness among our fellow citizens in the department.
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“Show solidarity with the Palestinian people”
If he wanted the trip to be “transpartisan”, left-wing groups will be in the majority.
“I first contacted the groups which were really active on the question of the ceasefire, in particular environmentalist and communist deputies, but then expanding it to the majority,” continues Éric Coquerel, who worked on this project since the fall.
The selection was mainly based on availability on only the dates that were possible.
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This Saturday, a press conference is planned at the French embassy in Cairo (Egypt).
The elected officials obtained the agreement of the local authorities to cross the militarized zone of Sinai on Sunday before arriving in Rafah, under good escort.
There they will meet representatives of UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, some members of which are suspected by Israel of having participated in the Hamas attacks on October 7), as well as humanitarian associations such as the Crescent -Palestinian Red, member of the international Red Cross movement.
Visits to hospitals and refugee reception centers are on the program.
On Monday, a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to Egypt is planned in Cairo.
For these parliamentarians, the objective will also be to “show solidarity with the Palestinian people and draw attention to the humanitarian and health crisis which is unfolding”, continues the rebellious deputy for the 1st constituency of Seine-Saint-Denis, which does not fear being criticized for not going to the border on the Israeli side.
“A large number of trips have been organized there and others are still planned very soon,” defends Éric Coquerel.
There are so many deputies on the Israeli side that it would be paradoxical if we were to criticize the only ones who are going to the Rafah side for going there.
Peace must be addressed to all actors.
And maintaining the war as it is being waged and the genocidal risk it generates cannot ultimately be in the interest of the Israeli people.
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