A delegation of the Elders arrives in Gaza

 A delegation of the "Global Elders" arrives in Gaza Strip on Saturday on a two-day visit in line with a tour of the Middle East.

Dr. Ahmed Yousef, foreign undersecretary in Gaza and chairman of the government committee against the siege, said that the Elders delegation would be headed by former US president Jimmy Carter.

He said that the delegation would also comprise former president of Ireland and former UN high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson, former Algerian foreign minister Lakhdar Al-Ibrahimi, and an Indian activist in woman development and combating poverty.

The delegates would meet with Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya and tour the Strip.

For his part, Ibrahimi said in a press statement that Israel should end occupation if it really wished to establish peace with its neighbors. It should end all settlement activity and respect the Palestinians’ right to a dignified, free life on their own land, he added.

The Elders is a group of eminent global leaders founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007 and is aimed at benefiting from its members’ expertise in supporting efforts to spread peace and solve human sufferings.