Frattini makes a short visit to Gaza this morning

Frattini makes a short visit to Gaza this morning

GAZA, Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini arrived in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning through the Israeli-controlled Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.

Frattini upon his arrival visited the clinic of Sweedi in Al-Naser neighborhood, central Gaza, and the UNRWA shool of Beit Lahia.

He is expected to stay in Gaza for a few hours without meeting with officials from the Palestinian government there.

The German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle also visited Gaza more than two weeks ago and stated during this visit that the Israeli-Egyptian blockade on 1.5 million Palestinians living in the strip is unacceptable and must end.

Westerwelle also said after touring a U.N. school and a German-funded sewage treatment plant that the border closure strengthens what he called radicals at the expense of moderates.

In another development, a high-level delegation from the organization of the Islamic conference intends to visit Gaza next Sunday in order to reevaluate the humanitarian situation there and setting priorities for improving the living conditions of Palestinian citizens.

A large number of professional doctors will come along with the delegation to perform surgeries for Gaza patients and war victims.