Switzerland Today
Greetings from Zurich!
The escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to be felt in Switzerland, where demonstrations are allowed in some cities but not others. In the meantime, Swiss humanitarian aid agencies are waiting for a chance to provide relief to civilians in the Gaza Strip.
But first, the news of the day.
In the news: Sperison released, a pro-Palestinian rally in Lausanne and criticism of demo bans.
- The Federal Court has rescinded a 15-year jail term for former Guatemala police chief Erwin Sperisen who had been wrongly convicted for aiding and abetting murders.
- Around 4,500 protestors took to the streets in Lausanne in support of the Palestinian people and to demonstrate against Israel.
- In the meantime, the UN and Amnesty International have condemned the decision by some Swiss cities, most notably Zurich and Basel, to ban demos linked to the Middle East conflict.
- The Jewish community in Switzerland is also feeling the impact of the Middle East problems, with 26 anti-Semitic incidents reported in the last two weeks.
- The EuroAirport near to Basel has been evacuated two days in a row due to bomb scares.
Frustrated humanitarian agencies
Humanitarian groups, such as Médecins sans Frontières and Terres des Hommes, say they are frustrated by the lack of access to the Gaza Strip, as casualties mount and a million people have been forced out of their homes.
Relief workers in the Gaza Strip are facing the same perils as the rest of the 2.3 million population.
“We always say goodbye to each other before we go to sleep. Waking up every morning is like a miracle,” said Tdh Gaza office director Khitam Abuhamad.
This means that normal aid activities have been suspended while emergency supplies remain outside of the Gaza Strip, awaiting a route into the conflict zone.
The uncertainty and volatility surrounding the region has so far stopped Swiss Solidarity from launching a specific fundraise, although it can support partners with its emergency fund.
Swiss Solidarity says it must first be sure that donations received can be put to practical use in the conflict zone – which is at the moment far from certain.
And a children’s hospital, run by Caritas Switzerland, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem is also preparing for the worst, having already seen access by patients disrupted by the military build-up.
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