By IRNA,
Gaza City : US Congressmen Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) and Bob Inglis (R-SC) were the latest American representatives to enter Gaza in a series of visits by US officials since Israel invaded Gaza Strip December 2008-January 2009.
Head of the Foreign Relations Committee and US Senator John Kerry traveled to Gaza with two Democratic congressmen, Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Brian Baird of Washington. The three were, like Lynch and Inglis, given tours of the devastation caused by Israel’s war on the coastal area in December and January.
Inglis and Lynch visited as guests of the Catholic Relief group.
Lynch commented during his visit that the world must find a way to address a “legitimate humanitarian crisis” in Gaza.
“We need to act with some urgency here. There is a humanitarian crisis going on and we can’t dawdle,” he added.
Former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney attempted to travel to Gaza by sea in December, but the ship was rammed by an Israeli gunboat and diverted to Lebanon.
In 2008, former US President Jimmy Carter was denied permission to enter Gaza by the Israeli government.
Carter met Hamas officials in Syria and Egypt.