Rare visit by U.S. congressional delegation to Gaza

From Ben Wedeman
CNN
GAZA CITY, Gaza (CNN) - A U.S. congressional delegation visited Gaza
Thursday, marking the first time that American lawmakers have entered the
Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory in eight years.

The delegation included Reps. Brian Baird, D-Washington, and Keith
Ellison, D-Minnesota - who is the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, also visited Gaza separately from the two
congressmen, according to an official who was traveling with the senator.

None of the U.S. lawmakers visited representatives of Gaza's Hamas
leadership. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the United States.

Baird said that the visit represents a change in the United States'
attitude and approach to Gaza, under newly elected President Barack Obama.

The destruction from Israel's recent military operation in Gaza was
beyond description, Ellis said. The two men visited the United Nations
headquarters in Gaza City, and toured homes that had been destroyed Israel's
three-week military campaign.

Kerry visited the site of the American school in northern Gaza, which was
destroyed in the recent conflict, his representative said. He is later
scheduled to visit U.N. headquarters in Gaza City.

The delegation is scheduled to visit the southern Israeli town of Sderot
on Friday, a frequent target of rocket attacks launched by militants in Gaza.