On March 2^nd 2010, Mr. Al Zaeem met the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. John Holmes, who arrived in Gaza as part of a four-day visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.  Mr. Holmes witnessed the conditions in Gaza one year after the end of the Israeli war on Gaza, which lasted from 27 December to 18 January, as well as of the local efforts being made to alleviate the suffering of the population.  Mr. Al Zaeem briefed him on his efforts to safeguard the International Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations, since he is the legal council for most of these INGOs that work in Gaza. In addition, Mr. Al Zaeem discussed with Mr. Holmes the negative effect of the closure and the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and the impact of the illegal trade through tunnels.