DesertPeace
Gaza marks 1000th day of Israeli siege
“The siege harmed the people, as well as the evironment, health, the economy and social life. It constitutes a serious attempt to suffocate the people and break their will,” Al-Khudari told reporters during a news conference.
He announced that 500 Gaza residents have died as a result of the siege, most of whom were patients who could not recieve appropriate medical treatment.
Al-Khudari pointed out that one million Gaza residents live on humanitarian aid channeled by Arab and foreign countries as well as the UN. “The Palestinian economy in Gaza has been completely destroyed with more than 140,000 people unemployed, which amounts to 80% of Gaza’s manpower.
“It was described as a tyrannical siege that violates international law by Arab and international organizations and governments … serious pressure must be practiced on the occupation, which is to be held accountable for the situation,” he said.
Attempts to ensure the arrival of a series of solidarity boats in April by international activists are underway, he said.
Following Hamas’ takeover of the costal enclave in June 2007, Israel closed the Gaza Strip’s borders and began to limit vital supplies of food, fuel, medicine, construction materials, and other supplies. Most of Gaza’s 1.5 million residents remain trapped inside, with work and travel permits scarcely extended to the Palestinian population with Israel. Meanwhile, Egypt enforces an ad hoc policy toward opening the Rafah crossing into Egypt, with many patients and students left stranded on either side as a result.
Few construction materials have been allowed into the Gaza Strip, preventing the population from rebuilding after Operation Cast Lead, with many remaining homeless a year on. The UN Under?Secretary?General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) John Holmes visited Gaza this week, commenting on the immediate need to lift the blockade and open the crossings fully to allow Palestinians in Gaza to commence rebuilding and, restart their lives and livelihoods.
The majority of work and travel permits issued by Israeli authorities were revoked following the takeover, with few Palestinians able to enter Israel via the Erez crossing, northern Gaza. This in turn, has lead to a rise in unemployment and has hindered medical access for many who cannot be treated in the Strip due to ongoing medical shortages and the recent destruction of hospitals during Israel’s assault in December 2008.
Much of the coastal enclave experiences regular blackouts due to the fuel shortfall. OCHA described the situation at the Gaza Power Plant “fragile,” with only 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel needed to operate the GPP entered Gaza, compared to a weekly average of 1.7 million litres since December 2009 and 2.2 million litres prior.
Source via Uruknet
PIC
[ 07/03/2010 - 05:47 PM ]
BEIRUT, (PIC)-- MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, on Sunday announced the launch of a series of events under the title “enough one thousand days of blockade, freedom for Gaza” to mark the passage of 1,000 days since Israel imposed its siege on the Gaza Strip.
Khudari told a news conference that the events will kick off with lighting one thousand candles in the unknown soldier plaza and organizing a rally at Beit Hanoun crossing against the Israeli occupation.
The lawmaker called on the Arab and Muslim nations, and the world’s free people to organize similar events on this occasion to revive the blockade issue and urge the international community to pressure Israel to end its unjust siege.
He pointed to some of the tragic impacts of the siege on the daily life of Gaza people, saying the Israeli blockade prompted one million Gazans to rely on relief assistance and made 80 percent of the population live below the poverty line.
For his part, Maan Bashour, the head of the Arab international center for communication and solidarity, appealed on Sunday to all Arab and international unions, institutions and national figures to move and act in support of occupied Jerusalem, the Aqsa Mosque, Gaza, Al-Khalil and the Palestinian people against the ongoing Israeli violations.
In a press release, Bashour stressed that the Arab nation and the world’s free people are invited today to stage a wide global uprising to support the Palestinian people and their rights.
He urged them to organize all forms of activities that highlight the different Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people and their holy sites.
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