28.01.2008

On 24 January 2008 HaMoked and other human rights organizations issued a press release calling for the removal of the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip: The organizations argue that Israel is injuring the Palestinian residents collectively and indiscriminately, and is driving the Gaza Strip toward a grave humanitarian crisis

End the Siege of Gaza!

We, Israeli human rights organizations, express our public support for the international Palestinian-Israeli campaign to end the siege of Gaza immediately.

The breaching of the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt temporarily loosened the stranglehold on the area. Despite this incident, however, one and a half million residents in the Gaza Strip remain almost entirely dependent on the import of merchandise, fuel, and electricity through the border crossings controlled by Israel. There is also reason to fear that due to the breaching of the border Israel will now exacerbate its punitive actions against the population of the Gaza Strip.

As Israeli human rights organizations, we cannot stand by while Israeli imposed siege on the Gaza Strip continues, leading the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip toward an abyss.

The firing of Qassam rockets at Israeli civilians is an improper and outrageous act. No-one denies that Israel has the obligation to protect its citizens. However, imposing collective punishment against an entire population, the large majority of whom are not involved in fighting and over half of whom are under the age of fourteen, is an unlawful, improper, and immoral act.