|
ACNV Press Release on Israeli Attacks against Gaza Strip |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 04 March 2008 |
|
Over the past five days Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip
have left more than 100 Palestinian people dead. This gruesome death
toll is just the most recent addition to Israel’s siege of Gaza, which
effectively holds 1.5 million people prisoner in their own homes. For
months now the Gazan population is left with very limited medical, fuel
and food supplies. This meant that during last weeks’ bombings,
hospitals could not adequately respond to the humanitarian crisis that
was caused.
Although Israel has withdrawn its troops from Gaza, the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has threatened further military actions.
As the Nonviolence Network in the Arab Countries (ACNV), a regional initiative for nonviolence, we strongly condemn the inhumane actions of the Israeli state. We urge the United Nations and the leaders of the world to take a stance for justice enforce international treaties and finally end the collective traumatisation of 1.5 million people. We further want to remind the world of the humanity of the Palestinian people and appeal to treat them with dignity and compassion.
Thus we solicit the Israeli authorities to halt their violent attacks on the Palestinian people and call upon both parties to come back to the table to resort to dialogue.
If the cycles of violence are to be broken, we have to empower civil institutions on both sides that seek for a lasting, nonviolent solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
There has never been a better time to make a change to the state of affairs in Palestine. A terrorized, hungry, unhealthy and angry people will not make good partners on a way towards peace.
|
