Protests on Saturday in 30 countries against the Israeli siege of Gaza Strip, immediate measures needed

General strike in Gaza on the world day to break the siege

[ 23/02/2008 - 02:19 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

A general commercial strike was observed on Saturday morning in the Gaza Strip as part of the events of the world day to break the siege at the invitation of the popular committee against the siege, where the Palestinian citizens keenly responded to the strike.

A series of solidarity events are also supposed to be held in 30 countries around the world on this day to support the besieged Gaza people and to call for lifting the unjust siege.

For his part, MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, hailed the Palestinian businessmen and merchant's stands in defense of their rights against the Israeli arbitrary measures, explaining that the Gaza businessmen's goods which are being impound in Israeli ports cost them losses estimated at $150,000,000, in addition to daily losses estimated at $1,000,000.

MP Khudari underlined that the siege on Gaza is still ongoing and tightened everyday and not as some people think that it was broken after Gazans destroyed the border walls with Egypt, calling at the same time for standing beside the Palestinian merchants in Gaza.

Morgantini: EU should adopt urgent measures to lift the Israeli siege on Gaza

[ 23/02/2008 - 08:45 AM ]

BRUSSELS, (PIC)--

Luisa Morgantini, the deputy chairman of the European parliament, has said that the European Union had no more excuses and should adopt immediate measures to carry out the parliament's call for ending the Israeli siege on Gaza.

She said that the Israeli collective punishment against civilians in the Gaza Strip should come to an end, noting that 98 patients in Gaza had died including 17 children as a result of the siege.

The MP noted that the European parliamentary delegation that recently toured the Strip had visited the Shifa hospital in Gaza city and saw 30 children in incubators whose lives could be in danger if generators stopped functioning due to the lack of fuel and supplies as a result of the Israeli siege. She described the siege as "illegitimate and inhuman".

Morgantini said that the parliamentary decision clearly affirmed that the policy of isolating the Gaza Strip had failed on the political and humanitarian levels.

"The civilian population should be exempt from any military action and any collective punishment", the resolution said.

The MP said that the decision asked Israel to live up to its commitment as an occupation power that should guarantee the constant flow of humanitarian assistance, goods and basic services including fuel and power supplies.

The resolution asks the EU to be more effective not only in condemning all acts of violence, military operations, extra judicial murder of citizens, and targeted killings but also through acts and commitments, Morgantini underlined.

Protests to be held on Saturday in 30 countries against the siege of Gaza

[ 22/02/2008 - 10:17 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)

Lawmaker Jamal al-Khudari, President of the Popular Committee Against Siege (PCAS) said that Saturday will be an International day of protest against the oppressive siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.

Khudari said in a press conference he held at the Ramattan news agency on Friday that protests will be held on Saturday in 70 cities in 30 different countries around the world to show solidarity with the people of Gaza "who are living extremely harsh conditions, getting worse by the day [as a result of the siege which] constitutes collective punishment and genocide."

He added that some people may think that the siege was broken by the brief breach of the Gaza-Egypt border, but this is wrong and the fact is that the siege continues and it is getting even harsher and effecting everyone and everything. He also said that PCAS sent letters to all countries, and all levels, formal and popular to rally support for its campaign.

Khudari also welcomed the call by the European Parliament for ending the siege of Gaza and called upon the European Union and the International Community to take binding decisions in this regard.

Khudari said the day will be marked in the Gaza Strip by a general strike, laying a foundation stone for a monument to the victims of the siege and a march to the United Nations Office were a letter will be handed to the UN representative.

Protests will be held in many European capitals and cities according to Amin Abu Rashed, the President of the European Committee Against the Siege, who told PIC that his committee coordinated with PCAS to make Saturday 23 February 2008 a day of solidarity with the people in the Gaza Strip.

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