Horses, camels, donkeys, sheep and goats rally in Gaza to protest Israeli blockade

Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Date: 11 / 03 / 2008 Time: 13:33
Gaza – Ma'an –

Dozens of horses, camels, sheep, goats and donkeys rallied in front of the UN headquarters in Gaza City on Tuesday in protest of Israel's crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian activists fitted the animals with signs in various languages reading, "Where is the world's conscience?" Save the children of Gaza", "Gaza is dying; end the siege," "Is the UN an international lie?" and "The UN has to end the siege of Gaza."

Sami Akila, the spokesperson of the Sunna' Al-Hayat society and the organizers of the rally said if the animals' messages reach the international community, Gazans will try sign language in an attempt to make their appeals understood.

"We know that animals in the world are fed to glut, while the children of Gaza suffer from hunger and anemia and most of them go to sleep without having supper. You are concerned about dogs more than your concern about us contradicting your own human values and the treaties you signed and failed to implement," Akila said, addressing the UN.

The protestors also delivered a message for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon asking him to save Gaza through implementing the principles of human rights. They said in the message, "Does the Secretary-General await the death of 1,200 Palestinian patients who are denied travel abroad for treatment, before the siege can be lifted?"

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