Anti-siege national initiative committee to send aid fleet to Gaza next month

  [05/04/2009 - 04:51 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The government committee to break the siege stated Sunday that the Beirut-based national initiative committee to break the siege intends to send an aid convoy by sea called the "fleet of freedom" to the Gaza Strip next month.

In a press statement received by the PIC, spokesman for the government committee Adel Zu'arub welcomed the step as important and daring, adding that the expansion of the campaign scope from one local ship to a fleet is a significant international achievement.

Zu'arub underscored that the fleet will include many European, Arab and African ships and will set sail for Gaza from Cyprus at the end of May, adding that there will be many multinational lawmakers aboard.

In another context, MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, on Sunday called on the international, Islamic and Arab institutions concerned with children to dedicate programs to develop the potentials of Palestinian children in all fields.

In a speech delivered during the Palestine festival of childhood and education, a "touch of tenderness" held in Gaza, MP Khudari hailed the Palestinian children especially of Gaza for their steadfastness and fortitude despite the destructive war and siege.   The lawmaker, who recently returned from a foreign trip intended to inform the world about the suffering of the Palestinian people, noted that 50 percent of the Palestinian people are children, 55 percent of them are malnourished and anemic as a result of the Israeli blockade which led to scarcity of food supplies and deterioration of medical care, and affected all walks of life in Gaza.

Gov't committee against siege initiates int'l campaign for human rights respect

  [05/04/2009 - 02:42 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The government committee to break the siege announced Sunday the launch of an international media campaign to demand respect for human rights especially the Palestinian people's right of travel and movement as part of the anti-siege activities.

In a press release received by the PIC, Adel Zu'arub, the spokesman for the committee, stressed the need for activating this campaign in international meetings and conferences and working hard to get rid of all restrictions that prevent Palestinians from travel and movement in peace and security.

Zu'arub underlined that every Palestinian individual has the right, like other nations, to move, travel and return without restraints according to article 12 of the international covenant on civil and political human rights, adding that the Israeli closure of Gaza crossings is a serious violation of human rights and leads to aggravating the suffering of Palestinian citizens.

The spokesman called for adopting this right and helping the Palestinians to move from and to their country without restrictions, pointing out that the governmental committee against the siege will send letters to many organizations concerned with human rights all over the world urging them to help the Palestinian people extract their rights.