Opinion Editorials, May 2009

Erdogan calls for opening Gaza crossings, Rossi calls Israeli siege of Gaza the most hideous crime in human history

Erdogan calls for opening Gaza crossings to start rebuilding efforts

[ 09/05/2009 - 04:45 PM ]

ISTANBUL, (PIC)--

Turkish premier Recep Erdogan on Friday called for opening Gaza commercial crossings in order to rebuild what was destroyed by the last Israeli war and in order for patients to receive medical treatment abroad.

Speaking at an inauguration ceremony of a new TV channel held in Istanbul last night, Erdogan said, after a phone call with the channel’s reporter in occupied Jerusalem, that many hospitals and schools in Gaza are still destroyed due to the lack of necessary materials needed to reconstruct them, adding that the people there still live in tents. 

Erdogan noted that he waits for the opening of crossings in order to fulfill the promises he made to help Gaza people.

In a press release received by the PIC, spokesman for the Palestinian government Taher Al-Nunu stated Saturday that ending the occupation, lifting the siege and restoring the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are the key to achieving stability and a just peace in the region.

Spokesman Nunu said, in another context, that his government follows and hails the efforts made by Egypt at many levels especially in the files of the national dialog and calm.

Rossi: The Israeli siege is the most hideous crime in human history

[10/05/2009 - 10:45 AM ]

ROME, (PIC)--

Italian senator Fernando Rossi condemned Saturday the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip as the most hideous crime in human history, calling on the European parliament to actively and urgently intervene to end the criminal blockade imposed on one and a half million Palestinians.

In a press statement, senator Rossi said that the Israeli blockade violates the basic human rights obligations and causes the slow death of many patients who need to travel for medical treatment abroad.

The Italian lawmaker expressed his delight to preside over the "Hope" for Gaza convoy, stressing his determination to continue his efforts to alleviate the suffering of the besieged Palestinians in the Strip.

The lawmaker urged all advocates of human rights, justice and freedom to raise their voices and condemn the Israeli siege, considering this a moral and humanitarian obligation imposed on all those who have living consciences.

In a related context, Hamdi Sha’ath, the head of the government committee for the reception of delegations, stated that the "Hope" convoy which is headed by Italian senator Fernando Rossi, a prominent pro-Palestine activist, is composed of many European lawmakers coming from different countries such as Britain, Italy, Greece, Scotland and Switzerland along with a number of people with special needs.

Sha’ath added that the convoy which left the Italian port of Genoa last Sunday is expected to arrive at the Alexandria port in mid-May and then will be heading by land towards Gaza.

European campaign: The "Hope" convoy led by senator Rossi is to arrive soon

[ 09/05/2009 - 02:29 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The European campaign to end the siege said that the "Hope" convoy, which left the Italian port of Genoa for the besieged Gaza Strip last Sunday, is led by Fernando Rossi, a member of the Italian senate, and is expected to arrive during the next few days.

In a statement received by the PIC on Saturday, Dr. Arafat Abu Madi, the head of the European campaign, stated that senator Rossi, who already visited Gaza and sensed closely the suffering of its people, is accompanied by 11 other European lawmakers in addition to politicians and volunteers.

Dr. Abu Madi underlined that the entire international community must pay attention to the seriousness of the humanitarian situation in the impoverished Gaza especially after the last Israeli war.

"Hope" convoy coordinator Rami Abdo said that the convoy is composed of a dozen of fully-equipped ambulances and about 30 trucks laden with medical equipment and aids for special needs.    For his part, senator Rossi appealed to the European parliament to actively and urgently intervene to end the siege on Gaza, noting that the policy of blockade is a horrendous mass punishment and against basic human rights obligations.

He also warned that the Israeli blockade causes the slow death of many patients and tightens the screws on the overstretched remaining sources that the Gazans live on.