Israeli groups call for lifting the Gaza Blockade

Tuesday January 22, 2008 05:32 by IMEMC Staff

A number of Israeli groups called for Saturday, January 26, to be a countrywide relief convoy and demonstration in Israel in solidarity on the Gaza border with a parallel Palestinian demonstration in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza Strip - Map

A number of Israelis groups call for lifting the blockade on the Gaza Strip, imposed by Israel creating a humanitarian crisis in the costal region.

Israel has recently decided to prevent any feul to enter the Gaza Strip and to cut its supply of electricity which puts the Strip on the verge of a real humantarian disaster.

According to a press release issued by the Israeli Committee Against Home Demolition, (ICAHD), a humanitarian convoy of supplies headed by peace and human rights organisations will go from Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva to the Gaza Strip border, decked with signs "Lift the Blockade."

Among the speakers who will join the convoy, former Knesset members Shulamit Aloni, Uri Avnery and Jeff Halper the director of (ICAHD), whose website provide detailed information about the convoy.

The Israeli Peace Bloc Gush Shalom has sent out a similar call and will be part of the convoy.

The convoy will speak to the Palestinians who will demonstrate in Gaza City at the "Unknown Soldier suquare" through the phone, where psychiatrist and human rights activist, Dr. Eyad Sarraj will give a speech as well.

According to the press releases, the convoy will contain sacks of flour, food supplies and other essential products, especially water filters.

Water supplies in Gaza are polluted, with nitrates at a level ten times the maximum recommended by the World Health Organisation. Due to the Israeli blockade, Gaza has a critical shortage of water filters, creating an intolerable violation of minimum humanitarian standards.

In additoin, the lack of power has resulted in a sewage flood as the pumping engines are unable to pump sewage to the neaeby treatment plant.

If the sewage water is not pumbed from the streets and the fields soon, it would sink the people's houses.

gaza strip | human rights | news report saed at imemc dot org