24 Jan 2007: Israeli Human Rights Organizations: End the Siege on Gaza
24 Jan 2007: Israeli Human Rights Organizations: End the Siege on Gaza
We, Israeli human rights organizations, publicly support the joint Palestinian-Israeli international campaign to end the siege on the Gaza Strip immediately.
Although the toppling of the fence at the Egyptian border temporarily eased the stranglehold, the million and a half residents of Gaza still depend almost entirely on importation of goods, fuel, and electricity through crossings controlled by Israel. There is also concern that in response to the border breakthrough, Israel will step up punitive measures against the population.
As Israeli human rights organizations, we cannot remain silent while the siege continues, bringing in its wake a humanitarian crisis.
The firing of Qassam rockets at Israeli civilian targets is criminal and abhorrent. It is Israel's duty to defend its citizens, but collectively punishing an entire civilian population, of which most are not involved in the hostilities and over half are under 14, is illegal, improper, and immoral.
Participating organizations: The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Amnesty-Israel, Bimkom - Planners for Planning Rights, Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Hamoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Yesh Din - Volunteers for Human Rights
