Lift the Gaza Blockade
The blockade causes ordinary Gazans struggle to cope with extensive power outages, shortages of clean water, and disruptions to hospital services.
I write to you today, as a person of faith, out of concern for the situation in Gaza. 1.7 million Palestinians struggle under a suffocating blockade, while violence continues with Israeli strikes on Gaza and rockets from Gaza fired into Israel.
As a result of the blockade, ordinary Gazans struggle to cope with extensive power outages, shortages of clean water, and disruptions to hospital services.
The ongoing closure policy means that movement and access is strictly limited: The recent, ?EU Heads of Missions? report on Gaza 2013,? explains, ?Israeli forces have continued to close Erez crossing to Palestinian civilians, thus preventing people in Gaza from accessing holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, studying in universities in the West Bank, and visiting their families and relatives in the West Bank and vice versa only allowing passage with special permits in exceptional cases.?
The need is urgent for a lasting ceasefire and an opening of the monitored crossings for humanitarian assistance, transit of persons, and imports and exports for the Gaza economy.
The 2005 agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, outlined in the two documents, ?Agreement on Movement and Access,? and ?Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing? should be immediately updated and implemented.
To promote security the security and well-being for Palestinians and Israelis I urge you to call for a lasting ceasefire between all parties, and to call for the lifting of the Gaza blockade.
As a result of the blockade, ordinary Gazans struggle to cope with extensive power outages, shortages of clean water, and disruptions to hospital services.
The ongoing closure policy means that movement and access is strictly limited: The recent, ?EU Heads of Missions? report on Gaza 2013,? explains, ?Israeli forces have continued to close Erez crossing to Palestinian civilians, thus preventing people in Gaza from accessing holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, studying in universities in the West Bank, and visiting their families and relatives in the West Bank and vice versa only allowing passage with special permits in exceptional cases.?
The need is urgent for a lasting ceasefire and an opening of the monitored crossings for humanitarian assistance, transit of persons, and imports and exports for the Gaza economy.
The 2005 agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, outlined in the two documents, ?Agreement on Movement and Access,? and ?Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing? should be immediately updated and implemented.
To promote security the security and well-being for Palestinians and Israelis I urge you to call for a lasting ceasefire between all parties, and to call for the lifting of the Gaza blockade.
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