RCT samarbejdspartnere i både Gaza og i Israel har fordømt det israelske angreb. Samtidig opfordrer RCT den danske regering til at tage klart afstand fra Israels nylige angreb og straks kræve den konventionsstridige blokade af Gaza ophævet.
I Israel har menneskerettighedsorganisationen The Public
Committee Against Torture, som RCT har samarbejdet i snart ti år,
kraftigt fordømt angrebet på nødhjælpskonvojen, der havde kurs mod
Gaza. Komiteen fordømmer den manglende respekt for menneskeliv og
opfordrer til, at en uafhængig og upartisk civil undersøgelse
bliver iværksat under kontrol af det internationale samfund.
RCTs mangeårige samarbejdspartner i Gaza Gaza Community Mental
Health Programme har aflyst den planlagte markering af
organisationens tyve-årsdag for i stedet at mindes de dræbte
nødhjælpsarbejdere. Organisationen prøver desuden sammen med 30
andre organisationer at få det internationale samfund i tale
igennem en pressemeddelelse udsendt 31. maj, hvori det anslås at
fire ud af fem beboere i Gaza er afhængige af humanitær hjælp. Kun
en meget lille del af hjælpen når frem, hvilket skyldes israelernes
"middelalderlige" belejring.
Den fælles pressemeddelelse følger herunder
PRESS RELEASE
GAZA, PALESTINE
31. MAY. 2010
CALL FROM GAZA FOR GLOBAL RESPONSE TO KILLINGS ON THE
FLOTILLA
We Gaza based Palestinian Civil Society Organizations and
International activists call on the international community and
civil society to pressure their governments and Israel to cease the
abductions and killings in Israel's attacks against the Gaza
Freedom Flotilla sailing for Gaza, and begin a global response to
hold Israel accountable for the murder of foreign civilians at sea
and illegal piracy of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid
for Gaza.
We salute the courage of all those who have organized this aid
intervention and demand a safe passage through to Gaza for the 750
people of conscience from 40 different countries including 35
international politicians intent on breaking the Israeli-Egyptian
blockade. We offer our sincerest condolences to family and friends
who have lost loved ones in the attack.
By sailing directly to Gaza, outside of Israeli waters, with
cargo banned illegally by Israel, such as the 10,000 tonnes of
badly needed concrete, toys, workbooks, chocolate, pasta and
substantial medical supplies, the flotilla is exercising
international law and upholding article 33 of the Geneva Convention
which clearly states that collective punishment is a crime against
humanity.
The hardships of Israel's closure of Gaza have been well
documented by all human rights groups operating, most recently by
Amnesty International in their Annual Human Rights Report
concluding that the siege has "deepened the ongoing humanitarian
crisis. Mass unemployment, extreme poverty, food insecurity and
food price rises caused by shortages left four out of five Gazans
dependent on humanitarian aid. The scope of the blockade and
statements made by Israeli officials about its purpose showed that
it was being imposed as a form of collective punishment of Gazans,
a flagrant violation of international law." The United Nations
continuously states that only a fraction of the required aid is
entering the Strip due to what it calls 'the medieval siege', with
John Ging the Director of UNRWA in Gaza specifically expressing the
need for the Flotilla to enter Gaza. The European Union's new
foreign affairs minister Catherine Ashton has just reiterated its
call for, "an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of
crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and
persons to and from Gaza."
The people of Gaza are not dependent people, but self sufficient
people doing what they can to retain some dignity in life in the
wake of this colossal man-made devastation that deprives so many of
a basic start in life or minimal aspirations for the future.
We, from Gaza, call on you to demonstrate and support the
courageous men and women who went on the Flotilla, many now
murdered on a humanitarian aid mission. We insist on severance of
diplomatic ties with Israel, trials for war crimes and the
International protection of the civilians of Gaza. We call on you
to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction
campaign of a country proving again to be so violent and yet so
unchallenged. Join the growing critical mass around the world with
a commitment to the day when Palestinians are entitled to the same
rights as any other people, when the siege is lifted, the
occupation is over and the 6 million Palestinian refugees are
finally granted justice.
Press Contacts:
Dr Haidar Eid: One Democratic Sate Group and University Teachers'
Association
Dr Mona El Farra: Middle East Children's Alliance, Gaza
00.972.598.868.222
Adie Mormech (UK): International Solidarity Movement
00.972.597.717.696
Max Ajl (US): Gaza Freedom March 00.972.597.750.798
Signatory Organisations:
The One Democratic State Group
University Teachers Association
Arab Cultural Forum
Palestinian Students' Campaign for the Academic Boycott of
Israel
Association of Al-Quds Bank for Culture and Info
Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements
International Solidarity Movement
Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organisations
Palestinian Women Committees
Progressive Students Union
Medical Relief Society
The General Society for Rehabilitation
Gaza Community Mental Health Program
General Union of Palestinian Women
Afaq Jadeeda Cultural Centre for Women and Children
Deir Al-Balah Cultural Centre for Women and Children
Maghazi Cultural Centre for Children
Al-Sahel Centre for Women and Youth
Ghassan Kanfani Kindergartens
Rachel Corrie Centre, Rafah
Rafah Olympia City Sisters
Al Awda Centre, Rafah
Al Awda Hospital, Jabaliya Camp
Ajyal Association, Gaza