International Red Cross condemns Israel's blockade of Gaza
Stephanie Dearing
digitaljournal.com
Posted Jun 14, 2010 by ■
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called Israel's blockade of Gaza illegal Monday, recommending Israel lift the blockade immediately.
Free Gaza
Releasing doves before setting sail to Gaza with humanitarian aid. Photo taken on May 22, and provided courtesy of Free Gaza.
Israel has responded to international pressure, saying Monday it "agrees in principle" to lift the blockade on Gaza, reported RTE News. In effect for the past three years, the blockade has been devastating for the Palestinians living in Gaza said the International Red Cross Monday.
"The closure imposed on the Gaza Strip is about to enter its fourth year, choking off any real possibility of economic development. The whole of Gaza's civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility. The closure therefore constitutes a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law. Béatrice Mégevand-Roggo, the ICRC's head of operations for the Middle East, calls on the Israeli authorities to end the closure imposed on Gaza and to open the way for its people to live normal lives again."
The statement made by the International Committee of the Red Cross took the world by surprise. The organization is, on occasion, criticised for its position on maintaining neutrality in tense situations. Normally the non-profit organization refrains from making statements about situations in the interests of maintaining impartiality. But the dire situation of people living in the Gaza strip have prompted the ICRC to speak strongly on the topic.
"Humanitarian aid cannot address the hardship faced by Gaza's 1.5 million people. The only sustainable solution is to lift the closure. The blockade imposed on Gaza is about to enter its fourth year, thwarting any real chance of economic development. As Gazans endure unemployment, poverty and warfare, the quality of their health care has reached an all-time low."
The ICRC joined Europe in urging an end to the blockade. Since the deaths of nine activists aboard the Mavi Marmara, Europe has actively been seeking ways to get Israel to end the blockade reported the Associated Press.
Canada, who was hosting a visit by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when Israel conducted its deadly raid of the Free Gaza aid flotilla on May 31st, has kept mum on the topic. Three Canadians who were part of the flotilla when it was raided wrote Prime Minister Stephen Harper an angry letter, saying
"Once again, Canada did not condemn Israel's barbaric actions and refused to demand our release, with Peter Kent incredibly stating 'Canada doesn't believe a lot of noise is required in this instance',"
reported the Toronto Sun.
Israel has decided to hold its own inquiry into the deadly raid of May 31st, a move supported by Canada. Fox News reported the inquiry is also supported by President Obama.
Tony Blair, Middle-East Envoy for the United Kingdom, expressed hopes that Israel might actually lift its blockade of Gaza, reported the BBC.
BBC reported that Turkey continues to object to an Israeli-led inquiry. The BBC also said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was just as critical of Israel, saying
"To have a defendant acting simultaneously as both prosecutor and judge is not compatible with any principle of law."
Two non-Israeli people have been appointed to Israel's inquiry panel as international observers. They are Canadian Ken Watkin and Irish-born Lord David Trimble.
Turkey is still agitating for a UN-led inquiry.
digitaljournal.com
Posted Jun 14, 2010 by ■
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called Israel's blockade of Gaza illegal Monday, recommending Israel lift the blockade immediately.
Free Gaza
Releasing doves before setting sail to Gaza with humanitarian aid. Photo taken on May 22, and provided courtesy of Free Gaza.
Israel has responded to international pressure, saying Monday it "agrees in principle" to lift the blockade on Gaza, reported RTE News. In effect for the past three years, the blockade has been devastating for the Palestinians living in Gaza said the International Red Cross Monday.
"The closure imposed on the Gaza Strip is about to enter its fourth year, choking off any real possibility of economic development. The whole of Gaza's civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility. The closure therefore constitutes a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law. Béatrice Mégevand-Roggo, the ICRC's head of operations for the Middle East, calls on the Israeli authorities to end the closure imposed on Gaza and to open the way for its people to live normal lives again."
The statement made by the International Committee of the Red Cross took the world by surprise. The organization is, on occasion, criticised for its position on maintaining neutrality in tense situations. Normally the non-profit organization refrains from making statements about situations in the interests of maintaining impartiality. But the dire situation of people living in the Gaza strip have prompted the ICRC to speak strongly on the topic.
"Humanitarian aid cannot address the hardship faced by Gaza's 1.5 million people. The only sustainable solution is to lift the closure. The blockade imposed on Gaza is about to enter its fourth year, thwarting any real chance of economic development. As Gazans endure unemployment, poverty and warfare, the quality of their health care has reached an all-time low."
The ICRC joined Europe in urging an end to the blockade. Since the deaths of nine activists aboard the Mavi Marmara, Europe has actively been seeking ways to get Israel to end the blockade reported the Associated Press.
Canada, who was hosting a visit by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when Israel conducted its deadly raid of the Free Gaza aid flotilla on May 31st, has kept mum on the topic. Three Canadians who were part of the flotilla when it was raided wrote Prime Minister Stephen Harper an angry letter, saying
"Once again, Canada did not condemn Israel's barbaric actions and refused to demand our release, with Peter Kent incredibly stating 'Canada doesn't believe a lot of noise is required in this instance',"
reported the Toronto Sun.
Israel has decided to hold its own inquiry into the deadly raid of May 31st, a move supported by Canada. Fox News reported the inquiry is also supported by President Obama.
Tony Blair, Middle-East Envoy for the United Kingdom, expressed hopes that Israel might actually lift its blockade of Gaza, reported the BBC.
BBC reported that Turkey continues to object to an Israeli-led inquiry. The BBC also said Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was just as critical of Israel, saying
"To have a defendant acting simultaneously as both prosecutor and judge is not compatible with any principle of law."
Two non-Israeli people have been appointed to Israel's inquiry panel as international observers. They are Canadian Ken Watkin and Irish-born Lord David Trimble.
Turkey is still agitating for a UN-led inquiry.
posted by Hanan Elbadry at 7:25 PM
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