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| One and a half million people imprisoned and without proper food or medicine. 800,000 without electricity supply; this is illegal collective punishment, an immoral act in violation of the basic human and natural laws as well as International Law. It cannot be tolerated anymore. The siege over Gaza should end now. |
– The heads of the churches of Jerusalem |
Summary
The Gaza strip is home to 1.5 million people. It has been under increasing Israeli military siege and the flow of the most basic supplies has been all but cut off. The result is a humanitarian crisis made worse by ongoing military attacks. Many in the international community have condemned the siege and asked Israel to lift it immediately. In a “kairos moment” this week, Gazans broke through the wall and found essential supplies. Yet Canada refuses to recognize the crisis caused by the siege and cast the lone vote against a recent UN Human Rights Council resolution that called for an end to the siege of Gaza and the accompanying military operations and called for protection of civilians.
We request that you, your church, or your community group write to the Prime Minister (a sample letter is available below), expressing your concern and asking that Canada call for an immediate end to the siege of Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis.
Background
Gaza is a narrow coastal strip that is part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Access into and out of this very small and crowded land is controlled exclusively by Israel and Egypt. For over a year, Gaza has literally been under siege, but recently Israel has drastically restricted the flow of basic foods, fuels and medicines as well as people into the area. Israel has faced rockets fired from within Gaza. This must stop: but these attacks are not a justification for the collective punishment of 1.5 million people. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians have died as a result of the siege and accompanying military action.
Over 80 percent of the population of 1.5 million (compared to 63 percent in 2006) is dependent on international food assistance, which itself has been dramatically reduced.
In 2007, 87 percent of Gazans lived below the poverty line, more than a tripling of the percentage in 2000. In a November 2007 report, in reference to the food allowed in to Gaza, the Red Cross stated that people are getting "enough to survive, not enough to live."
According to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, between September 1, 2005, and July 25, 2007, 668 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli security forces. Over half were noncombatants and 126 were children. During the same period, Qassam rockets and mortar shells killed eight Israelis, four of them civilians.
As noted by the Word Council of Churches, “In 1948, many nations around the world signed the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights agreeing to avoid such non-humanitarian treatment of others. It is particularly the innocent who are suffering. The siege has increased violent attacks against civilians on both sides. It has cut the people of Gaza off from adequate supplies of food, medicine, electricity and fuel, and crippled essential health and sanitation services in one of the most densely populated places on earth.”
Take action
Our partners in the Middle East are asking for your support. Please use the sample letter below as a guide for your own letters or phone calls to the Prime Minister. Please circulate copies of your letter to other government officials and KAIROS. Please feel free to copy and distribute the letter widely and include your congregation or parish in this action wherever you can. While we urge you to take action as soon as possible, please keep writing and calling until the siege is lifted. KAIROS and some of our members have already sent their own letters and will continue to be involved.
Links for further information and action:
B’Tselem (Israeli human rights organization): Joint call
for an end to the blockade:
http://www.btselem.org/english/Press_Releases/20080124.asp
KAIROS partner Bat Shalom (note that the date on their article
is wrong):
http://www.batshalom.org/article.php?id=37&&main=43
A statement from the General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches, Dr. Sam Kobia:
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/documents/general-secretary/messages-and-letters/
23-01-08-alarming-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza.html
Statement from the heads of churches of Jerusalem: http://www.oikoumene.org/en/resources/ documents/other-ecumenical-bodies/22-01-08-call-by-heads-of-churches-in-jerusalem-and -the-holy-land-for-an-end-to-the-siege-on-gaza.html
United Church of Canada Moderator calls for end to Gaza siege:
Letter:
http://www.united-church.ca/en/communications/news/releases/080129
Suggested action: http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/takeaction/080128
Sample letter
The Right Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada,
Office
of the Prime Minister,
80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, Canada K1A
0A2 Fax: 613-941-6900.
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to urge the Government of Canada to call on the Israeli government to end the siege of Gaza. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and Canadians are looking to our government to stand up for human rights and support the rule of international law.
I am shocked and appalled by Canada’s vote against the resolution passed in the special session of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council on January 24. The resolution, which expressed grave concern for the loss of lives and injuries, and urged “all concerned parties to respect the rules of human rights law and international humanitarian law” expresses values that I expect the government of Canada to uphold in all situations, wherever violations of international human rights law occur.
As a concerned Canadian, I ask you to:
· Call on the Israeli government to put an immediate end to the suffocating siege of Gaza
· Work with all parties concerned for a just and sustainable resolution to end the occupation that forms the basis of the conflict, and ensure a long-lasting peace
I am monitoring the situation closely and urge you, Mr. Harper, to ensure that Canada will insist on respect for international law by all parties. Please provide me with information on actions the government is taking.
Yours sincerely,
Cc:
The Hon. Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Phone: (613) 995-0687, E-mail: BerniM parl.gc.ca
Bob Rae, Foreign Affairs critic, Liberal party. Liberal Party of Canada. 81 Metcalfe Street, Suite 400, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6M8 Phone : (613) 237-0740 Fax : (613) 235-7208 Email : info speakers .ca
Francine Lalonde, Foreign Affairs critic, Bloc Québécois. Phone: (613) 995-6327, E-mail: Lalonde.F parl.gc.ca
Paul Dewar, Foreign Affairs critic, New Democratic Party. Phone: (613) 946-8682, E-mail: dewar.p parl.gc.ca
Eric Walton, International Affairs critic, Green Party. Phone: (613) 562-4916, E-mail: eric.walton greenparty.ca
Mailing is a great strategy too! Print copies can be mailed free of charge to the above and your MP: The House of Commons, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
Marius Grinius, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. Phone: (022) 919-9200 (Country code: 41), e-mail: genev dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Lynn Adamson, KAIROS Global Partnership Program: Middle East. Tel 1 877 403 8933 x239, fax: 416 463 5569 or ladamson kairoscanada.org
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