Over the previous couple of days, we have now witnessed horrific escalations of violence unfold within the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza and the West Financial institution and Israel. Although the scenario remains to be unfolding, as a motion for well being justice – working in the direction of guaranteeing well being by peace – we’re amplifying requires donations for very important medical humanitarian assist, and straight calling for the UK authorities to behave to forestall additional lack of life, and convey a few simply finish to violence.
Because the begin of its assault on Saturday, Hamas fighters have killed at the least 1200 in keeping with Israeli authorities, wounded an extra 2400, and brought a lot of civilian hostages. The quick response from Israel has been an escalation of violence towards Palestinian civilians in Gaza: Israeli airstrikes have now killed 1354 Palestinians, together with 326 kids, in keeping with the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Greater than 6000 individuals have been injured, and over 338,000 individuals have been displaced from their properties in keeping with Medical Aid for Palestinians. The Israeli authorities has said its intention to chop off meals, water and vitality to Gaza – in impact subjecting civilians to collective punishment. This yr was already one of the lethal for Palestinians in Gaza, and these newest actions are an extension of years of Israel’s unlawful blockade that has already brought about a lot struggling.
We mourn all lack of life on this escalation of the decades-long ongoing violence, which has brought about numerous deaths and can additional impression on civilians’ well being for years to come back. Harming civilians is a criminal offense towards worldwide legislation, and we unequivocally condemn the battle crimes dedicated on this battle together with the concentrating on and killing of civilians.
An understanding of the scenario in Gaza and a path to peace can’t be achieved with out situating the present violence inside its context, and we unequivocally condemn the many years of sluggish violence towards Palestinians by the use of ethnic cleaning, apartheid, unlawful occupation and settler-colonialism. This violence has lengthy been enabled by the worldwide neighborhood’s silence on Israel’s ongoing violations of worldwide legislation and apartheid. It’s civilians who’re paying the worth now, as they at all times have.
To finish the bloodshed, it’s paramount to handle Israel’s unlawful occupation and the continuing siege of Gaza that it started in 2007, which has each tremendously restricted sources obtainable inside Gaza and prevented Palestinians from with the ability to depart Gaza to hunt therapy elsewhere, which has resulted within the deaths of quite a few sufferers in recent times. The present bombing is the fifth time in fifteen years that Israel has launched a serious navy occupation towards Gaza, killing a whole bunch, typically hundreds of Palestinians, every time.
As a part of our dedication to well being justice, we name for an finish to the bombardment and unlawful siege on Gaza earlier than the already-catastrophic toll on life and well being worsens. All events, together with the worldwide neighborhood, should do what is important to cease the bloodshed, and all perpetrators of battle crimes and violations of human rights should be held to account.
Moreover, it’s excessive time that the UK authorities ends its longstanding and egregious complicity in these crimes. Israel’s crimes have been granted impunity far too lengthy already and it’s deeply disturbing that British authorities ministers have made statements seemingly condoning Israel’s declared intention to chop off meals, water and electrical energy from Gaza, which is a battle crime. Israel can also be massing troops in preparation for a floor invasion of Gaza, which all ought to oppose.
As a UK organisation campaigning for a world wherein everybody is ready to entry their human proper to well being, we name for the UK authorities to:
- Do all it might probably to use strain on Israel to right away halt all assaults on Gaza together with air strikes and floor invasion, and to finish its blockade of important providers
- Implement a direct two-way navy embargo
- Foyer Israel to finish its siege of Gaza and dismantle the Apartheid wall that it has constructed each in Gaza and within the West Financial institution
- Work to make sure that Israel recognises the inalienable proper of return of Palestinian refugees, in addition to the best of all Palestinians to reside with equal rights and dignity
- Respect the right to boycott and abandon its laws to outlaw Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, a non-violent motion which seeks to strain Israel to adjust to worldwide legislation within the face of many years of inaction by the worldwide neighborhood.
As well being staff within the UK, you possibly can assist the scenario on the bottom in Gaza, the place hospitals are struggling to deal with the inflow of great accidents. In case you can, please give an urgent donation to the humanitarian relief efforts of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
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