Call on
Congress to end the Gaza blockade
ÒWe in the international community have a
responsibility not to fail the Palestinians in Gaza, we have the responsibility
to help them recover from the physical and emotional traumas of war, we have
the responsibility to assist them in rebuilding their lives and livelihoods
and, ultimately, to see Gaza and the West Bank reunited and the closures
lifted.Ó UN
Special Coordinator, Nickolay Mladenov, May 25, 2016
For nearly a decade Gaza has been largely sealed off from the
world. Ordinary people-- men,
women, and children--have been denied the opportunity to lead ordinary
lives. Israel maintains the
blockade with security as the stated purpose, along with Egypt which has only
intermittently opened the Rafah crossing into Gaza, and the Palestinian
leadership whose internal divisions contribute to the misery of their people.
Of the approximately 18,000 homes destroyed
or severely damaged during the 2014 hostilities, about 23% have been rebuilt or
repaired, and an estimated 70,000 people are still displaced according a May UN
report. Severe electricity and fuel shortages
lead to rolling blackouts lasting for hours each day and restrict the ability
to pump water and treat sewage.
Citing the recent escalation in violence
between Israel and Hamas, UN Special Coordinator Nikolay Mladenov said,
ÒThese incidents in recent weeks underscore the fragility of the security
dynamics on the ground, particularly the threat to the ceasefire in GazaÉÓ And he noted, ÒUnless radically more is
done to address the chronic realities in Gaza, it is not a question of Ôif, but
rather of ÔwhenÕ another escalation will take place,Ó adding, ÒI once again
encourage donors to fulfil their commitments to support GazaÕs reconstruction,
recovery and development.Ó
Gaza suffering does nothing to keep
Israelis safe. The security and
welfare of Israelis and Palestinians depends on addressing the underlying
issues, including lifting the Gaza blockade.
Contact
your representative and senators today and ask them to:
á Make a
public statement calling for an end to the Gaza blockade now
á Insist
that Israeli security controls must not deprive Palestinians of their human
rights
á Support
U.S. funding for Gaza needs
Background
and further information:
On Going
Crises in Gaza and West Bank, ACT Alliance, May 24, 2016
Gaza
Crossings Operations Status: Monthly Update, UN OCHA oPt April 2016
Sample Letter:
Dear Senator/Representative,
I am writing to you as a person of faith who is
deeply concerned about the suffering in Gaza as well as the need for peace for
both Israelis and Palestinians.
For nearly a decade Gaza has been largely
sealed off from the world. Of the
approximately 18,000 homes destroyed or severely damaged during the 2014
hostilities, about 23% have been rebuilt or repaired, and an estimated 70,000
people are still displaced according a May UN report. Severe electricity and fuel shortages
lead to rolling blackouts lasting for hours each day and restrict the ability
to pump water and treat sewage.
Citing the recent escalation in violence
between Israel and Hamas, UN Special Coordinator Nikolay Mladenov said,
ÒThese incidents in recent weeks underscore the fragility of the security
dynamics on the ground, particularly the threat to the ceasefire in GazaÉÓ And he noted, ÒUnless radically more is
done to address the chronic realities in Gaza, it is not a question of Ôif, but
rather of ÔwhenÕ another escalation will take place,Ó adding, ÒI once again
encourage donors to fulfil their commitments to support GazaÕs reconstruction,
recovery and development.Ó
To address this dire situation, I ask you
to:
á Make a
public statement calling for an end to the Gaza blockade now
á Insist
that Israeli security controls must not deprive Palestinians of their human
rights
á Support
U.S. funding for Gaza needs
Gaza suffering does nothing to keep
Israelis safe. The security and
welfare of Israelis and Palestinians depends on addressing the underlying
issues, including lifting the Gaza blockade.
Thank you for your consideration, and I
look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,