NCCAR Urges Canada to Call for Immediate Cessation of Military Campaign in Gaza

 

Ottawa, November 8, 2006 – The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR) calls on Canada to strongly condemn the ongoing Israeli offensive that has led to the senseless loss of civilian lives in the Gaza Strip, and urge Israel to immediately halt its military campaign and allow for the safe passage of much-needed humanitarian aid.

 

“In just a few days, the latest Israeli military campaign has claimed the lives of more than 60 Palestinians, including many women and children,” said NCCAR Board of Directors Member Samah Sabawi. “As a signatory to the Geneva Convention, which calls for the protection of civilians under occupation, Canada can play an important role by calling on Israel to halt the military campaign and allow the safe passage of much-needed medical supplies and other humanitarian aid, which often does not reach the intended destination,” she added.

 

Amid growing international criticism over the high civilian death toll, and after Israel officially announced an end to its incursion in Gaza yesterday, the army withdrew its troops from the town of Beit Hanoun only to encircle it and launch a barrage of tank shells into a densely populated residential area killing 18 Palestinians, including at least six children.

 

Israel's offensive has also destroyed phone lines, cut off electricity and caused severe shortages in food and water supplies.

 

“There has been rising international criticism of Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip,” said Ms. Sabawi. “On Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his concern about the situation in Gaza calling on all sides to work to stop the bloodshed and to immediately resume direct and concrete negotiations. The European Union issued a similar statement. We call on Canada to do the same in an effort to end the cycle of violence,” she added.

 

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NCCAR Director of Communication: Annik Lussier, (613) 238-3795, Lussier@nccar.ca