|
|
Statement For Immediate Release January 19, 2008 NCCAR WELCOMES TRUCE, URGES EFFORTS TOWARDS PERMANENT CEASEFIRE Ottawa, ON – The National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR) welcomes the ceasefire in the Gaza strip after 22 days of disproportionate attacks on Palestinians hemmed in overcrowded Gaza, but strongly urges that international diplomatic efforts continue in order to reach a permanent ceasefire, ensure the immediate flow of desperately needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza, and begin assessment of the true extent of the devastation brought on by the actions of the Israeli forces. “As long as Israel keeps its troops and tanks in Gaza and as long as the siege is not lifted, the war on Gaza will not be over, and the plight of the Palestinians will continue,” said Bahija Réghaï , President of NCCAR. NCCAR believes that Canada should be promoting the application of international human rights and humanitarian law by all parties without exception in this region in order to ensure the human security, rights and freedom of all civilian, Israeli and Palestinian. “It is disappointing to Canadians that both the Canadian government and Liberal Opposition leader have failed to take this position and have effectively supported Israeli violations of these laws that Canada is supposed to uphold,” said Réghaï . While Israel has tried to portray its assault as a war between equals, it was a one-sided onslaught of a powerful war machine using the most deadly and sophisticated weapons against a trapped civilian population, more than half of whom are children. Over 1,200 Palestinians died and more than 5,300 were wounded, with grossly inadequate facilities to treat the victims. Also targeted was Gaza civilian infrastructure including U.N. headquarters and U.N schools, international media offices, hospitals, mosques, a church, ministries and mobile clinics and ambulances. The International Committee of the Red Cross stated that “it believes that …. the Israeli military failed to meet its obligation under international humanitarian law to care for and evacuated the wounded. It considers the delay in allowing rescue services access unacceptable." Israel is in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention in more than one way: the air and ground attacks constitute collective punishment of the entire population in Gaza for the acts of a few militants; its response was disproportionate to the illegal rockets fired into Israel; it has reneged on its obligation, as an occupying power, to ensure food and medical supplies to the occupied population and led a blockade or collective punishment which has created a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza. NCCAR urges the Canadian government to:
- 30 - Contact: Samah Sabawi : 613-878-3965 - E mail: media@nccar.ca
|