- Palestine
- May 18, 2009
- 3 minutes read
European campaign urges British gov’t to press Israel to open Gaza crossings
The European campaign to end the siege appealed to the British government to use its influence and pressure Israel to immediately open the Gaza crossings for humanitarian assistance and reconstruction materials, deploring the EU slowdown to end the suffering of one and a half million Palestinians in the Gaza strip.
The European campaign called, in its letter to British premier Gordon Brown, for direclty asking Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu to open Gaza crossings and allow in reconstruction materials immediately.
The letter pointed to the suffering of thousands of Palestinian families whose homes were destroyed during the Israeli war.
“How can the global conscience remain silent and unable to provide shelter for thousands of children displaced by the war?” the letter questioned.
It underlined that the European silence on what is going on in besieged Gaza is considered practical participation in the Israeli blockade that killed so far more than 300 patients while hundreds others are awaiting the same fate as the closure of crossings continue.
The letter hailed four senior EU officials for demanding the Israeli foreign minister to open the crossings for humanitarian aid, saying that it is a step in the right direction and must be followed by rapid steps to end the Israeli siege imposed three years ago.
In another context, the “Hope” for Gaza convoy will be moving today from the Egyptian port of Alexandria towards Port Said before heading to the Rafah border crossing.
Italian senator Fernando Rossi said Monday said that the work is underway to end the administrative procedures for the entry of aid trucks into Gaza.
Rossi added that 12 European lawmakers from Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Ireland and Britain left Cairo for Port Said to contribute to the delivery of medical aid to Gaza especially for the people with special needs, pointing out that those participants will escort the convoy of 40 medium-sized trucks loaded with medical equipment in addition to 12 ambulances