A Plea for Justice

The war which began in the name of the elimination of Hamas and its military machine became an all out war on the civilian population of Gaza. Despite widespread international condemnation and calls to cease the Israeli assaults on Gaza, the Zionist government carried on their military campaign. What is left is a devastated city with broken lives and broken dreams.

Although a ceasefire was agreed on the 18^th of this month, Gaza is still a long way from recovery and rehabilitation. The people desperately need humanitarian aid supplies which have arrived but cannot be supplied to the needy due to strict packaging restrictions imposed by Israel and everything almost everything have to be inspected by the Israeli authorities. The aid agencies and the volunteers on the ground indicated that the delay in providing food, clothing and medical supplies would immensely deteriorate the conditions of the Gazans who have already suffered enough hardship.

The 22 day war Israel waged in Gaza has killed at least 1330 and injured 5450 more. Israel has also been accused of committing ‘war crimes’ as it violated the International Law as well as the human rights of the Palestinian people. New evidence has emerged to prove these allegations. The Amnesty International have openly accused Israel of ‘war crimes’ over its use of chemical weapons in densely populated areas of Gaza, they have also released a footage which shows the controversial ‘white phosphorous’ raining down on a UN school compound. However, the state of Israel has not so far publicly acknowledged or denied the use of the chemical. In addition to that, Israeli forces have repeatedly bombed and shelled UN and Red Crescent buildings where several civilians were seeking refuge.

Israel has blatantly disregarded the international community and the sense of its moral responsibility when they conducted this genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Furthermore, the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has pledged legal protection to the troops who took part in the Gaza War which they dubbed as ‘Operation Cast Lead’. The Israeli government has set up emergency medical facilities in the name of helping the Gaza victims. And although not overtly admitted, this indicates a sense of guilty conscious on their part.

Ironically, Israel as a nation as peoples who have experienced genocide in the ranks of their generations have transformed from the victim to the perpetrator. Over 5 million Jews were persecuted (the Holocaust) by the Nazis in what the world has witnessed as the bloodiest genocide ever.

While the Israeli’s must bear responsibility for their aggression and atrocities in the Gaza War, we the international community must also take responsibility for our failure to act promptly to end the injustices that were done to the Palestinian people. We do understand that right now what Gaza most needs is aid for her recovery and rehabilitation, but steps also need to be taken to prevent the recurrence of such a disaster. That would include thorough investigations into the alleged Gaza war crimes, holding the perpetrators accountable and also by advocating for a lasting peace in the region. We also call upon the government of Israel to reopen the border crossings to enable the supply of food and other materials which will bring a sense of normalcy to the People of the Gaza strip and also call for the dismantling of Israeli settlements in the occupied region.

Therefore, we have created two very important Petitions aimed at the United Nations and the Arab League addressing this issue. Israel has defied countless UN resolutions, and its time we warn them that no one is above the law. The United Nations must take decisive steps against Israel to make it obey its rulings, a nation which owes its own existence to a UN resolution. The co-operation and commitment of the Arab world is also vital for a durable peace in the middle-east region. If the responsible organizations and authorities fail to do this, then the credibility of these organizations will seriously be undermined and the faith of ordinary people on them to deliver peace in the world would soon fade away.

Hence, please show solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Sign petitions, donate for their recovery and rehabilitation and do all that you can to help the suffering people of Gaza. Please sign the following petitions aimed at the United Nations and the Arab League. Show them that we stand united and denounce Israel’s aggression against the innocent civilians of Gaza.

Petitions

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Stop-Israeli-Aggression

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/stop-the-violence-in-gaza

Please also urge all your friends and family to sign and show support. Txt message your friends too. Show the world that you care and do all that you can to promote this cause and the petitions. They will be delivered to the targets and will make an impact on their decisions. Do not be a bystander, be a part of this campaign!

Thanking you for hearing our views.

Sincerely,

A’fra Usman Adam

Fathmath Shifna Mohamed.