Gaza red alert
Ricken Patel - Avaaz.org
Dear friends,
This morning after years of blockade and war, 350,000 desperate
Palestinians poured through breaches in the Gaza-Egypt border. The crisis
is out of control, the world must step in b- let's urgently call on the
United Nations, European Union and Arab League to stop the siege, oversee
the opening of borders and help broker the ceasefire which civilians on
all sides desperately need. Please click below to sign the emergency
petition--we'll deliver it when we reach 150,000 signaturesb-so sign
now and forward this email to your friends and family:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_end_the_siege/9.php?cl=52049338
The border blockade of Gaza by Israel has finally hit crisis point. This
weekbs power blackouts caught the attention of the world; now militants
have blown open Gaza's southern border with Egypt, and Israel could act
by force to close it.
The international community can end this crisis, and help save civilians
on all sides. This isn't about taking sides in the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict: it's about 1.5 million human beings locked up in the biggest
prison on earth. The unsustainable blockade must be lifted and the border
opened properly, with external controls to prevent weapons smuggling.
Meanwhile, the missile war between Israel and Gaza will only be stopped
by a reciprocal ceasefire which Hamas says it would negotiate.
While Israel and the US remain committed to the failing siege, the UN,
European Union and Arab League can step in to end this blockade, oversee
open borders, and help broker a ceasefire to save lives on all sides --
sign the petition and spread the word today:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_end_the_siege/9.php?cl=52049338
The humanitarian crisis of Gaza is only getting worse, as patients die in
hospitals for lack of care, and clean drinking water runs low.
Palestinian militants are still launching missiles at the Israeli town of
Sderot, and Israeli missiles claimed 37 Palestinian lives last week --
many of them civilian.
No genuine peace talks will be possible while this crisis continues. In
the Israel-Lebanon war of 2006, we saw how global pressure and assistance
can stop such a crisis and protect civilians from harm -- we cannot stay
silent about the crisis in Gaza. Please add your name now at the link
above, and forward this message widely.
With hope and determination,
Ricken, Paul, Galit, Esraba, Pascal, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
PS In a global interactive poll on the Middle East, tens of thousands of
Avaaz members helped to set our direction for this campaign -- addressing
the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and achieving a reciprocal ceasefire were
each supported by over 90% of respondents:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/annapolis_results_2
For more about the crisis:
Article by UN agency chief: "There has never been a more urgent need for
the international community to act to restore normality in Gaza"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2245299,00.html
Border breakout, 350,000 Palestinians cross into Egypt:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3497673,00.html
Former Clinton official calls for ceasefire, ending siege:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/21/opinion/edmalley.php
Several Israeli cabinet ministers also want to negotiate ceasefire:
Jerusalem Post article
UN reports on the humanitarian crisis, including background to the
blackouts:
http://www.ochaopt.org/?module=displaysectionB'ion_id=11&static=0&format=html
Deepening medical crisis in Gaza (UN):
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=75693
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