European Jews for a Just Peace
P.O. Box 59506 1040 LA Amsterdam The Netherlands
+31 20 67955850 contact@ejjp.org http://www.ejjp.org
EU must take strong and impartial steps against the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza Over the last months the actions of the Israeli army have culminated in an unbearable level of suppression and persecution of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. The massacres and murder of unarmed Palestinians, including many children and women, cynically named in the summer months “Operation Summer Rain” and now, bearing the title “Operation Autumn Clouds”, are beyond description. During the last four months 335 Palestinians have been killed, 85 under 17 years of age, and 30 women. In the last few days 47 people in Beit Hanoun, among them women and children, were killed and many men between the age of 16 and 45 arrested and taken to an unknown place. According to Israeli media 130 of those killed were armed. To say it clearly: Within less than half a year 252 civilians have thus far been murdered by the Israeli army in Gaza not to mention the hundreds, who have been wounded and maimed.
What are the reasons that drive the government of Israel to authorize its army to take such actions? Is it for security? Is it to demonstrate its power against those resisting occupation? Is it for any rational reason?
The inhumanity of ongoing psychological and physical attacks day and night has no other reason than to sow fear and demonstrate strength.
Against what threat? The incursions in Gaza by the Israeli army cannot be justified by using as an excuse the launching of Qassem rockets or the taking as hostage by Palestinian militants of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Indeed, the arbitrary and immeasurable violence of the Israeli army have probably endangered his life.
The use of the new, illegal and deadly weapon called DIME (Dense Inert Metal Explosive) has no justification whatsoever. It is evident that people living as a captive population under a brutal military occupation are being used as objects for the testing of advanced, lethal weapons.
One must ask whether the true motive of Israel’s disengagement from Gaza was to pave the way for any form of killing and destruction. According to the United Nation’s Charter Israel, as any other member of the international community must be judged, made accountable and deterred from imposing undeclared wars, from the killing of civilians, the devastation of nature, and the destruction of the industry and infrastructure of its neighbours.
As European citizens we are not willing to be silent about crimes being committed against a captive, occupied people, who are the victims of the events of European history.
As Jews we will not make the same mistake which we have often blamed others for, silence about crimes against humanity.
It is utterly essential that strong, decisive and impartial steps finally be taken by the European Union to compel Israel to adhere to international law. We request that peacekeepers be dispatched immediately to Gaza by the European Union for the protection of the people living there. The humanitarian catastrophe has already begun!
EJJP Executive Committee
Dror Feiler (Chair) Sweden
Dan Judelson (Secretary) Great Britain
Paula Abrams-Hourani Austria
Paola Canarutto Italy
Liliane Cordova Kaczerginski France
Fanny-Michaela