Jewish Voice for Peace

Lift the Gaza Blockade: Call on Congress to Speak Up!

The 1.5 million Palestinian inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are facing a tremendous humanitarian and medical crisis. Israel's sharp restrictions on fuel and electricity have severely damaged the provision of safe drinking water, forcing people to make do with extremely poor quality water which is dangerous to their health.

A group of Israeli organizations is planning a major action for Saturday, January 26th, to bring a relief convoy of desperately needed water filters to be distributed in Gaza by their Palestinian partner there, The End the Siege Campaign (click here for further information on the convoy.)

We must not stand idle. The United States must call for an immediate end to the siege on Gaza, urging Israel to open its border crossings to people and goods. Rep. Barbara Lee has called on Secretary of State Condolezza Rice to request that the Administration "do all it can to secure the delivery of these vital humanitarian goods and services to Gaza." (For full letter in pdf format,click here: page 1, page 2)

If you live in Rep. Lee's Congressional District, click here to send her a letter of thank you. If you live elsewhere in the United States, sign the letter below urging your Congressperson to speak out on Gaza today.

February 10, 2010

Subject:
Gaza Humanitarian Crisis: Speak Out Today

Dear Congressperson

I am writing to you to express deep concern about the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. This coming Saturday, January 26th, a group of Israeli human rights organizations is bringing a relief convoy of desperately needed water filters to be distributed in Gaza. I am asking you to speak up today in favor of lifting the unjust Israeli siege of the strip.

Despite Israel's unilateral evacuation of 7,000 settlers, the Gaza Strip remains occupied by Israel, and the situation of its residents has worsened to the brink of a massive catastrophe.  Israel continues to control Gaza's airspace, territorial waters, population registry, tax system, supply of goods, freedom of movement and access to healthcare.  Entry and exit of people and goods is controlled by Israel and is currently under total closure, so that the Strip has actually become the largest prison in the world.

Over 80% of Gazans now live in poverty according to the United Nations and the World Bank. The World Bank has identified Israel's tight control of movement of people and goods into and out of, as well as within, the occupied territories as the single most important reason for the collapse of the Palestinian economy. Israel has never implemented the agreement on movement and access that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice negotiated in November 2005. Israel must end its assault on Gaza and let Gaza have open borders to the rest of the world.

The United States must remind Israel that its need for security will not be met by inflicting a siege and collective punishment upon 1.5 million civilian men, women and children, denying all of them potable water, food, and medical supplies.

Please speak out today. The whole world is watching with concern.

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