Unions Back Joint Israeli-Palestinian Call on Gaza
2 May 2008
The ICTU-Trade Union Friends of Palestine today (May 2) backed a call from a coalition of Israeli and Palestinian human rights' groups for an immediate lifting of restrictions on the supply of fuel to Gaza.
According to Mags O'Brien, acting chair of Trade Union Friends of Palestine (TUFP), the issuing of a joint call by the Israeli and Palestinian groups demonstrated the clear urgency of the situation in Gaza, where Israeli government restrictions on the supply of fuel were impacting severely on the wider civilian population and Gaza's humanitarian nfrastructure.
The coalition of nine rights' groups included: Al Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights; Physicians for Human Rights (Israel) and Yesh Din - Volunteers for Human Rights.
Their statement, released earlier this week, called for an end to the six month long restrictions on fuel entering Gaza "that have paralysed Gaza's infrastructure and endangered the health and well being of its 1.5 million residents."
The statement also called on all armed groups to refrain from attacking civilians "including at crossings that channel food, fuel and other goods" into the territory.
The statement said the resultant fuel shortages have disrupted water supply, health services and led to raw sewage being pumped into the sea.
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