Call From gaza to the citizens of the world to break the siege

Besieged Gaza, Palestine. 5.6.2010

One-and-a-half years after Israeli army perpetrated a massacre upon the
population of Gaza, Apartheid Israel commits another crime against partisans
of Palestine in international waters. The world is moved at the plight of
Palestinians and their supporters. All of the seven crossings between Gaza
and Israel, including the Rafah Crossing—the only access Gaza has to the
external world—remain hermetically sealed.

We request that the citizens of the world oppose this deadly, medieval
blockade. We no longer rely on governments. The failure of the United
Nations and its numerous organizations to condemn such crimes proves their
complicity. Only civil society is able to mobilize to demand the application
of international law and put an end to Israel's impunity. The intervention
of civil society was effective in the late 1980s against the apartheid
regime of South Africa. Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have not
only described Israel’s oppressive and violent control of Palestinians as
Apartheid, they have also joined this call for the world’s civil society to
intervene again.

We, therefore, ask people of conscience and civil society organizations to
put pressure on their governments until Israel is forced to abide by
international law and international humanitarian law. Without the
intervention of the international community which was effective against
apartheid in South Africa, Israel will continue its war crimes and crimes
against humanity, as articulated by the Goldstione report.

We call on civil society organizations worldwide to intensify the
anti-Israel sanctions campaign to compel Israel to end to its aggression.

Besieged Gaza,

5.6.2010

Signatory Organizations:

The One Democratic State Group

University Teachers' Association

Arab Cultural Forum

Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel

Association of Al-Quds Bank for Culture and Info

Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements

International Solidarity Movement

Palestine Sailing Federation

Palestinian Association for Fishing and Maritime

Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organizations>

Palestinian Women Committees

Progressive Students Union

Medical Relief Society

The General Society for Rehabilitation

Gaza Community Mental Health Program

General Union of Palestinian Women

Afaq Jadeeda Cultural Centre for Women and Children

Deir Al-Balah Cultural Centre for Women and Children

Maghazi Cultural Centre for Children

Al-Sahel Centre for Women and Youth

Ghassan Kanfani Kindergartens

Rachel Corrie Centre, Rafah

Rafah Olympia City Sisters

Al Awda Centre, Rafah

Al Awda Hospital, Jabaliya Camp

Ajyal Association, Gaza

General Union of Palestinian Syndicates

Al Karmel Centre, Nuseirat

Local Initiative, Beit Hanoun

Union of Health Work Committees

Red Crescent Society Gaza Strip

Beit Lahiya Cultural Centre

Al Awda Centre, Rafah