‘Today marks five years since the Israeli military launched a series of missile and ground attacks on Gaza, which Israel named ‘Operation Cast Lead’. According to the UN, 1,383 Palestinians died as a result. These fatalities include 333 children.
And what of the survivors? For the 1.7 million living in the tiny Gaza Strip, life has become increasingly desperate due to Israel’s ongoing blockade, backed by Egypt, and with no effective challenge from governments around the world. The blockade has brought electricity cuts of 16 hours a day, which means the only street lights visible to people at night have been those from Israel’s nearby towns. The electricity shortages have severely affected almost all essential services, including health, water, sanitation and schooling. With waste plants not operating as a result, Palestinian children have been wading through freezing sewage to attend school.
The terrible floods in Gaza brought the promise of increased electricity supplies for a few weeks, but the international community must demand the electricity supply is constant and permanent.
This blockade has also resulted in unacceptable limits on personal freedom. Most Palestinians are prevented from travelling outside Gaza, an area of 139 sq miles: about the same size, but much more densely populated, as Newcastle.
It is deplorable for us to allow this on-going collective punishment against Palestinians in Gaza. We urge the UK government to take immediate action to bring about an end to the blockade on Gaza.’
Baroness BlackstonePeter Bottomley MPRichard Burden MP
Martin Caton MP
Katy Clark MP
Michael Connarty MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Alex Cunningham MP
Lord Dubs
Mark Durkan MPLord DykesJohn Hemming MP
Julian Huppert MP
Lord Hylton
Hugh Lanning, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Lord JuddCaroline Lucas MPSir Gerald Kaufman MP
George Mudie MP
Grahame Morris MP
Sandra Osborne MP
Lord Phillips of Sudbury
Rt Hon Dame Joan Ruddock MP
Andy Slaughter MP
Baroness Tonge
Yasmin Qureshi MP
David Ward MP
Mike Weir MP
