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Breaking Gaza siege convoy returns to cairo after police blockade

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The convoy of the national campaign to break the siege on Gaza returned to Cairo after it was stopped by the security agencies on the entrance of Suez Canal governorate of  Ismailiyya.

The organizers of the convoy held a press conference in which the Chancellor Mahmoud Khudairy, former head of Alexandria Judges Club, and the leader of the Campaign, said the convoy achieved one of its most important goals which is the breaking of the hesitation blockade and reacting to break the siege .

He pointed out that the campaign is one of the most important steps taken by Egyptian opposition and national forces, and that for the first time there is some kind of action to serve the Palestinian cause, adding that we need a lot of practical actions similar to this convoy, to make the government feel that it will not end at this point.

The convoy was launched  at 03:00 pm, on Wednesday Ramadan (September) 10, on its way to Rafah crossing border, but the security agencies intercepted it and prevented its entry to Al-Ismailiyya city, which is the only gateway to Rafah crossing.

(IkhwanWeb – Egypt)

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Israel imposes more severe permit regime

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Human Rights
Israel imposes more severe permit regime
Press release, B’Tselem, 10 September 2008

In the past year Israel has escalated its policy of separating the Palestinian populations of the Gaza Strip and West Bank from each other. The separation regime tears families apart, puts thousands at risk of expulsion to the Gaza Strip and turns Palestinians into "illegal aliens" in their own home. This policy is revealed in a position paper published today (Wednesday 10 September) by human rights organizations HaMoked and B’Tselem.

As of November 2007, Israel requires Palestinians whose registered address is in Gaza to apply for a temporary permit to remain in the West Bank. This, even if they have lived in the West Bank for many years, established their homes there, and, in some cases even if they were born in the West Bank. Moreover, in the past year, the military has taken active measures to locate and expel Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip under the pretext that they are "illegal aliens."

Israel is exploiting the hardship of families which are split between the West Bank and Gaza Strip to force them to move to Gaza permanently. Israel requires Palestinians wishing to enter Gaza to sign an undertaking never to return to the West Bank. On the other hand, Palestinians from Gaza wishing to enter the West Bank for medical treatment, family visits etc., are required to deposit a large sum of money to guarantee their return to Gaza. For example:

A Gazan bride and her parents who wanted to travel to the West Bank for the wedding ceremony were required to deposit NIS 20,000 to guarantee their return to Gaza — including the bride.
A resident of Qalqiliya wishing to enter the Gaza Strip to visit her ailing husband was informed by the military that the visit would be approved only if she undertook never to return to her home in the West Bank.
A man, originally from Hebron, who resides with his wife and children in the Gaza Strip visited his mother in the West Bank. When he asked to return home, the military refused to let him go to Gaza or to let his family from Gaza come to Hebron. After a year of separation, the military said the father would be allowed to return to Gaza if he signs an undertaking never to return to the West Bank.

The High Court of Justice has recently backed Israel’s policy of denying Palestinian residents of the Territories the right to choose where they wish to reside, live with their families and travel between Gaza and the West Bank. In the past, the Court accepted army-imposed restrictions on Palestinian movement, but made efforts to promote compromises between the parties. This has changed and in its rulings the Court now puts its seal of approval on Israel’s policy which blocks passage entirely.

HaMoked and B’Tselem demand that Israel immediately renew freedom of movement between the two parts of the Occupied Territory and avoid any forcible transfers from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. The international community must protest the violation of Palestinians’ rights to freedom of movement, to family life and to choose where they wish to live and take action to secure these rights.

(©2000-2007 electronicIntifada)

 

 

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Pr condemnation of Egyptian government for blocking relief convoy to Gaza

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11 September 2008

Press Release

Condemnation of Egyptian Government for blocking relief convoy to Gaza

The Media Review Network (MRN) strongly condemns the Egyptian Government for blocking the relief convoy, “Egyptians against the Siege”, to Gaza carrying humanitarian and medical aid through the Rafah Border post.

About 500 specially selected, invited and noteworthy citizens made up of Egyptian judges, MP’s, doctors, professors, journalists and activists tried to break the siege imposed by the Zionists against the Palestinians. This criminal act can only be viewed as a crime against humanity.

It is a perversion of justice to allow the Zionist occupiers and persecutors of the Palestinians to tour Egyptian resorts & provide cheap fuel to Israel, and deny basic humanitarian aid, food and medicines to a besieged, starving 1,5 million imprisoned Palestinians.

This persecution of the Palestinians by the Egyptian Government is unethical and immoral by any standards. The Egyptian Government is deeply mistaken if they think that this type of provocation will produce security for the Zionist state. 

Where is the humanity of the world and the Arab governments in particular, during this cherished month of Ramadan that reflects compassion and empathy to the weak and hungry? The last thing the Palestinians need is another tormentor augmenting Zionism’s genocidal terror against their people.

The MRN would like to remind the Government of Egypt of that proud moment 35 years ago when you bravely flew the Egyptian flag once again over the Sinai Desert. We strongly advocate that you show similar courage and lift the siege of Gaza immediately and allow aid to get to Gaza by opening up the Rafah Border Post, for the sake of your own humanity. The  Egyptian Government is advised to establish a clear distinction between its sense of humanitarianism and its political convenience.

Issued by:

Dr. Firoz Osman
Secretary-General
Media Review Network
082 337 6976

(Media Review Network is an advocacy group based in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa)

 

 

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