People of Faith CT

The Palestinian American Congress calls on the United States Government to apply all necessary means of pressure to stop the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, which represent an illegal abuse of American aid and weaponry, and which foment anti-Americanism in the region.

On December 27 the Israeli army launched its illegal strikes against the captive unarmed civilian population of Gaza. Up to the writing of this release the attack has caused over 350 deaths and injured more than 1700 including women, children and elderly. The Red Cross has reported that hospitals are overflowing with severely injured people and cannot care for more patients.

As the world watches in horror, the Israeli government escalates its relentless and brutal attack on Palestinian civilians. The Israeli government continues to engage in its systematic bloodletting and onslaught of over a million and a half civilians. This collective punishment of the Palestinian people represents clear evidence of atrocious war crimes that violate the tenets of International Humanitarian Law and United Nations resolutions.

For the last two years, the entire Gaza Strip has been suffering from the inhumane siege and blockade imposed on its population by Israel. A grave violation of all human rights has been taking place in Gaza under the watchful eyes of the world as Israel tightened its inhumane siege of Gaza.

Over a Million and half resident of Gaza were living in darkness and in semi-blackout due to electricity and fuel cut-off and suspension. The blockade of Gaza and closure of all its exit points have stopped medicine and fuel shipments in the very cold months of winter where the heating fuel was most needed. These actions had stopped the vital operation in hospitals, and resulted in shortage of essential supplies which put thousands of lives in danger due to diseases and malnutrition. The lack of power has resulted in wide spread water shortages and the sewage system was under imminent threat of collapse.

The Palestinian American Congress (PAC) expresses its solidarity with the Palestinian people at these difficult times and in the face of the Israeli atrocities. We recognize that this carefully managed suffocation of Gaza is part of Israel's strategy to coerce the Palestinian people to a political settlement that negates their legitimate rights in Palestine. The longstanding and heinous practices of holding a whole nation hostage must be stopped.

We recognize that the actions of the Israeli government are working to undermine peace and stability in Palestine and the region. We urge President Bush and the United States Congress to call on Israel to immediately end its blockade of Gaza and to insist that Israel abide by the universal standards of human rights, international law and UN Resolutions

The Palestinian American Congress condemns these deadly violent attacks and call upon the international community and the US government to exert pressure on Israel to end this attack immediately. We call upon the UN to pressure the leaders of the world to step up the efforts to provide more humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

The Palestinian American Congress deplores these inhumane actions and appeal to the conscience of the whole World to break its silence and rush to the rescue of the entire civilian population specially those of children, women and the elderly. The Israeli actions are flagrant violations of the United Nations charter and Human Right Principles.

The Palestinian American Congress urges all American Arabs and Muslims to call the White House, their congressman and representatives office and demand immediate stop to the Israeli atrocities.

We strongly urge President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to suspend their talks with Israel and actively seek to form a united Palestinian front to face the Israeli violence targeting the Palestinians.

We call on the Egyptian government to open the Rafah boarder crossing and allow passage of

Palestinian patients to seek medical care in Egypt or elsewhere. We call on Egypt to facilitate the transport of humanitarian aid, food, medicine and fuel to the people of Gaza.

We urge the Saudi government and the Gulf States to use their influence to rally international support to protect the Palestinians from Israel's unchecked and aggressive collective punishment of Palestinian civilians.

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The Palestinian American Congress (PAC) is a non-profit grass-roots organization that adheres to the principles that the Palestinian people constitute an indivisible National Unit and that Palestine is its national homeland. PAC affirms its support of the Palestinian people's struggle to realize its national rights in accordance with the United Nations Charter and Resolutions. PAC affirms its opposition to racism and discrimination in all of its manifestations. For more information about PAC, visit:
www.pac-national.org