Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, today strongly condemned the kidnapping of British-Belgian human rights worker, Kate Burton, and her parents in the Gaza Strip, and called on their captors to immediately release the three hostages unharmed.
Kate has been working in Gaza since March 2005, initially for the United Nations Development Program, and more recently, with the Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights. During this time, Kate has developed a strong passion for, and deep commitment to Gaza and its peoples, and has worked to do whatever possible to address their plight. While all too conscious of the threat of being kidnapped, Kate chose to prioritise this commitment over her own personal safety.
After recent, continuous sonic booms and missile attacks in the Strip, Kate resolved to exploit her position as a British and Belgian citizen, by creating a lobby group with other internationals living in Palestine, to pressure her governments and the European Union to take decisive steps towards demanding that Israel end its occupation of Gaza, which continues despite the so-called disengagement in August 2005.
Kate is loved dearly by all those who have the fortune to know her. Her kidnapping is not the way of the Palestinian people, who are both welcoming and protective of the many foreigners working in, and visiting Palestine. It does nothing but further emphasise the worsening internal security situation in Gaza, and tarnish the just cause of the Palestinians in the eyes of the international community.