Ramallah, 14/07/2008: Palestinian schools in Gaza will be closed for 3 days because of shortages of fuel in the Strip. The Israeli siege on Gaza, which began immediately after Hamas’ electoral victory in January 2006, has been worsening ever since. Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, called the siege “collective punishment on 1.5 million human beings, whose effects are felt most by the most vulnerable: patients, disabled, elderly and children.”
Dr. Barghouthi stated that collective punishment is illegal under international law, and explained that at least 40 children have been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, most of them in their home. “Children are also suffering from malnutrition and deep psychological distress. And now schools are being forced to close,” he added.
Dr. Barghouthi concluded: “the Israeli government must lift its siege on Gaza, retract its decision to declare Gaza a ’hostile entity’, end its military aggression against the Gazan people, and implement a comprehensive, reciprocal ceasefire.”