Ramallah, 22/12/08. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, the Secretary General of the PNI, strongly condemns today’s attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Moments ago the Israeli army carried out massive air strikes against the most densely populated area on the planet, already suffering from siege for more than a year and a half.
Israeli planes slammed missiles into over thirty targets in the 360 sq km Strip holding over 1.5 million people.
Today at least 140 have been reportedly killed, most of them civilians. But we expect the number to continue to rise throughout the day as more bodies are uncovered from the rubble – and more casualties succumb to their wounds.
Many of the dead are women and children.
“We fear this attack is only the first of a bloody series that will aim to destroy the Gaza Strip and its population. The International Community must gather forces now, speak with one voice and end the bloodbath in Gaza. Urgent action is needed now!”
Speaking from his office in Ramallah, Mustafa Barghouthi said that “The Gazans have been virtually tortured for nearly a year by Israel – left without even the most basic necessities being made available under the siege. It was already the worst humanitarian crisis in the world subjected to frequent attacks. Now it is a massacre.”
Only days after members of the Palestinian National Initiative took to the streets of Bethlehem to warn visitors of an impending Israeli strike on Gaza, the gruesome event took place.
Whilst the international community sleeps off its holiday cheer and watches It’s a Wonderful World once more, Gaza has been turned into a bloodbath.
Though this singular event and loss of life will be another milestone in Palestine’s tragic collection, we are afraid that it is far from over. We fear continued Israeli belligerency and blood letting.
By the time the international community reads this message, the number of casualties above may have risen dramatically. Israel has already promised that it is ‘only the beginning.’ It is urgent that immediate pressure and action is taken to reign in Israeli army before more innocent lives are lost.