Home > Rubriques > Languages - International > English > IWC CALL TO LIFT THE SIEGE ON GAZA AND END THE OCCUPATION

International Women’s Commission - IWC

IWC CALL TO LIFT THE SIEGE ON GAZA AND END THE OCCUPATION

IWC International Coordinator: iwc.int@iwc-peace.org, Telefax: +44-20-7839-3659

Thursday 7 February 2008

Acting Chair

Sylvia Borren

Honorary Co-chairs
President Tarja Halonen
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
Prime Minister Helen Clark

IWC Palestinian Members

Wafa’Abdel-Rahman
Tahani Abu-Daqqa
Maha Abu Dayyeh-Shamas
Hanan Ashrawi
Annan Attiri
Naela Ayesh
Samia Bamieh
Siham Barghouti
Hania Bitar
Nebras Bseisso
Zainab Ghuneimi
Samar Hawash
Salwa Hdeib
Lama Hourani
Zahira Kamal
Amal Khreisheh

IWC Israeli Members

Sarai Aharoni
Colette Avital
Naomi Chazan
Amira Dotan
Naava Eisin
Roberta Fahn Schoffman
Zehava Galon
Galia Golan
Nurit Haghagh
Shlomit Lir
Eti Livni
Talia Livni
Molly Malekar
Ghaida Rinaiwi-Zoabi
Anat Saragusti
Shahira Shalaby
Romy Shapira
Aida Touma-Sliman

IWC International Members

Feride Acar
Phoebe Asiyo
Frene Ginwala
Ana Gomes
Antigoni Karali-Dimitriadi
Karen Koning Abu-Zayd
Luisa Morgantini
Jessica Neuwirth
Simone Susskind

IWC International Coordinator: iwc.int@iwc-peace.org, Telefax: +44-20-7839-3659
IWC Israeli Coordinator: iwc.il@iwc-peace.org, Telephone: +972-542-256-633; Fax: +972-2-563-7633
IWC Palestinian Coordinator: iwc.pl@iwc-peace.org, Telefax: +972-2-2974650

IWC CALL TO LIFT THE SIEGE ON GAZA AND END THE OCCUPATION
We, Israeli, Palestinian and international members of the International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC), are outraged by the Israeli blockade of the entire population of Gaza. The decision to cut off life-sustaining
food, fuel, electricity, and medical supplies, and terrorizing civilians to advance political goals is totally reprehensible. Such acts clearly constitute collective punishment, which is a gross violation of international humanitarian law and are considered war crimes.

The IWC notes with deep concern that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is now being conducted entirely on the backs of civilians, who have become the prime targets of the ongoing escalation. The Gaza siege, in addition to the systematic military actions and targeted killings that led to great loss in innocent lives, has made conditions in Gaza inhuman and intolerable. We deplore the rocket attacks on the residents of Sderot and its surroundings. This, however cannot justify the condemnable Israeli policy, which makes the 1.5 million defenseless inhabitants of Gaza prisoners in sub-human conditions,
vulnerable to highly sophisticated military attacks. According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel as an occupying power still bears full responsibility for the well being and human security of the population of Gaza, and stands accountable to the international community.

We also observe with dismay the repetition of the familiar pattern of a growing gap between the promise of stepped-up negotiations on all outstanding permanent status issues, which would lead to the end of occupation and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state
alongside Israel on the 4th of June 1967 borders, and the constantly deteriorating situation on the ground which undermines the attainment of this goal. The cynical and patriarchal resort to military force fortifies extremism and creates a dynamic of revenge, which compromises
our future.

As women, we are convinced that there is only a political solution to our conflict. We therefore totally reject the chauvinist thinking that seeks to attack and manipulate civilians in order to effect change.

The IWC demands that Israel opens the borders to Gaza, ensures the mobility of peoples and goods, and cease all military actions against the population to allow a better environment for comprehensive peace negotiations.

The IWC appeals to the international community, and especially to the United Nations, to exercise its responsibility to safeguard human rights and human dignity and to do everything within its power to ensure the absolute termination of all attacks against civilians. We also
demand that the international community intervene immediately to ensure the total compliance of Israel with all UN resolutions related to the conflict.

The IWC reiterates its conviction that only comprehensive and meaningful negotiations between Israel and the PLO, which will end the occupation and maintain the integrity of the Palestinian Territory, can stop this insanity and ensure the future of our peoples.

The International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC) is a body of Palestinian, Israeli, and international women established in 2005 under the auspices of UNIFEM in the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.