ISNA STATEMENT ON HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA

March 11, 2008
Washington, DC

In a report released last week, humanitarian agencies have declared that the current blockade has dismantled the economy and impoverished the population of Gaza to the point of creating the worst humanitarian situation in the history of the occupation since 1967.  The blockade has crippled access to humanitarian aid, employment, health care, education and other basic services causing unprecedented levels of poverty.  Currently, 80% of families in Gaza are relying on humanitarian aid.

Adding to the humanitarian tragedy is the cycle of violence.  Last week's attack on a seminary in Jerusalem, which killed seven individuals, largely students, deserves our strong condemnation. The deaths of 120 Palestinians in a recent attack by Israeli forces also cannot be condoned. The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) condemns all of these acts of violence and expresses its sympathies for the families who lost their loved ones in this indiscriminate violence.

The humanitarian report asserts that the crisis in Gaza is man made and can be reversed with the necessary political will.   We call for both sides, the United States and the international community to push for an immediate cease fire, lifting of the blockade to allow access to basic human needs for residents of Gaza and a renewed commitment to the peace process.