CAPCA
Coalition of Arab Canadian Professionals and
Community Associations
Ottawa, January 26, 2008
Press Release
The Coalition of Arab Canadian Professionals and Community
Associations (CAPCA) denounce and condemn the inhuman
Israeli blockade and the indiscriminate attacks against the
population of Gaza.
Gaza is not a mere territory, but 1.5 million human beings, women,
men and children. "Attacking Gaza" or "putting Gaza under siege"
means targeting all those civilians indiscriminately. This blockade
effectively cuts them off all the basic necessities of life, including
medical supplies, endangering the life of most vulnerable,
particularly the sick, elderly and children. Already, many people
have died as a result of the blockade.
The siege is a form of collective punishment that is prohibited in
international law. It is considered a war crime and a crime against
humanity according to the Geneva Conventions. The international
community, including Canada, considers that the Conventions
apply to the occupied Palestinian Territories. Consequently,
Canada has the legal duty, as a signatory of the Conventions, to
ensure that Palestinians' rights as an occupied people are duly
respected.
United Nations Human Rights Council on the 24th of January,
2008 adopted a resolution in which it calls for urgent international
action to put an immediate end to the grave violations committed
by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the series
of incessant and repeated Israeli military attacks and incursions
therein and the siege of the occupied Gaza Strip, the resolution
was adopted by a roll-call vote of 30 in favour, and 15
abstentions, Canada regrettably was the only country to vote
against it.
We invite all Canadians to join the international solidarity
movement with Palestinians in calling for an end to the illegal and
immoral siege in Gaza and an end to the occupation of all occupied
territories by Israel.
We also urge the Canadian government to lead the international
community in taking action to end the political and humanitarian
crisis in Palestine, specifically in Gaza, and to demand the
immediate lift of the Israeli blockade and cessation of its
indiscriminate bombardment of the civilian population of Gaza.
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