Open Gates to Allow Food into Gaza

To:  Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

We are appalled to hear that UNRWA has been forced to suspend its food aid in Gaza as a result of new Israeli regulations. The severe economic hardship of the children and adults in Gaza is well documented by US AID and other sources. Preventing the access of humanitarian aid will exacerbate already existing conditions of starvation and malnourishment.

Therefore, we individuals and organizations concerned with peace, justice, and human rights -- Israeli and international -- call upon the Israeli government to ensure that UNWRA and other relief agencies are able to continue their work or, alternatively, that Israel replace this aid with its own, and thereby ensure the well-being of the population, as mandated by the Fourth Geneva Convention.

We demand that the Israeli government address this matter with the utmost urgency, as human lives are at stake. We call upon the governments of other countries to lend weight to this humanitarian appeal, which is intended to secure Israel's compliance with its obligations under law as well as basic humanitarian values.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Open Gates to Allow Food into Gaza Petition to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was created by Israeli peace and human rights activists and written by Oren Medicks & Gila Svirsky (gilatoo@yahoo.fr).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.