Action Palestine

(Ideas for actions below)
(News/Analysis/Opinion/Editorials here)

Israeli bomber and helicopter gunship attacks on the Gaza strip on the morning of Saturday 27th December killed more than 200 people in the first wave of 60 aircraft, and injured hundreds more. Police stations, Khan Younis and Rafah refugee camps, the Gaza City port as well as numerous civilian buildings were all targeted and hit by the Israeli bombers, after being given the go-ahead on Christmas Day by Ehud Olmert, Tzipi Livni and Ehud Barak. The death toll on the third day of the bombing campaign has risen to at least 900, with thousands more injured.

This latest Israeli atrocity comes after 18 months of the Israeli siege and blockade of Gaza, which has crippled the Gazan economy and caused starvation and malnourishment throughout Gaze. The Israeli blockade has brought to a virtual halt food, fuel, medical supplies and other necessities and prevented UN and medical personnel from entering Gaza. Journalists have been barred by Israel, preventing outside reporting of the situation.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has said of this siege “This is in direct contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law. It must end now.” Adding that “By function of this blockade, 1.5 million Palestinian men, women and children have been forcibly deprived of their most basic human rights for months.” In December 2008 Israel restricted the average number of trucks into Gaza to less than 5 a day, while in December 2005 more than 500 trucks were able to pass into Gaza. According to UNRWA reports, the daily need for Gaza’s 1.5 million residents is 400-600 truckloads.
The slaughter does not stop there, with the IDF threatening further escalation and that the attacks “will be continued, expanded and intensified as much as required”.

The response from Western governments has been silence or at most a call for “restraint” by Israel, while in contrast, the British FCO spokesman called on “militants in the Gaza strip immediately cease rocket attacks on Israel” . Since September 2005, 9 Israelis have been killed by rocket attacks and in the same period at least 1400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces.

We must do something to stop this now! Grassroots movements have worked before and CAN WORK AGAIN.
The demonstrations, vigils and actions taking place now must be the start of an invigorated and relentless campaign that lasts past the shock and anger. Every action, however small, is an important contribution. Vital to this movement is coordination; both organising effective action locally and building nationally.

Below is a list of things that YOU can do (please contact us with more ideas, if you can)

1. Invite people to this group! And send this information and ideas for actions to all your contacts.

2. Attend the demonstrations happening around you for a list of demonstrations/vigils please visit: http://www.actionpalestine.org/home/demonstrations/
If there is no demonstration happening near you, coordinate with others people/groups to organise one. And send us the information so we can advertise it on the website. And send it on to the group.

3. Watch the media and contact them to ask them to improve their coverage (for more info: http://www.actionpalestine.org/home/contacting-the-media-about-gaza/)

4. Contact your MP and ask pressingly for urgent action, don’t take any diplomatic answers, this is a life or death matter and they need to know you care!! Call and email your government representatives (for more info: http://www.actionpalestine.org/home/contacting-the-government-about-gaza/)

5. Sign the petitions:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Arms-embargo/
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Israel-Sanctions/

6. You can also donate to MAP Medical Aid for Palestinians:
http://www.map-uk.org

Or Interpal
http://www.interpal.org/donate/donate.html

For blogs from inside Gaza see:

www.ingaza.wordpress.com
www.talestotell.wordpress.com
www.palsolidarity.org