Maguire Calls for Israel’s Blockade of Gaza to Be Lifted Completely
NOBEL LAUREATES, 5 Jul 2010
Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate – TRANSCEND Media Service
PRESS RELEASE
Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, who was a passenger on the MV Rachel Corrie ship that tried to break the siege and deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, but whose boat was illegally confiscated by Israeli commandoes in international waters on 5th June 2010, has responded to the news that the Israeli government has eased blockade on Gaza. She stated:
“A partial lifting of the siege of Gaza is not enough as the Israeli blockade of Gaza must be lifted completely. It is not enough that Israel allow few more goods into Gaza, but that people and goods, both humanitarian and commercial, be allowed to move freely between Israel, Gaza and the rest of the world. This was provided for in the Agreement on Movement & Access, which Israel signed up to in November 2005 and which set out the arrangements that was supposed to operate for the transit of people and goods in and out of Gaza, in order to maintain its economic life, after Israel’s alleged ‘disengagement’ from the strip.
“It is urgent that there be unfettered access to meet the humanitarian needs and to enable rebuilding of not only homes and infrastructure, but trade must be permitted to build up the Gazan and Palestinian economy. Under the Oslo Agreement Israel agreed to open the port of Gaza (closed over 40 years ago) and it must be opened. The airport (which was bombed by Israel) must be rebuilt for the people of Gaza to have land, sea and air access, no longer being cut off from their Palestinian families and the world community.
“This small step by the Israeli government has shown what international pressure can achieve, but the international community must continue to demand that Israel uphold human rights and international law by lifting the siege of Gaza, ending the occupation of Palestine, and allowing the Palestinian people their right to self determination.”
Peace People, Northern Ireland
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This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 5 Jul 2010.
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