Gaza Blockade: Amnesty International Delivers 23,000 Signatures to Clinton

A boy poses in front of one of more than 4,000 houses in the Gaza Strip that the UN said were totally destroyed or beyond repair after the war. (c) IRIN 2010. Photo by Sahari Karam/Irin. CLICK IMAGE TO SEE COMPLETE SLIDESHOW

A boy poses in front of one of more than 4,000 houses in the Gaza Strip that the UN said were totally destroyed or beyond repair after the war. (c) IRIN 2010. Photo by Sahari Karam/Irin. CLICK IMAGE TO SEE COMPLETE SLIDESHOW

Today, we delivered a petition to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, asking her to urge the Israeli government to lift the blockade of Gaza immediately. More than 23,000 people signed the petition, making it Amnesty International’s most successful Facebook petition to date.

>> Check out IRIN News’ photo gallery, which showcases powerful photographs of life in Gaza.

Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip leaves more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from necessary and life-saving supplies, exacerbating a situation of extreme and desperate poverty. The blockade restricts the entry of basic goods, such as food and fuel, on which the population depends on for survival.

The blockade is strangling virtually every aspect of life for Gaza’s population, more than half of whom are children. The increasing isolation and suffering of the people of Gaza cannot be allowed to continue. The Israeli government must comply with binding legal obligation, as the occupying power, to lift the blockade without further delay – Malcolm Smart, Middle East and North Africa Director, Amnesty International

Israel argues that the blockade is a natural response to the continued attacks by Palestinian armed groups, including the rockets fired from Gaza into southern Israel. But the blockade doesn’t distinguish between those responsible for the rocket attacks and those who are just trying to make it through another day. It collectively punishes the entire population of Gaza, including many women and children, who are just trying to survive with no resources.

The people of Gaza share with everyone else the right to dignified lives, free of indiscriminate and prolonged suffering. They should not be subjected to this continuation of collective punishment brought on by the blockade – Maxwell Gaylard, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory

To learn about similar petitions in the future, please join Amnesty International USA on Facebook.

Learn more about the situation in Gaza:

Suffocating: The Gaza Strip Under the Israeli Blockade (PDF)

Troubled Waters – Palestinians Denied Fair Access to Water (PDF)

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23 thoughts on “Gaza Blockade: Amnesty International Delivers 23,000 Signatures to Clinton

  1. Why does the petition not also demand that the largest, most powerful Arab Muslim state on earth, Egypt, not also lower the blockade the Egyptian army enforces across the Gaza-Egypt border, but just makes this demand of Israel?

    The Egyptian blockade of Gaza is far more restrictive than the Israeli Gaza blockade is it not, but Amnesty did not even mention it ?

    Why?

    Is it because you have joined the organized effort to delegitimize Israel as a racist state and so therfore any mention of the fact that an Arab Muslim country is a full partner with Israel in the blockade of Gaza would detract from the propaganda you are trying to promote ?

  2. Why does the petition not also demand that the largest, most powerful Arab Muslim state on earth, Egypt, not also lower the blockade the Egyptian army enforces across the Gaza-Egypt border, but just makes this demand of Israel?

    The Egyptian blockade of Gaza is far more restrictive than the Israeli Gaza blockade is it not, but Amnesty did not even mention it ?

    Why?

    Is it because you have joined the organized effort to delegitimize Israel as a racist state and so therfore any mention of the fact that an Arab Muslim country is a full partner with Israel in the blockade of Gaza would detract from the propaganda you are trying to promote ?

  3. I don't Know what propoganda Amnesty tries to promomote or what other propoganda its critics use to block the vision of the few that try to see through the media fog .Let's just try to stick to the facts ;

    Easiest ,cheapest fastest and least complicated way to bring vital help to those unfortunate native inhibitants of Gaza is to use the Mediterranean sea by means of sea going ships .This approach have been tried numerous times and each time repelled by israeli Armed Forces.

    Since Israeli Government Forces keep Gaza under total blocade and isolation
    by prohibiting passage through surrounding Israeli controlled Land and Air as well-the only other alternative could be trying to use the Egyptian Border Crossings.

    Egypt is a relatively weak country .Too weak to consider any kind of confrontation with Israel and its ally United States ,by allowing any kind of humanitarian help to get through its land against the wishes of the Israel.

    Given this facts even to suggest that Egypt should be held accountable for the collective punishment and sufferings of Gazans is absurd.

  4. people of Gaza share with everyone else the right to dignified lives, free of indiscriminate and prolonged suffering. They should not be subjected to this continuation of collective punishment brought on by the blockade – Maxwell Gaylard, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory

  5. Egypt answers to the US and Israel first….they will not risk that to do anything to help Palestinians. Egypt receives huge amounts of foreign aid, second only to Israel from the US. We dictate what they can do, that is why you cant specifically hold them accountable. The US and Israel are to blame for this situation, they call all the shots.

  6. Israel Have To Stop The Blockade In Gaza Strip Now!
    It's an emergency…

  7. I don’t Know what propoganda Amnesty tries to promomote or what other propoganda its critics use to block the vision of the few that try to see through the media fog .Let’s just try to stick to the facts ;

    Easiest ,cheapest fastest and least complicated way to bring vital help to those unfortunate native inhibitants of Gaza is to use the Mediterranean sea by means of sea going ships .This approach have been tried numerous times and each time repelled by israeli Armed Forces.

    Since Israeli Government Forces keep Gaza under total blocade and isolation
    by prohibiting passage through surrounding Israeli controlled Land and Air as well-the only other alternative could be trying to use the Egyptian Border Crossings.

    Egypt is a relatively weak country .Too weak to consider any kind of confrontation with Israel and its ally United States ,by allowing any kind of humanitarian help to get through its land against the wishes of the Israel.

    Given this facts even to suggest that Egypt should be held accountable for the collective punishment and sufferings of Gazans is absurd.

  8. Zion must seize their terror on humans.
    only fairness and justness will bring stability to the world.
    no body will accept to be taken their rights, no matter who they are.

  9. people of Gaza share with everyone else the right to dignified lives, free of indiscriminate and prolonged suffering. They should not be subjected to this continuation of collective punishment brought on by the blockade – Maxwell Gaylard, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory

  10. Egypt answers to the US and Israel first….they will not risk that to do anything to help Palestinians. Egypt receives huge amounts of foreign aid, second only to Israel from the US. We dictate what they can do, that is why you cant specifically hold them accountable. The US and Israel are to blame for this situation, they call all the shots.

  11. Israel Have To Stop The Blockade In Gaza Strip Now!
    It’s an emergency…

  12. Justin Freeman & Dana are right on target — the ONGOING siege of Gaza is the work of Israel & her enabler, the US.

    It's their protracted project, their orchestrated operation.

    Without these two, it wouldn't even have started, let alone lasted as long.

    Egypt's just the tail of the Beast.

  13. Zion must seize their terror on humans.
    only fairness and justness will bring stability to the world.
    no body will accept to be taken their rights, no matter who they are.

  14. Justin Freeman & Dana are right on target — the ONGOING siege of Gaza is the work of Israel & her enabler, the US.

    It’s their protracted project, their orchestrated operation.

    Without these two, it wouldn’t even have started, let alone lasted as long.

    Egypt’s just the tail of the Beast.

  15. LOL, El-Arīsh, the capital of Egyptian Sinai, with a population of 200,000 sits less than 1 hour short drive along a nice highway straight to the Egypt/Gaza border crossing. El-Arish has a modern shipping port perfectly suitable for the unloading of massive quantities of cargo, as well as an international airport capable of handling large cargo planes. Probably Egypt is a partner in the blockade of Gaza because Hamas is a huge danger to the Egyptian dictatorship. After all, Hamas is a just the Gaza branch of the Muslim Brotherhood that has been trying to overthrow the Egyptian dictatorship for 60 years and replace it with a Muslim dictatorship.

    Israel fully cooperates with the UN and all humanitarian organizations to allow thousands of large cargo trucks a month of food, medicine and other humanitarian goods to enter Gaza as well as thousands more trucks a month of diesel fuel. Israel never ever once turned off the numerous high voltage electrical connections to the Israeli power grid crossing into Gaza that have always supplied 75% of Gaza's power needs for free. Anyone who claims Israel prevents any food or medicine from entering Gaza, or has ever cut the electricity connections to the Israeli power grid is a liar.

    No humanitarian crisis exists in Gaza. According to the UN World Health Organization the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, in terms of every measure of public health, i.e. infant, child, maternal mortality, access to water, food etc, Gaza is doing better than almost the entire third world, with at least a billion people, especial in Africa living in humanitarian conditions 10 times or more worse than Gaza. But the billion other people around the world suffering far worse humanitarian conditions than the Gazans suffer don't seem to bother any of you much.

    I wonder why not many of you signed petitions for places in far worse conditions than Gaza, like for example nearly the entire continent of Africa?

  16. LOL, El-Arīsh, the capital of Egyptian Sinai, with a population of 200,000 sits less than 1 hour short drive along a nice highway straight to the Egypt/Gaza border crossing. El-Arish has a modern shipping port perfectly suitable for the unloading of massive quantities of cargo, as well as an international airport capable of handling large cargo planes. Probably Egypt is a partner in the blockade of Gaza because Hamas is a huge danger to the Egyptian dictatorship. After all, Hamas is a just the Gaza branch of the Muslim Brotherhood that has been trying to overthrow the Egyptian dictatorship for 60 years and replace it with a Muslim dictatorship.

    Israel fully cooperates with the UN and all humanitarian organizations to allow thousands of large cargo trucks a month of food, medicine and other humanitarian goods to enter Gaza as well as thousands more trucks a month of diesel fuel. Israel never ever once turned off the numerous high voltage electrical connections to the Israeli power grid crossing into Gaza that have always supplied 75% of Gaza’s power needs for free. Anyone who claims Israel prevents any food or medicine from entering Gaza, or has ever cut the electricity connections to the Israeli power grid is a liar.

    No humanitarian crisis exists in Gaza. According to the UN World Health Organization the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, in terms of every measure of public health, i.e. infant, child, maternal mortality, access to water, food etc, Gaza is doing better than almost the entire third world, with at least a billion people, especial in Africa living in humanitarian conditions 10 times or more worse than Gaza. But the billion other people around the world suffering far worse humanitarian conditions than the Gazans suffer don’t seem to bother any of you much.

    I wonder why not many of you signed petitions for places in far worse conditions than Gaza, like for example nearly the entire continent of Africa?

  17. Amnesty International’s petition focuses on the Israeli blockade of Gaza because the Gaza Strip is still considered 'occupied territory' since Israel exercises effective control over land and sea borders as well as airspace. Israel is therefore the party obligated to adhere to international law outlining the responsibilities of the Occupier, who is responsible for the welfare of those in their care.

    As we originally stated, Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip leaves more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from necessary and life-saving supplies, exacerbating a situation of extreme and desperate poverty. The blockade restricts the entry of basic goods, such as food and fuel, on which the population depends on for survival. The blockade doesn’t distinguish between those responsible for the rocket attacks and those who are just trying to make it through another day. It collectively punishes the entire population of Gaza, including many women and children, who are just trying to survive with no resources.

    We base our actions and requests on international law and human rights standards, not political considerations. Amnesty International does not seek to 'de-legitimize' Israel as we take no position either for or against any party we address, but hold each party to the same human rights standards.

  18. Amnesty International’s petition focuses on the Israeli blockade of Gaza because the Gaza Strip is still considered ‘occupied territory’ since Israel exercises effective control over land and sea borders as well as airspace. Israel is therefore the party obligated to adhere to international law outlining the responsibilities of the Occupier, who is responsible for the welfare of those in their care.

    As we originally stated, Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip leaves more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from necessary and life-saving supplies, exacerbating a situation of extreme and desperate poverty. The blockade restricts the entry of basic goods, such as food and fuel, on which the population depends on for survival. The blockade doesn’t distinguish between those responsible for the rocket attacks and those who are just trying to make it through another day. It collectively punishes the entire population of Gaza, including many women and children, who are just trying to survive with no resources.

    We base our actions and requests on international law and human rights standards, not political considerations. Amnesty International does not seek to ‘de-legitimize’ Israel as we take no position either for or against any party we address, but hold each party to the same human rights standards.

  19. source: http://www.logcluster.org/ops/gaza09a

    The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East – UNRWA
    HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS MEETING, 18 February 2010

    "The Karem Shalom crossing from Israel to Gaza is open from 8am-4pm Monday-Thursday. Currently between 60-70 trucks/day flow into to Gaza. Cooking gas supplies have increased to around 87% of market demand."

  20. source: http://www.logcluster.org/ops/gaza09a

    The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East – UNRWA
    HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS MEETING, 18 February 2010

    "The Karem Shalom crossing from Israel to Gaza is open from 8am-4pm Monday-Thursday. Currently between 60-70 trucks/day flow into to Gaza. Cooking gas supplies have increased to around 87% of market demand."

  21. source: http://www.logcluster.org/ops/gaza09a

    The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East – UNRWA
    HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS MEETING, 18 February 2010

    "The Karem Shalom crossing from Israel to Gaza is open from 8am-4pm Monday-Thursday. Currently between 60-70 trucks/day flow into to Gaza. Cooking gas supplies have increased to around 87% of market demand."

  22. source: http://www.logcluster.org/ops/gaza09a

    The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East – UNRWA
    HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS MEETING, 18 February 2010

    “The Karem Shalom crossing from Israel to Gaza is open from 8am-4pm Monday-Thursday. Currently between 60-70 trucks/day flow into to Gaza. Cooking gas supplies have increased to around 87% of market demand.”

  23. I am constantly amazed by the force of Facebook and the causes that are present on that platform. I don't care about the means used, I'm just glad that everything was such a big success.

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