The EU and all European countries must take the necessary steps for ending the occupation and the blockade of the Gaza Strip!

1.5 million Palestinian are blocked in the Gaza Strip without water, food, medicine and electricity. The reserves are dwindling. The lives of hundreds of thousands of human beings are threatened. In their desperation large groups of people burst through the borderline “Wall of Shame” to reach Egypt.

The restriction measures of the Israeli government aim at sanctioning the whole Palestinian people. Civilians are taken hostages for Israel’s policy of continued occupation and collective punishment. This is a systematic violation of international  and humanitarian law.

The European Left calls the European Union institutions – the High Representative  for Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Solana, the president of the European Parliament, Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering, in particular all presidents of the European Parliament’s political groups to intervene immediately for the cancellation of the Gaza blockade.

The European Left reiterates its position that only guaranteeing all Palestinians in the occupied areas to live in conditions fit for human beings will create a chance for lasting and successful peace efforts. Therefore we demand from the Israeli government as a first signal in that direction to open all the crossing points to the Gaza strip and to lift all imposed restrictions.

We express our solidarity with the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza strip. We support the Israel-Palestinian initiatives for overcoming the dramatic situation for children, women, the sick and the elderly, particularly affected by the blockade, as well as their efforts to enable international humanitarian relief organizations to do their work and to help the suffering population.

Berlin ; Brussels 24/1/2008