[News] Letter by civil society leaders in Gaza: "No ceasefire without justice"

[Anti-Imperialist News]

    Letter by civil society leaders in Gaza: "No ceasefire without
    justice"
    <http://english.pnn.ps/index.php/opinion/7869-letter-by-civil-society-leaders-in-gaza-qno-ceasefire-without-justiceq>

    Published on Sunday, 27 July 2014 12:12

As academics, public figures and activists witnessing the intended 
genocide of 1.8 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, we call 
for a ceasefire with Israel only if conditioned on an end to the 
blockade and the restoration of basic freedoms that have been denied to 
the people for more than seven years.

Our foremost concerns are not only the health and safety of the people 
in our communities, but also the quality of their lives -- their ability 
to live free of fear of imprisonment without due process, to support 
their families through gainful employment, and to travel to visit their 
relatives and further their education.

These are fundamental human aspirations that have been severely limited 
for the Palestinian people for more than 47 years, but that have been 
particularly deprived from residents of Gaza since 2007. We have been 
pushed beyond the limits of what a normal person can be expected to endure.


    A living death

Charges in the media and by politicians of various stripes that accuse 
Hamas of ordering Gaza residents to resist evacuation orders, and thus 
use them as human shields, are untrue. With temporary shelters full and 
the indiscriminate Israeli shelling, there is literally no place that is 
safe in Gaza.

Likewise, Hamas represented the sentiment of the vast majority of 
residents when it rejected the unilateral ceasefire proposed by Egypt 
and Israel without consulting anyone in Gaza. We share the broadly held 
public sentiment that it is unacceptable to merely return to the /status 
quo/ -- in which Israel strictly limits travel in and out of the Gaza 
Strip, controls the supplies that come in (including a ban on most 
construction materials), and prohibits virtually all exports, thus 
crippling the economy and triggering one of the highest poverty and 
unemployment rates in the Arab world.

To do so would mean a return to a living death.

Unfortunately, past experience has shown that the Israeli government 
repeatedly reneges on promises for further negotiations, as well as on 
its commitments to reform.

Likewise, the international community has demonstrated no political will 
to enforce these pledges. Therefore, we call for a ceasefire only when 
negotiated conditions result in the following:

  * Freedom of movement of Palestinians in and out of the Gaza Strip.
  * Unlimited import and export of supplies and goods, including by
    land, sea and air.
  * Unrestricted use of the Gaza seaport.
  * Monitoring and enforcement of these agreements by a body appointed
    by the United Nations, with appropriate security measures.

Each of these expectations is taken for granted by most countries, and 
it is time for the Palestinians of Gaza to be accorded the human rights 
they deserve.


    Signatures:

  * Akram Habeeb, Assistant Professor of American Literature, Islamic
    University of Gaza (IUG)
  * Mona El-Farra, Vice President and Health Chair of the Palestinian
    Red Crescent Society
  * Ramy Abdu PhD, Chairman of the Euro-mid Observer
  * Abdullah Alsaafin, Palestinian Writer/journalist
  * Ali Alnazli, Businessman
  * Adel Awadallah, Head of the Scientific Research Council
  * Hanine Hassan, Graduate Research Assistant
  * Sheren Awad, Journalist
  * Yahia Al-Sarraj, Associate Professor of Transportation, IUG
  * Tawfik Abu Shomar, Writer and political analyst
  * Hasan Owda, Businessman
  * Ibrahim AlYazji, Businessman
  * Walid Al Husari, Chair, Gaza Chamber of Commerce
  * Nael Almasri, Dentist
  * Wael El-Mabhouh, Political researcher
  * Rami Jundi, Political researcher
  * Ashraf Mashharawi, Filmmaker
  * Mohammad Alsawaf, Journalist
  * Hasan Abdo, Writer and political analyst
  * Kamal El Shaer, Political researcher
  * Omar Ferwana, Dean of Medicine Faculty, IUG
  * Iyad I. Al-Qarra, Journalist, /Palestine/ newspaper
  * Musheir El-Farra, Palestinian activist and author
  * Khalil Namrouti, Associate Professor in Economics, IUG
  * Moein Rajab, Professor in Economics, Al-Azhar University - Gaza
  * Basil Nasser, Planning advisor
  * Hani Albasoos, Associate Professor in Political Science, IUG
  * Arafat Hilles, Assistant Professor, Al-Quds Open University
  * Imad Falouji, Head of Adam Center for Dialogue of Civilizations
  * Moin Naim, Writer and political analyst
  * Yousri Alghoul, Author
  * Mohammad Jayyab, Editor of /Gaza Journal of Economics/
  * Mousa Lubbad, Lecturer in Finance, Al-Aqsa University
  * Iskandar Nashwan, Assistant Professor in Accounting, Al-Aqsa University
  * Shadi AlBarqouni, Graduate Research Assistant
  * Adnan Abu Amer, Head of Political Department, Al-Umma University
  * Wael Al Sarraj, Assistant Professor in Computer Science, IUG
  * Said Namrouti, Lecturer in Human Resource Management, IUG
  * Khaled Al-Hallaq, Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering, IUG
  * Asad Asad, Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs, IUG
  * Hazem Alhusari, Lecturer in Finance, Al-Aqsa University
  * Shadi AlBarqouni, Graduate Research Assistant
  * Deya'a Kahlout, Journalist, /Al-Araby/ newspaper
  * Raed Salha, Assistant Professor in Geography, IUG
  * Sameeh Alhadad, Businessman
  * Tarek M. Eslim, CEO, Altariq Systems and Projects
  * Sami Almalfouh PhD, Senior engineer
  * Fayed Abushammalah, Journalist
  * Fadel Naeim, Chairman of Palestine Physicians Syndicate
  * Zeyad Al-Sahhar, Associate Professor in Physics , Al-Aqsa University
  * Iyad Abu Hjayer, Director, Palestinian Center for Democracy and
    Conflict Resolution
  * Wael Al-Daya, Associate Professor in Finance, IUG
  * Younis Eljarou, Head of the Red Crescent Society for the Gaza Strip
  * Donia ElAmal Ismail, Head of the Creative Women Association
  * Zeinab Alghonemi, Head of Women for Legal Consulting Association
  * Amjad AlShawa, Palestinian Nongovernmental Organizations Network (PNGO)
  * Mohsen Abo Ramadan, Head of Palestinian Nongovernmental
    Organziations Network (PNGO)
  * Abed Alhameed Mortaja, Assistant Professor of Linguistics, IUG
  * Talal Abo Shawesh , Head of Afaq Jadeeda Association
  * Zohair Barzaq, Red Crescent Society for the Gaza Strip
  * Marwan Alsabh, Red Crescent Society for the Gaza Strip
  * Ghassan Matar, Red Crescent Society for the Gaza Strip
  * Rania Lozon, Writer
  * Ashraf Saqer, IT Specialist
  * Samir AlMishal, Mishal Cultural Centre
  * Jamila Sarhan, Independant Commission for Human Rights
  * Jalal Arafat, Union of Agricultrual Work Committees
  * Khalil Abu Shammala, Aldameer Association for Human Rights
  * Jamila Dalloul, Association Head of Jothor ElZaiton
  * Maha Abo Zour, Psychologist
  * Psychologist Ferdous Alkatari
  * Yousef Awadallah, Health Work Committee
  * Yousef Alswaiti, Al-Awda Hospital Director
  * Taysir Alsoltan, Head of Health Work Committees
  * Taghreed Jomaa, Union of Palestinian Women's Committees
  * Imad Ifranji, Journalist, Alquds TV
  * Jehal Alaklouk, Activist
  * Adel Alborbar, Boycott Committee
  * Hatem AbuShaban, Board of Trustees of Al-Azhar University - Gaza
  * Saleh Zaqout, Secretary of the Red Crescent Society for the Gaza Strip
  * Mohammed Alsaqqa, Lawyer
  * Nihad Alsheikh Khalil, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History, IUG
  * Mohsen Alafranji, Lecturer at Media Department, IUG
  * Nedal Farid, Dean of Business Faculty, Al-Aqsa University
  * Salem Helles, Dean of Commerce Faculty, IUG
  * Ahmad Ali PhD, Economic Analysis
  * Raed M. Zourob PhD, Head of the Department of Preventive Medicine,
    Ministry of Health
  * Mosheer Amer, Professor of Lingusitics, IUG
  * Moheeb Abu Alqumboz, Lecturer
  * Fatma Mukhalalati, Supreme Court judge
  * Fahmi Alnajjar, Supreme Court judge

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