U.S. should urge Israel to lift the Gaza closure to relieve humanitarian crisis
February 4, 2010

Churches for Middle East Peace, of which Maryknoll is a member, and six other organizations recently sent a letter to President Obama urging that the U.S. persuade Israel to lift its closure policy to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which affects 1.4 million civilians.

The letter, which can be viewed here, makes the following points:

• Because of severe restrictions of essential imports and most exports caused by Israel’s closure policy, Gazans have been unable to restore minimal standards of welfare or to rebuild Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, housing, and the economy after the destruction of the war last year.

• Per-capita income in Gaza is now about $1 a day. Forty percent of Gazans are jobless. Many thousands of Gazans – 70 percent of whom are under 30 – are homeless. Power outages average eight hours a day, for lack of fuel.

• Israel’s closure policy is designed to weaken Hamas’ hostile leadership, to persuade Hamas to cease firing rockets at civilian targets in Israel, and to release Corporal Gilad Shalit. However, the closure, instead of accomplishing these goals, has harmed Israel’s security by strengthening Hamas and adding to tensions that threaten renewed violence.

• Gazans’ rights to minimal standards of food security, shelter, health, education and to travel are protected under international law. These needs should not be held hostage to security and political issues.

• Therefore, the United States, while supporting a resolution of security and political issues that are essential to achieve peace between Israel and Palestine, should, in the meantime and urgently, ask Israel to change its closure policies to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.