Gaza still under Fire

Today marks the 3^rd anniversary of the Israeli ground offensive on Gaza strip, in what is known as the Cast Lead operation. Three years a peaceful morning in Gaza extended to a month of horror and fear. In 2008 Israel attacked the strip on ground, by air and sea. While the Israeli tanks were invading the northern borders of the Strip, the Israeli F16 fighter planes were randomly firing at any moving object on ground. The sea that once brought rescue ships to break the curfew that was enforced upon Gaza since 2006, carried killing vessels that targeted the Palestinian coast, and murdered a whole family in the first few days. Over 1200 Palestinians were killed and thousands fled their houses seeking refuge in safer yet not safe areas. Over a million and a half Palestinians lived in lethal terror for a month, just around Christmas time, when the messenger of peace was born thousands of years ago, perhaps under a different type of attack.

As if history repeats itself, Israel played the same scenario of Beirut in 1982. The world too occupied with the Fifa World Cup, the Arabs too busy supporting the Algerian National Football team, while Beirut burnt in flames. However, months after, condemnations and denunciations started to pour on the Israeli government, and Beirut breathed and survived. This time, Israel had the right to defend itself against low-ranged basic missiles, with unlawful white phosphorus bombs, an army of tanks, fighter planes, tens of gunboats. Number of casualties was huge, but apparently incomparable to one Israeli’s trauma and fear.  Gaza horribly damaged but breathed and survived, despite the ongoing siege and the Israeli regular harassments. Today Gazans build and reconstruct their homes. They still live by the sea which once brought death, but will also bring hope and solidarity.

On the 3^rd anniversary of Cast Lead, we at the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development call upon the Palestinian parties to reach to an agreement, in order to end the Palestinian internal conflict, and lead the Palestinians to a democratic and independent state. We also call upon all governments and human rights organizations to put huge efforts to force Israel to abide by the International Law and Legitimacy. We demand an end to the siege that is imposed on Gaza, and to the continuing Israeli violations against Palestinian citizens.

For more details on Cast Lead, we invite you to read a study conducted by PWWSD in 2009

Violation of Israeli occupation forces to women and children’s rights during the attacks of “Casting Bullet” over the Gaza Strip in 27\12\2008 – 19\1\2009