Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Israel has turned down a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, saying that cross-border rocket attacks cease before it ends its air strikes against Hamas targets.

Israel has turned down a proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, saying that cross-border rocket attacks cease before it ends its air strikes against Hamas targets. Four days of air strikes have resulted in more than 380 Palestinian deaths; United Nations figures indicate at least a quarter were civilians, according to Reuters Alert Net. Gaza's health services are on the brink of collapse, according to a UN report.

Church World Service is supporting efforts as a member of the Action by Churches Together International alliance. ACT efforts include those of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)'s Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), International Orthodox Christian Charities, the Lutheran World Federation and Norwegian Church Aid, all long-time CWS partners.

On Monday, Dec. 29, Dr. Bernard Sabella, the DSPR's executive secretary, called the situation in Gaza "absolutely disastrous," and said "Gaza is in (the) most deplorable humanitarian situation."

He added: "The targeting of individual homes raises concern that civilians would be hurt and entire families would be wiped out. We are deeply concerned about these developments and we are praying and hoping that the Israeli air strikes and naval bombardments would come to a close immediately."

Sabella urged nations to pressure on Israel to "stop this awful situation." He also urged Hamas "to change the course of armed confrontation and to opt for political talks. The conflict in Gaza and in fact in Israel and Palestine cannot and will not be resolved by force."

In his statement, Sabella said DSPR Gaza is using its health clinics in Gaza to receive emergency cases.

"Our DSPR colleagues are quite worried that the collapse of the medical infrastructure due to the high numbers of injuries (means they) will not be able to cope with all injuries. Accordingly, the DSPR health clinics will be used as a first stop for serious injuries until they (the injured) are transferred to hospitals. ''

Given the enormous humanitarian needs, he said, which have now worsened because medical supplies cannot arrive in Gaza, "DSPR Gaza is doing the little it can do at the moment with the medical supplies usually available in the clinics sufficient for the time being but certainly not capable of meeting the needs of the seriously or critically injured," Sabella said.

Sabella added that all other DSPR activities, such as vocational and educational programs, have stopped.

A CWS appeal for the situation in Gaza is expected to be issued shortly.