Palestinian MP Jamal Al-Khodari has called on the international community, human rights institutions and civil society to look upon the first anniversary of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip as “an opportunity for an awakening of the world’s conscience.”
In a statement released to coincide with the anniversary Al-Khodari, who is the President of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, said, “We must seize this opportunity to express universal anger over Israeli crimes in Gaza, and create real pressure on the occupation to stop its aggression and end the blockade.” The effects of the war continue to cause death, destruction and suffering, he added.
Mr. Al-Khodari asserted that the horrific events of a year ago leave people of conscience with no option but to speak out for justice. Silence, he said, is actually cooperation with the occupation forces in what has been described by the UN’s Goldstone Report as “war crimes”.
“The time has come for Israel to know that the world will not allow those in violation of international law to spread corruption as they please. The crimes of the occupation forces have been witnessed and documented. Is the world going to allow them to continue in the same vein, as they have for more than six decades?”
The MP believes that the world’s media, politicians and civil society organisations have a duty to highlight and prosecute crimes against humanity. “The suffering of the people of Palestine is a good place to begin,” he said.