$1 billion campaign to support Gaza Strip launched from Turkey

The Popular International Committee to Support the Gaza Strip launched a campaign yesterday to raise $1 billion for the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip; $100 million is set to support shelter and emergency relief services in the enclave.

The committee, which held its first forum in Istanbul, announced the formation of the Popular International Committee to Support the Gaza Strip.

The participants called for the activation of relief campaigns and convoys to break the Israeli siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and to continue organising international activities to support Gaza, demanding Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories come to an end.

They stressed on the need to take all legal measures before local and international courts wherever possible to prosecute Israeli officials for their crimes against civilians in the Gaza Strip and urged the Palestinian unity government to assume its responsibilities towards the Gaza Strip and its citizens without discrimination or distinction and to lifting the Israeli blockade as well as the establishment of the port and the airport.

They also called on Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing to allow the transfer of aid and construction materials as well as humanitarian convoys to meet the Palestinians’ needs and facilitate the exit of wounded individuals.

The two day forum, which was attended by 250 participants from 35 countries representing more than 70 foundations, was sponsored by Qatar Charity.

The participants presented research papers highlighting the Israeli aggression and its implication on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The forum aimed to unify grassroots efforts to provide a helping hand to the Gaza Strip and to organise and accelerate the delivery of aid to the needy as well as to identify the enclave’s needs. The event included a presentation of the Miles of Smiles convoy’s efforts which includes more than 50 charitable organisations from more than 15 countries.