Lift the Gaza blockade petition approaches 700,000 signatures

A petition urging world leaders to ‘Lift the Gaza blockade’ is approaching 700,000 signatures, as organisers mark two years since ‘Operation Protective Edge’.

The petition, hosted on the Avaaz site, was first launched in August 2015, and is backed by international aid and development agencies, including Oxfam, Save the Children, and World Vision.

An update posted on the site dated July 5, states: “It’s time to increase our momentum – in the fall, world leaders are meeting to discuss next steps on Gaza. This is our chance to call on them to take action to ensure Gaza is completely rebuilt, and that the people of Gaza are treated with dignity.”

Two years after the conflict, the blockade on Gaza is still imposed, only 30 % of aid pledges have been delivered, 90 % of the homes that were completely destroyed have not been fully rebuilt, and over 75,000 people are still without a home.

The Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA) has also released a new #OpenGaza video intended to draw fresh attention to the devastating impact of the blockade.