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An Invitation to Stand in Solidarity with
the People of Gaza in this Time of Crisis
January 27, 2008
Dear Sisters and Friends,
We write to you because we have spent a great deal of time serving as Michigan
Peace Team members in the City of Rafah, the southern most city of the Gaza
Strip. Although we are home now, news from Gaza continues to reach us. In this
time of crisis, we want to share an update and invite you to respond with prayer
and
 nonviolent action.
WHAT
IS HAPPENING?
As you have undoubtedly heard via the media, on January 23, 2008 a group of
masked Palestinians used explosives to blow holes in the Gaza Strip barrier
known as the "Iron Wall." These openings enabled the people of Gaza to pour into
Egypt to buy food, fuel and other supplies. Less than 24 hours later, an
estimated 350,000 Palestinians had crossed into Egypt seeking basic human needs.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? - SOME BACKGROUND
• We (Mary Ann and Liz) are eyewitnesses to the State of Israel's destruction of
thousands of Palestinian homes while the Iron Wall was being constructed. During
our time in Rafah we witnessed the demolition of entire neighborhoods and large
sections of Rafah by the Israeli military, and we documented this destruction in
partnership with international human rights groups.
• The purpose of the Iron Wall is to close the southern Gaza border. It's the
place where many Palestinians men, women, and children were shot by Israeli
snipers in gun towers before the Israeli settlers left in 2005.
• The January 23, 2008 forced opening in the Iron Wall is located near the place
where the 24 year old American citizen, Rachel Corrie was crushed to death by an
Israeli bulldozer, as she tried to prevent the demolition of a family home,
Rachel was murdered in March 2003, just days before the United States invaded
Iraq.
• The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is Gaza's main link to the outside
world. On rare occasions Israel permits limited passage at this crossing. The
two other crossings, Karni and Erez, are heavily fortified by the Israeli
military and are passages between Gaza and Israel. When the State of Israel
gives permission, commerce (that is the economic movement of goods) occurs at
the Karni crossing.
• The State of Israel repeatedly imposes land, air, and sea blockades of Gaza.
During these blockades, Israel closes borders and prevents access to basic human
needs. Shortages of food, electric power, fuel, gasoline, and other basic
necessities occur. Sometimes, blockades are imposed in retaliation for militant
activity. Most times the blockades serve one purpose-domination. Whether Israel
acts in retaliation or domination, the vast majority of Gaza's population, who
are innocent of any wrong-doing, are consigned to live in misery.
• The closures and blockades of Gaza by Israel have hit a crisis point and the
humanitarian crisis worsens with each passing day.
• Israel is continuing to escalate its attacks on Gaza, killing more than 40
Palestinians just this past week and wounding scores more, and has placed the
already besieged territory under complete lockdown. That is eliminating what
little access the besieged population had to food, fuel, clean water and
ever-more-urgent medical services. By Sunday Gaza 's only power generator was
shut down because of a lack of fuel; hospitals are starting to be affected and
Palestinian medical officials reported five gravely ill patients had died
• The UN, European Union and Arab League could step in to end this blockade,
oversee open borders, and help broker the ceasefire which civilians on all sides
desperately need –
HOW CAN WE HELP?
1. Prayer for an end to the occupation of Gaza and the West Bank and for
peace with justice in the region is one of the most important responses that can
be made.
2. Global pressure and assistance are needed. Presently, a petition being
circulated that calls for international intervention. The wording of the
petition is:
"To the United Nations, the European Union, the Quartet, the Arab League &
Israel: We demand that you end the blockade and growing humanitarian crisis in
Gaza, ensure the free flow of supplies by land, sea or air, and help to broker
the ceasefire which civilians on both sides desperately need."
This petition will be delivered once 150,000 signatures are obtained. Already
over 70,000 signatures have been obtained! We invite you to take a look at the
petition effort and add your name if you agree with the petition. Type Avaaz the
World in Action in your search engine.
3. Support the efforts of Michigan Peace Team and the continuous presence of MPT
peace teams on the ground in the West Bank. (Type
Michigan Peace Team in your
search engine).
4. Support the Pax Christi USA call to action: Call the White House at
202-456-1111 and State Department's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at 202-
647-7209. Demand: 1) An immediate end to the assault on Gaza, and the opening of
its border crossings to people and goods. 2) A comprehensive ceasefire that
covers all territories and all parties to the conflict. 3) An end to U.S.
military aid to Israel. Call your national as well as your local media. Demand:
1) Coverage of what's going on in the Occupied Palestinian territories. This is
particularly important since the Israeli lock-down of Gaza has resulted in very
little news emerging of the most recent attacks. 2) Write a letter to the editor
in response to an article in your paper using the talking points in this action
alert.
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Hopefully our email to you helps. Do not hesitate to call us if you have
questions or suggestions. Thank you for all that you are and do on behalf of
peace with justice!
In solidarity,
Mary Ann Ford, IHM and Liz Walters, IHM
Members, Michigan
Peace Team
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