Dr. Erakat on Israel’s claim that it will ease the siege on Gaza

Chief Palestinian Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erakat said today that ''the Israeli security cabinet vote to ease its land blockade of the Gaza Strip is not sufficient.’’ 

''With this decision, Israel attempts to make it appear that it has eased its four-year blockade and its even longer-standing access and movement restrictions imposed on the population of Gaza. In reality, the siege of the Gaza Strip, illegally imposed on Palestinians continues unabated.’’

''The facts are that a siege against 1.5 million people in the Gaza Strip continues. Either Israel lifts the siege completely or it continues to violate international law and basic morality.”

“Israel has used a so-called “white” list of only 114 items allowed into the Gaza Strip. Palestinian basic needs requires at least 8,000 basic items that continue to be prohibited. These include essential materials for rebuilding and for waste-water treatment for the most basic living standards.’’ He added that “during the first three months of 2007 36,000 trucks entered the Gaza Strip compared to 3,600 trucks that have been permitted to enter during the first three months of 2010. Today, 90% of the Gaza Strip’s civilian population relies on the World Food Organization and the United Nations Relief Works Agency.’’

Dr. Erakat stated that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is constantly calling on world leaders to bring about a complete lifting of the Israeli siege.

Dr. Erakat concluded by calling on the international community ''to take immediate and effective actions to conclusively end the siege on the Gaza Strip, and end the occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip remains occupied by Israel and the occupying power’s siege constitutes collective punishment against the Strip’s civilian population. It is time for the international community to take real action to end the Israeli siege of Gaza once and for all.”