Palestine Centre of Excellence

As if the 2 year long economic blockade and siege were not enough, Israel is now resorting to a barbaric measure by cutting off fuel and power to the already impoverished Gaza . The Zionist regime put the blame squarely on Hamas for the move in retaliation for rocket attacks by the latter. This is yet another public opinion exercise by Israel to hoodwink the international community into believing that the Palestinian people deserve the predicament they are in. The message is clear; the latest desperate move by Israel is that the Palestinian community will continue to suffer for as long as they resist Israel 's occupation. One would argue that Israel has dismantled every single Jewish settlement all of which are illegal to start with, in Gaza and has officially withdrawn from the Gaza strip in 2004. However such a tactical move proofs to be meaningless as the withdrawal then set the stage for a complete siege on Gaza , blockading it from the land, sea and air. Gaza effectively remained occupied and is continually being subjected to relentless Israel 's military incursions ever since.

When the Palestinian public remained steadfast and strongly resisted the US led international pressure to give up their national aspirations for a contiguous Palestinian state with Baitul Maqdis as her capital, Israel colluded with certain elements within the leadership of Fatah to undermine the elected Hamas government by creating civil unrest. When Hamas successfully dealt with the security situation and rid the streets of Gaza from marauding thugs financed by Israel, the latter labeled Hamas as an 'enemy entity which therefore 'relieved’ Israel of any obligations as an occupying force as stipulated by the Geneva convention on her occupied subject. Even then, such a ploy had failed to break the will of the Palestinian people. Therefore the latest move is seen to be nothing more than yet another tactic by Israel to forestall efforts towards an independent Palestinian statehood.

In view of the great distress of the Palestinian people as a result of the blatant inhumane transgression and adversities, PACE call upon the International community to stand in solidarity against oppression on the Palestinians and to keep up the pressure on Tel Aviv to respect international laws and to restore the fuel and power supply to Gaza. PACE echos the demands of the peace loving world community for the US to lift the sanctions that have placed Gaza in economic peril for the past two years. PACE has strong conviction that a peaceful settlement can be achieved by the restoration of the rights of the Palestinian people. Further oppression by the Zionist regime will only strengthen the resolve of the Palestinian people to resist, a situation that would likely plunged the whole region into yet another round of violence.

Dr Hafidzi Mohd Noor
Director
PACE (Palestine Centre of Excellence)