Thursday, January 15, 2009

Press Statement Bring Israeli War criminals to justice! Free Palestine!


January 11, 2009

The diabolical military assault in Gaza by the state of Israel, backed by the US, since December 26, 2008 has already claimed more than 3,000 Palestinians dead or injured. And the toll is rising as the indiscriminate and disproportionate assault continues unabated. This is the single largest massacre of the Palestinian people in their own land since Israel illegally occupied Gaza in 1967

A majority of these victims are either civilians or are those engaged in civil administration of Gaza. By being the perpetrator of this massacre, Israel has violated provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention as it has failed both in regards to the protection of civilian population under its control and in requirements of the laws of war including humanitarian.

The Israeli siege and military aggression in Gaza are not isolated events. It is a direct result of Israel's ongoing occupation of Palestine and its refusal to abide by numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions. Progressive Nepali Forum in Americas (PNEFA) condemns Israeli military assault on the people of Gaza and demands an immediate cessation of its siege there.

PNEFA also strongly urges individuals, organizations and governments around the world to adopt a program of BDS - boycott, divestment and sanctions - against the state of Israel until that state recognizes the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and complies with international laws, including the rights of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homes as stipulated in UN resolution 194. This tactic of BDS program was used very successfully against the apartheid regime in South Africa in a very similar situation. This will work again. Together we will make it happen.

Abi Sharma
President
Progressive Nepali Forum in Americas

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