Just a couple months ago, I created this petition in hopes of collectively gathering support to demand the Irish government, or members of the Irish government, outwardly condemn the Gaza ' Humanitarian ' Foundation (GHF),
–we also call on those in power to do everything they could to authorise a humanitarian corridor in Gaza, & entirely dismantle this cursed organisation.
Since, the stories, images and videos coming from these sites have become more and more inconceivable and cruel each passing day. The lack of concrete actions, global awareness and public outcry at this point is nothing short of outrageous.
Gaza's Health Ministry reported that since May 27th, when the GHF sites opened, until recently – at least 2,339 Palestinians have been killed and more than 17,000 have been injured while trying to obtain some sustenance.
Adding to the horror, a group of experts at the UN, including Francesca Albanese & Michael Fakri condemned the ongoing " enforced disappearing " of starving Palestinians at these sites, and urged israel to end its " heinous crime against an already vulnerable population ".
" Reports of " enforced disappearances " targeting children seeking their basic right to food is not only shocking, but amounts to torture.
" Using food as a tool to conduct targeted and mass disappearances needs to end now. " – the experts said.
Speaking of this, five Palestinian boys, between the ages of 12 and 16, remain missing after separate incidents at GHF sites between late June and early August. The boys' families were interviewed, who have continuously searched hospitals and morgues for bodies, and have found no signs of them.
Each of the boys disappeared at the Zakim border area, located in North Gaza, where aid trucks cross into the enclave.
Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability programe director at the DCIP human rights group, said " israeli forces are shooting, detaining and disappearing Palestinian children seeking aid in Gaza, israeli forces have refused to disclose the numbers, names and whereabouts of Palestinian children from Gaza in military custody.
" And these children have no contact with the outside world. We have more than two decades of evidence indicating that israeli forces torture Palestinian children in military detention. All of these children must be released and reunited with their families immediately. "
That is happening as the israeli military is raining fire on Gaza City, armed with incendiary bombs / grenades, drones, and remote controlled vehicles packed full of explosives.
They have been particularly brutal on the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, which is being " burned upside down ".
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor says that about 300 residential units are destroyed daily in Gaza City and Jabalia, – this may soon leave hundreds of thousands of people without homes, without shelters, – without the bear minimum for survival.
The need for an international defence corridor, or military intervention, has never been more overwhelming.
The Irish government must take a firm, unwavering stand, and do absolutely everything that can be done to make this happen. Including applying serious pressure on international bodies / authorities to follow through with this initiative, before its too late.
I have laid out customisable, copy & paste message templates that you can send to members of the Irish government (email addresses included) about Gaza. More messages in specific regards to this petition can be found here.
Through excessive lobbying, this petition has caught the attention of few elected officials, and so the more signatures we have, the more that strengthens our case, – so I urge you to share this far and wide.
Gaza cannot be sacrificed, thank you so much for your assistance.
-Holly xx