TUFP - CAABU Press Release condemns Israeli invasion of Gaza: the Israeli army is guilty of war crimes 28 June 2006

The re-invasion of the Gaza Strip by the Israeli army has transformed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into an even more volatile situation. It also is in danger of derailing Palestinian peace negotiating platform that was reaching fruition. Commenting in the media, Chris Doyle, the CAABU Director, pointed out that "this attack probably endangers the life of the Israeli soldier held in Gaza, whilst bringing misery to over one million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It is hard to see one positive outcome from this war crime."

The attacks on Palestinian electricity plants and water facilities constitute a war crime for which there is no excuse or justification in international law. It is a clear and grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Palestinians in Gaza were already living on the verge of a grave humanitarian crisis due to the sanctions imposed by the donor community and the siege imposed by the Israeli army. The lack of electricity is already having a massive impact on Gazan hospitals, medical centres and Palestinian lives generally.

The damage to the water infrastructure has also made it difficult for Palestinian firefighters to handle the fires. The destruction of the bridges in Gaza imperils essential movement around the Gaza Strip cutting it off into three areas but making it impossible to provide proper humanitarian and medical services.

CAABU calls for:-

1. The immediate and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and cessation of all attacks on Palestinian civilians.

2. Israel must facilitate and pay for the immediate rebuilding of all the water, electrical and other infrastructure destroyed in this invasion.

3. Israel must allow the opening of the borders into Gaza allowing the free flow of people and goods.

4. CAABU calls for an immediate EU-wide bans on arms trade with Israel.

For further information and interviews please contact the CAABU office 0207 832 1320 - doylec@caabu.org Chris Doyle can be reached on 07968 040 281. Chris Doyle Director CAABU (Council for Arab-British Understanding) To become a CAABU member: http://www.caabu.org/index.asp?homepage=membership&article=member_applic ations 1 Gough Square, London, EC4A 3DE Tel: 020 7832 1310 Fax: 020 7832 1329 www.caabu.org