SOLIDAR calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

SOLIDAR is the international alliance of labour movement-based humanitarian aid agencies, with which Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA is affiliated. SOLIDAR members in Europe and partners in Israel and Palestine call for an immediate end to the violence.

Everyday sees a worsening of the situation: since Israel started, as a reaction to Hamas provocations, bombing the Gaza strip, civilians have been the main victims and their number is steadily increasing. Whoever has been in the Gaza strip knows that a "clean war" is impossible. For too many years, both sides have been calling for peace, making proposals and asking for international support, but no significant and sustainable solution has been found yet. New violence will provoke more violence which will serve as a pretext for further violence. This seems to be a never-ending spiral, a political and humanitarian disaster for the population with only one winner: the extremists. The lesson from history should be that violence is not a solution and there is no military solution for this long-lasting conflict. This military action is not and cannot be justified by any international law.

SOLIDAR's member organisations, in the tradition of international solidarity of the socialist and labour movements, are involved in humanitarian projects in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Together with our members and partners in Israel and Palestine, we defend workers' rights and human rights, we promote the idea that only a peaceful conflict solution and dialogue between civil society from inside can ensure significant progress and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian and Israeli populations. What is needed is the involvement of civil society in a real dialogue process. Poverty and despair are the seed for violence. Peace building is more than signing an agreement through international pressure, it must start with mutual respect and understanding, with reconciliation and mutual learning. It is a long road, more than a roadmap, demanding the commitment of all stakeholders towards a peaceful solution based on the respect of international law, human rights and human dignity.

Europeans cannot stay aside, we must act as part of the international community and put pressure to immediately end all kinds of violence and military actions.

Conny Reuter, Secretary General

For news statement and for links to member and partner agency statements and information, see:

http://www.solidar.org/Page_Generale.asp?DocID=13958&langue=EN&thebloc=19965

© Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA 2003.

Last Modified: Friday, 09-Jan-2009 16:31:12 EST
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