PSC on Unilateral Ceasefire

Last night the Israeli cabinet announced a universal ceasefire, saying its objectives in the military onslaught on Gaza has been achieved. The Israeli leadership may have improved their electoral prospects but one must wonder what the killing of more than 1200 Gazans, in what is now being publicly condemned as war crimes, will do to the electoral intentions of the Palestinian people.

Betty Hunter, General Secretary of PSC said, “The sickening sight of Ehud Olmert apologising for the ‘discomfort’ suffered by the people of Gaza then thanking Mubarak and a host of western leaders for their support should bring shame on them. The British government, by backing Israel, has blood on its hands.

The declaration of a unilateral ceasefire by Israel is clearly another attempt to isolate Hamas and say it is the culpable party. However people of conscience around the world have rejected the mantra from Israel that it can kill and destroy at will as long as it uses the words terrorist and Hamas in the same sentence.

The Israeli government should know that the worldwide outrage at Israel’s actions, and the complicity of other governments will not simply disappear. It will continue until the attacks and siege of Gaza end and until the occupation of Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem end, and the Palestinian people achieve justice and their full rights under international law.”