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14 December 2007  

Thursday December 13, 2007 23:31
by Saed Bannoura - 1 of International Middle East Media Center - IMEMC Editorial Group  

In a statement released on Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) criticized the Israeli closure and occupation of Palestinian land, which has left hospitals unable to treat the sick and injured, and has left farmers unable to work their land.  

The Red Cross called on Israel to " lift the retaliatory measures which are paralyzing life in Gaza", and to stop targeting the civilian population.  

Beatrice Megevand Roggo, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross' Middle East and North Africa program, stated Thursday, "The measures imposed by Israel come at an enormous humanitarian cost, leaving the people living under occupation with just enough to survive, but not enough to live a normal and dignified life." She added that due to Israeli policies, the Palestinian population has " effectively become a hostage to the conflict."  

The ICRC said that the Israeli closure of all borders in and out of the Gaza Strip is affecting every aspect of the Palestinian people's lives. "The Palestinian Territories face a deep human crisis, where millions of people are denied their human dignity. Not once in a while, but every day," said the statement.  

In addition to the 80 unemployment rate in Gaza brought about by the Israeli closure, the ICRC pointed out that 5, 000 farmers in Gaza dependent on exports of cash crops like carnations and strawberries were "about to suffer a 100 percent drop in sales."  

"The harvest season for these important crops started in June, but the embargo on exports has left them rotting in containers at the crossing points, " said the ICRC in their statement.  

In the West Bank as well, due to the construction of the Israeli Annexation Wall, "large tracts of farming land have been out of reach for farmers, " who must fight through " a bureaucratic maze" to obtain permission from the Israeli occupying authorities to reach their land.  

While the ICRC statement recognized that Israel has a right to protect its population, " there should always be a sound balance between Israel's security concerns and the protection of the rights and liberties of the Palestinians living under occupation."

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