Amnesty Cork Group will hold a street action outside Debenhams in Patrick’s St. Cork this Saturday afternoon(10th Jan.) between 1pm and 4pm. Cork Amnesty Group Co-ordinator Jay Flavin said the group will be requesting people to show solidarity with the civilians caught up in the conflict in Gaza and Israel. For further information please contact Jay Flavin, Co-ordinator Amnesty Cork Group -Tel: 0868128236  or Lorna English, PRO – Tel 0861514901   www.amnesty.ie

Amnesty International has urged the UN Security Council to demand that Israel, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups observe an immediate truce in Gaza to allow desperately needed humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered civilian population, evacuation of the wounded and safe refuge for civilians wishing to flee the conflict zone.

“Civilians in Gaza are trapped in an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, and need immediate respite,” said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.

“It is abundantly clear that the parties to this conflict are failing to respect international humanitarian law, and that the civilian population of Gaza is paying a very heavy price.”Eleven days into the conflict and amid a mounting toll of civilian casualties in Gaza, calls for a ceasefire have as yet gone unheeded by both Israel and Hamas,” said Malcolm Smart. “In the absence of a ceasefire, an immediate humanitarian truce is urgently needed to protect the civilian population. The fighting must stop long enough so that humanitarian assistance can reach those in need and so that those who want to leave can be evacuated.
“An immediate pause in hostilities would at least make it possible for basic assistance to be got to civilians in dire need, permit the evacuation and treatment of the wounded and the burial of the dead,” said Malcolm Smart. “It would also allow civilians trapped in Gaza an opportunity to leave the conflict zone safely to seek refuge with the assistance of neighbouring states where necessary, allow emergency repairs to essential infrastructure, and ensure that humanitarian workers can provide protection and assistance in safety.”

Amnesty International has repeatedly urged Israel, Hamas, and other Palestinian armed groups to end attacks on civilians and other violations of international humanitarian law, and to allow access to humanitarian assistance. The organization has urged the UN Security Council and the international community to ensure compliance with international law.

However, civilians – particularly the 1.5 million Palestinians trapped in Gaza – continue to both be targeted and suffer disproportionately in this conflict.

Firmer European voice needed to unblock humanitarian crisis in the Middle East
8 January 2009
As EU Foreign Ministers meet in Prague, Amnesty International today urged them to spare no efforts to pressure Israel to end attacks which are directed at civilians or civilian buildings in the Gaza Strip or are disproportionate, and to allow much needed humanitarian access to the region.

In a letter sent to the EU Troika upon its return from the Middle East (available at www.amnesty-eu.org) Amnesty International expressed particular concern about the EU’s failure, so far, to play a decisive role at the United Nations Security Council. The organization urged the EU to work proactively with all Security Council members so that a humanitarian truce is implemented without delay.

“There are 1.5 million people effectively trapped in the Gaza Strip, in the midst of a humanitarian disaster. EU member states need to put their differences aside and send a strong signal to both parties” said Nicolas Beger, Director of Amnesty International’s EU Office.

“To show that it means business, the EU should put on hold discussions on the upgrade of relations with Israel and work on getting concrete commitments from Israel to end the humanitarian catastrophe” he added.

Despite EU and other diplomatic efforts, the conflict has intensified over the past few days with civilian casualties increasing day by day. In Gaza, schools and universities are being targeted while media and organizations such as the Red Cross are denied full access. EU aid is also being prevented from reaching the Gaza Strip.

At the same time Amnesty International continues to call for an end to on-going indiscriminate rocket attacks by Palestinian armed groups into civilian areas in southern Israel.

“The escalation of violence by both parties’ demonstrates that diplomatic efforts have not yet had a significant impact. EU Foreign Ministers need to show determination so that their efforts are not ignored” said Beger.

The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva will also hold a Special Session on the situation in Gaza Strip this Friday. Amnesty International urges the EU to do all it can so that there is a clear an unambiguous call by this key human rights body to end the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

For further info please contact: J. Flavin, Amnesty Cork Group Co-ordinator Tel; 0878128236      E Mail   amnesty.cork@gmail.com