Times Online
Thousands of Palestinians protesting against an international blockade on the Gaza Strip formed a human chain today, with Israel warning of an iron-fisted response if demonstrators tried to storm the country's border.
Men, women and children holding both Palestinian and Hamas flags turned out for the start of what organisers linked to the ruling Hamas movement claimed would be a peaceful protest eventually involving some 50,000 people.
The organisers said that the human chain - designed to link a 25-mile stretch of the main road traversing the centre of the coastal strip between the towns of Rafah and Beit Hanoun - would be designed to show up the plight of Gaza residents to the international community.
Schools were closed for the day, and thousands of pupils were taken in buses to participate. Many could be seen with banners stating: "The Siege of Gaza Will Only Strengthen Us, "The World Has Condemned Gaza to Death" and "Save Gaza".
The international community has largely boycotted Gaza since Hamas, which refuses to renounce terrorism or recognise Israel's right to exist, deposed the secular Fatah movement in a military coup to take control. Fatah, which is led by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, still controls the West Bank.
“This is a peaceful and civilised act to let the people express their rejection of the siege and of collective punishment,†Jamal al-Khudari, leader of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, the pro-Hamas organisers, said. "We are raising a cry to the world for it to act."
No comments:
Post a Comment