In Gaza, Israeli army snipers are shooting at Palestinian residents as they gather, just as everywhere else in Palestine, to celebrate Land Day.

The Israeli army itself has confirmed that around 100 snipers received orders to shoot at anyone approaching the border. In other words, over-equipped snipers have been ordered to shoot at defenseless civilians.

The death toll since this morning has risen to eight, with hundreds wounded.

For the past 11 years, Gaza’s two million residents, two-thirds of whom are refugees, have suffered an inhumane blockade imposed by the Israeli army. A blockade that drives to desperation an inventive, educated population that asks simply to live.

Demonstrations and tent villages have been set up at various locations in the Gaza Strip. Through these peaceful demonstrations, Palestinians in Gaza are demanding that the blockade be lifted and their rights respected. The demonstrations are scheduled to last six weeks, until May 15^th, the anniversary of the Nakba.

The entire world – France included – has been condemning the blockade of Gaza for years. But words are useless in the face of Israeli power.

The right of return of Palestinian refugees is enshrined in UN Resolution 194, which the State of Israel agreed to respect when it joined the UN in 1949. But UN resolutions continue to be flouted by the State of Israel, which considers itself above international law.Today, first and foremost, the massacre must be stopped, and France must act immediately.

The President of the France Palestine Solidarity Association, Bertrand Heilbronn, has the following words for the President of the French Republic: “Mr. President, the army of the State of Israel, with which France and Europe have numerous ties, is firing live ammunition at unarmed demonstrators. You cannot accept this. We ask you to intervene with utmost urgency, by summoning the Israeli ambassador and making it clear that France will enact sanctions if this scandal does not cease immediately.

The line was crossed a long time ago. France and Europe must, at the very least, protect the Palestinian people and they must do so with urgency. The shooting at unarmed protesters must stop, the blockade of Gaza must be lifted immediately, and Israel must suspend all settlement activity, annexation, population transfer, and demolition of Palestinian homes and infrastructure. Words are no longer enough. It’s time for sanctions if these abuses do not stop.”

The AFPS Executive Board
March 30^th, 2018, 4:45 PM (CEST)