Statement from World Vision on Gaza Ceasefires
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Contact: Rachel Wolff, 253.815.2072 |
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Jerusalem, January 18, 2009— Israel on 17 January announced a unilateral cease-fire in Gaza, and Hamas followed on the 18th with a conditional one-week cease-fire contingent on Israel pulling all ground troops out of Gaza within a week.
World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza director Charles Clayton states:
"We welcome any alleviation of violence, with cautious optimism and hope that these declarations will lead to the end of fighting. We call on all parties to stop attacks, including Hamas’ rocket strikes against Israel, and refrain from further hostilities.
The well-being of children and civilians in Gaza continues to be at risk as long as humanitarian access is restricted and insecurity continues.
Unilateral or temporary cease-fires do not guarantee the safety and protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip or southern Israel. All parties must actively protect civilians from additional harm, especially children, who make up more than half of Gaza’s population.
Resolving outstanding differences through diplomatic means is the only way to ease the humanitarian crisis and assure durable peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.
These announcements fail to resolve all hostilities. It is still unacceptable to maintain the 18-month blockade and land, sea and air closures that have crippled the economy, halted services, and rendered the 1.5 million people of Gaza dependent on humanitarian aid. Therefore, a full resolution to the conflict must include withdrawal of Israel’s ground presence from Gaza, a return to freedom of movement of residents within the area, and an end to rocket launchings.
World Vision also calls on Israel to ensure unhindered, open humanitarian access to meet the needs of the people of Gaza. This must include opening the crossings at Karni and Erez for taking humanitarian supplies in. The current humanitarian corridor is utterly inadequate for necessary relief operations.
We call on world leaders to take seriously their responsibility to protect children and noncombatants. Failure to do so will mean a further collapse of basic services and infrastructure that will put yet more lives at risk."
:: More about the Gaza crisis
World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza director Charles Clayton states:
"We welcome any alleviation of violence, with cautious optimism and hope that these declarations will lead to the end of fighting. We call on all parties to stop attacks, including Hamas’ rocket strikes against Israel, and refrain from further hostilities.
The well-being of children and civilians in Gaza continues to be at risk as long as humanitarian access is restricted and insecurity continues.
Unilateral or temporary cease-fires do not guarantee the safety and protection of civilians in the Gaza Strip or southern Israel. All parties must actively protect civilians from additional harm, especially children, who make up more than half of Gaza’s population.
Resolving outstanding differences through diplomatic means is the only way to ease the humanitarian crisis and assure durable peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.
These announcements fail to resolve all hostilities. It is still unacceptable to maintain the 18-month blockade and land, sea and air closures that have crippled the economy, halted services, and rendered the 1.5 million people of Gaza dependent on humanitarian aid. Therefore, a full resolution to the conflict must include withdrawal of Israel’s ground presence from Gaza, a return to freedom of movement of residents within the area, and an end to rocket launchings.
World Vision also calls on Israel to ensure unhindered, open humanitarian access to meet the needs of the people of Gaza. This must include opening the crossings at Karni and Erez for taking humanitarian supplies in. The current humanitarian corridor is utterly inadequate for necessary relief operations.
We call on world leaders to take seriously their responsibility to protect children and noncombatants. Failure to do so will mean a further collapse of basic services and infrastructure that will put yet more lives at risk."
:: More about the Gaza crisis
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