Jamal Al-Khudari, Chairman of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, announced the year 2021 to be the year of activating international, Arab and Islamic solidarity in all its forms to lift the continuous Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip for 14 years.
In a press statement, Al-Khudari stressed the need for the activation of solidarity to take place at the popular, human rights and parliamentary levels, and solidarity institutions.
He said, "What is required is to revive the popular solidarity movement in the European street with Gaza through marches, stances, demonstrations, events and activities, as well as communicating with human rights and legal institutions and activating the legally enforceable crime of siege."
Al-Khudari called for the formation of international parliamentary committees whose goal would be to work to end the blockade, in addition to reactivating solidarity convoys, which in its entirety would have an effect on the official decision to put real and effective pressure on the occupation to end the siege.
He stressed the great importance of the external movement, especially the international one, at all official and popular levels, institutions and parliaments, due to its direct impact on the Israeli occupation.
He expressed his hope to find mechanisms that suit everyone´s circumstances, especially with the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, calling on all these movements to intensify activities and increase efforts so that the year 2021 will indeed be the year of lifting the siege on Gaza.
Al-Khudari said, "Since the imposition of the blockade, the occupation has sought to make it a realistic, natural and institutionalized matter, but it was and still is a collective punishment, an illegal, immoral and inhumane blockade, and contradicts the principles of international law, the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
He added, "The continuation of the blockade with the arrival of the Corona pandemic, along with the catastrophic health, humanitarian and life situation in Gaza, requires urgent solidarity and support to activate this disaster that Gaza is experiencing, leading to work to end it and save Gaza."
He warned of the danger of international reports confirming that Gaza is no longer suitable for life under the siege, closure and the Corona pandemic, noting that these reports show the seriousness of the situation.
He said, "What awaits the Gaza Strip in the new year 2021, in light of the current data, cannot be imagined or imagined if the humanitarian, health and economic conditions continue in this way," calling for the blockade to be lifted immediately.
