Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Gaza Government Calls on Egypt to Open Rafah Crossing, Not to Participate in Israeli Siege of the Palestinian Territory

January 8, 2014

Gaza Gov’t calls on Egypt to re-consider its policy towards Rafah crossing	Gaza patients call for opening the crossings and allow them travel for treatment

Gaza Gov’t calls on Egypt to re-consider its policy towards Rafah crossing

[ 08/01/2014 - 11:19 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Palestinian government in Gaza Strip has warned that closing crossings and preventing the entrance of construction materials and fuel would worsen the tightened siege on the enclave.

Following its weekly meeting on Tuesday night, the Gaza government held the international community responsible for the continued suffering of the Palestinian people due to its silence towards the unfair Israeli siege, which it described as mass punishment.

The government's statement pointed out that the government has made efforts and contacts in order to end the Israeli siege on Gaza.

In a related issue, the government called on the Egyptian authorities to re-consider the current policy of opening Rafah crossing in reference to closing the crossing for long periods and opening it for only few days.

The Egyptian authorities closed Rafah crossing for 100 days since early July in violation of international conventions, increasing the suffering of the people of Gaza, the statement added.

The government hailed the Palestinian people's steadfastness before the current challenges and difficulties, praising the government's employees for their important role in alleviating the suffering of the people.

Furthermore, the government appreciated the Palestinian Premier Ismail Haniya’s important speech and positive steps to achieve reconciliation and his declaration that the year 2014 would be the year of Palestinian reconciliation.

In another context, the government denounced the continued Israeli-Palestinian negotiation under US secretary of State John Kerry's auspices that only serves the Israeli occupation government, renewing its rejection of any agreement resulting from the ongoing negotiations.

It called for halting the negotiation process, stressing its adherence to the Palestinian constants topped by Right of Return, Jerusalem as the capital of any future Palestinian state, and the liberation of all Palestinian territories.

It condemned the Israeli decision endorsing the construction of new settlement units in occupied West Bank, saying that negotiation resumption provides a cover to the Israeli settlement schemes.

Concerning the Palestinian refugees' situation in Syria, the government strongly denounced the continued siege imposed on Yarmouk refugee camp for 176 days in a row, where dozens of Palestinian refugees have starved to death.

The government's statement called for neutralizing the Yarmouk refugee camp in the ongoing conflict in Syria, and to allow the entry of the humanitarian relief and aid supplies.

Gaza patients call for opening the crossings and allow them travel for treatment

[ 07/01/2014 - 02:26 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Dozens of patients in the Gaza Strip called for opening the crossings, especially the Rafah crossing, and lifting the blockade in order to allow them travel to receive treatment.

This came in a vigil organized by the National Committee to Lift the Siege on Tuesday morning in front of the headquarters of High Commissioner, during which the protesters waved banners denouncing the blockade and the closure of the crossings.

One of the wounded Mohammed Kahlout called upon the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing, to enable the patients to travel for treatment.

For his part, Abdullah Hajjar, from Salama (Safety) Association, warned of the continuation of the blockade imposed on Gaza by the Israeli occupation authorities, noting that it prevents the entry of medical aid and health needs into the Strip.

He pointed out that many people with disabilities need to undergo urgent surgeries abroad, while more than 1,250 wounded are in dire need of medical supplies, medicines, and electricity to operate medical devices that help them stay alive.

Hajjar said that a large number of sick and wounded, who have been deprived of travel, died after their health conditions deteriorated as a result of the continued closure of the border crossings.

He called upon the international community and the free world to exert pressure on the Israeli occupation to immediately lift the Gaza blockade.

He also asked the Health Ministers all over the world to support Gaza health sector, and urged the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing and allow the wounded and sick to travel in order to receive treatment abroad.