Campaign to end the Gaza blockade
17 February 2010
MAP wrote an open letter to Gordon Brown on 27 December calling for an immediate and unconditional end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip. The original letter was signed by high profile doctors, politicians, human rights activists and celebrity supporters.
The Open Letter was released a year after the Israeli offensive that killed almost 1,400 Palestinians and wounded over 5,300. It highlighted the terrible humanitarian situation, including the results of a MAP survey showing that 98% of the most vulnerable residents of Gaza have been unable to rebuild and repair their homes.
Thousands of supporters signed our letter online or wrote in to our London office.
The Prime Minister replied within a week. In his letter, the Primer Minister said on the 28th of December the Department for International Development had committed an additional £53.5 million in aid to the occupied Palestinian territory. The Prime Minister described Israel's denial of aid to Gaza as 'unacceptable' and reaffirmed the EU Foreign Ministers' call for 'full humanitarian access'.
At the first Prime Minister's Questions of 2010, Gordon Brown responded to a question from Karen Buck MP about the situation in Gaza by saying "we must not forget the people of Gaza. I have raised with Prime Minister Netanyahu the speed at which aid and humanitarian assistance can get into Gaza, and we are pressing the Israeli Government to do more to get more aid in."
MAP welcomes the quick response by the Prime Minister to our Open Letter. However, there is still much to be done in terms of tangible action that can improve the lives of the Palestinians living in desperate conditions in Gaza. While we welcome increased UK funds for development and humanitarian aid, we affirm that without an end to the blockade, international assistance can but stem the tide of humanitarian crisis.
MAP's Chief Executive, Steve James, and Head of Advocacy, Andrea Becker, met with the Prime Minister's chief foreign policy adviser, Tom Fletcher, in February as part of a follow up meeting to our open letter. The meeting was very positive and discussed future cooperation between MAP and the British government towards improving Gaza access.
VIDEO: MAP's Head of Advocacy explains our position for the British government
Meanwhile we will continue to deliver our life-saving health programmes in Gaza. This includes a continued improvement in our emergency response capability, ensuring the safe delivery of new born children, building hospital capacity to deal with primary trauma care and burns, and ensuring through our work with the Central Drug Store that essential medicines are replenished and distributed to clinics and primary health care centers.
To see more information on Israel's blockade of Gaza click here.
THE PRIME MINISTER
Dear Friends,
Your open letter to me of 27 December in The Observer was right to draw attention to the grave humanitarian situation in Gaza, one year after a conflict that cost over a thousand Palestinian lives and those of over ten Israelis.
As I have made clear repeatedly to the Israeli government, it is unacceptable that Israel continues to prevent aid from reaching those who so badly need it in Gaza. EU Foreign Ministers reinforced our call for full humanitarian access earlier this month.
Alongside diplomatic pressure, I pledge that the UK will remain in the forefront of the humanitarian effort. Following the offensive a year ago, we spent £20 million on humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. And on 28 December, Douglas Alexander announced a total package of £53.5 million for Palestine, with a particular focus on Gaza - including £5 million of new funding for the United Nations' work with Gazan refugees.
While Hamas' actions can be no justification for preventing aid reaching the people of Gaza, Hamas must remove the menace of rocket attacks against the people of southern Israel, and release Gilad Shalit Ultimately, we can only give the people of Gaza real hope when genuine negotiations bring a lasting and just peace settlement.
The parameters of such a potential agreement are clear. In the coming year, we must pursue still more vigorously a comprehensive peace based on secure and viable states of Israel and Palestine. For all of our futures, those who oppose justice and peace for the peoples of the region must not be allowed to prevail.
Yours sincerely,
Gordon Brown
