Press Release
For immediate use 01/09/06

March against Israeli aggression and occupation

Members of the public concerned about the situation in Lebanon and Occupied Palestine are asked to meet at the Bridge of Remembrance on Saturday the 2nd of September at noon for a march to the Square followed by a rally with several speakers.

The march and rally are in solidarity with the people of Palestine and Lebanon, with Israeli peace groups, calling for peace and justice, and in solidarity with Christian World Service who are running an appeal for aid for the people of both Lebanon and Occupied Palestine who are facing a desperate humanitarian crisis.

“The Israeli invasion violated humanitarian law including Geneva conventions on warfare by targeting infrastructure, civilian areas, and any pretense of proportionality. Lebanon has been left littered with cluster bombs that will continue killing civilians for many years. The environmental damage from the deliberate attack on an oil storage facility has created an oil spill that is being described worse than the Exxon Valdez disaster. The Lebanese people need outside help ” stated Lois Griffiths, spokesperson for the group organising the rally.

" While the world's media has focused on Lebanon, the people of the Occupied Territories continue to suffer. Gaza's electricity system has been destroyed by the Israelis , which means no refrigeration to protect food from spoiling in the mid-summer heat. Furthermore water is scarce, Palestinians are fired on by Israeli snipers, and elected Hamas government ministers are kidnapped. Gaza is a prison. " said Lois Griffiths.

Saturday's Christchurch march is part of a national day of action in Aotearoa. Similar marches being planned also in Wellington and Auckland.

“Despite the ceasefire bringing a temporary halt to the hostilities, the underlying tensions including the continued occupation of Palestine and Lebanon haven't been addressed. Until that happens there will be no lasting peace in the region,” said Mrs Griffiths.

The organisers of the rally are adamant that the protest is against the Israeli regime and military, who have committed war crimes, and the American regime, which has armed and encouraged Israel, but not against Jewish people. Therefore, anti-Jewish sentiment at the rally will not be tolerated

ENDS

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