January 10, 2009

Speech from January 10th Demonstration for Gaza on Parliament Hill, Samah Sabawi

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper,

Prime Minister of Canada

On December 30th, the UN special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories said "Israel is committing a shocking series of atrocities by using modern weaponry against a defenseless population". He described Israel's action as "war crimes against the people of Gaza."

On January 8th, the International Committee of the Red Cross decried Israel's violations of international law." That same day, an aide to Pope Benedict described Gaza as "a big concentration camp."

On January 9th, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an independent war crimes investigation in Gaza.

These calls and statements have gone unheeded by you as you chose to adopt full heartedly the Israeli claims that this is merely a war between Israel and Hamas. In doing so, you have ignored the reality that this is mostly a war on the defenseless imprisoned population of Gaza.

Many in Gaza right now are left with little or no drinking water, no access to food and no heat in their homes. They are suffering from the constant bombardments and shelling in their neighborhoods. The hospitals are completely overwhelmed with the dead and the dying. Israel's aggression has spared no one.

Mr. Prime Minister, you have sadly moved Canada away from our tradition of being in the forefront as defenders of international law and human rights. But as you make the security of Israel your primary concern, we ask that you also think of the security of the Palestinian children, mothers and fathers who are being killed and brutalized today in Gaza. Who will look after their security?

The clock is ticking. Young children have died of heart attacks because of the terror they are enduring at the hands of Israel's war machinery. Immediate intervention is absolutely needed now!

The carnage in Gaza in the past two weeks reflects the international community's failure and Canada's failure as a member of the international community to intervene when needed to stop the death of innocent civilians and to enforce the principles of international humanitarian law. .

We call on you Mr. Prime Minister to speak up loud and clear against these atrocities in Gaza. We need you to be a true leader that inspires justice and uphold the values of international humanitarian law.

We need for you to acknowledge that fact that you represent all Canadians. All Canadians Mr. Prime Minister – including Arab Canadians, Palestinian Canadians and Canadians who hunger for justice and for peace. We are waiting to hear from you words of condolences as we grief over the loss of loved ones.

We are sick to death of hearing about Israel's violations of international humanitarian law and it is time for the international community to heed the desperate calls of a Palestinian population brutalized and ignored for more than sixty years.

Because of Israel's gross failure to meet its obligations under the fourth Geneva convention towards the occupied Palestinian population and because of its use of indiscriminate and disproportional measures as well as collective punishment all considered war crimes under international law, Israel must be made to immediately cease its control of the territories it illegally occupies and had occupied since 1967.

Neither peace nor security can be achieved by means of indiscriminate bombardment and tyranny, nor by applying a double standard of law – one for Israel and another for the Palestinian people. Peace and security can only be achieved by ending Israel's occupation of Palestinian land and by complying with international humanitarian law.

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