MEPs call for ending Gaza’s siege, allowing COVID-19 medications in
Twenty four Members of the European Parliament signed a petition calling to end Gaza’s siege and allow COVID-19 medications.
Petition: MEPs call for ending #Gaza’s siege, allowing #COVID19 medications in
MORE: https://t.co/XamwAQrpk4 pic.twitter.com/pEdR7zQlhU
— Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR) December 21, 2020
The petition, launched by the Geneva-based Euro-Mediterranea Human Rights Monitor, called on ‘Israel’ to lift its siege of Gaza and allow COVID-19 medical supplies in light of the recent spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in Gaza Strip.
The petition was also signed by Manu Pineda, the Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Palestine.
The MEPs expressed their concern about the latest spike in COVID-19 cases in the Gaza Strip, noting that the exceptional situation in Gaza “requires immediate action to allow medicines, protective gears, masks, and ICU-units into the territory.”
“Today, the numbers of COVID-19 cases, which are spreading like fire in refugee camps in Gaza, are telling of the catastrophic situation there. We call on the international community to immediately end the siege of Gaza, allow medical supplies and allocate vaccines for the Gaza Strip, where many face an imminent death,” said Dr. Ramy Abdu, Euro-Med Monitor Chairman.
He added, “The Israeli government has to end its siege of Gaza now, and WHO should make sure Palestinians, whose healthcare system is collapsing, have access to decent healthcare. The situation in Gaza is no longer acceptable and we thank the MEPs for their stance to end the siege and help Palestinians as the pandemic is spreading.”
The petition noted that “Palestinian patients go through prolonged processes to cross the borders into Israel and Egypt. Many of them died waiting for permits to be issued. Many health facilities were destroyed during repeated conflicts. This requires an immediate international intervention to save those Palestinians.”
The MEPs called on the European Union to send immediate medical aid to the Gaza Strip through the World Health Organization (WHO).
They also called on “all parties to the conflict in Gaza to save the civilians the plight of COVID19 and to put their differences aside.”
