MPPM condemns the new aggression of Israel against Gaza

The MPPM - Movement for the Rights of the Palestinian People and for Peace in the Middle East - denounces and strongly condemns the new aggressive escalation of Israel against the Palestinian people, and in particular against Gaza.

Following military moves and provocations of various kinds that had been taking place in the last few days, the State of Israel has again bombed the Gaza Strip on a large scale since last Friday, 5 August.

On the morning of Sunday 7 August, less than 48 hours after the beginning of this wave of attacks, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported 31 deaths, including six children and four women. There were also more than 265 wounded. Among the many civilian facilities hit by the Israeli shelling was Al-Quds University in northern Gaza. Also the Jabalia refugee camp was bombed on Saturday night resulting in the death of several children.

The Israeli leaders have already assumed that they intend to extend this new aggression for at least a week. Some Israeli analysts and politicians have accused Prime Minister Lapid (once considered a "moderate") of unleashing the new wave of attacks as a form of political promotion, in view of the elections scheduled for November (the fifth legislative elections in 3 and a half years in Israel).

One cannot fail to note that the sinister strategy of "mowing the grass", i.e. regular attacks by Israel on the Gaza Strip, is now put into practice at ever shorter intervals.

The USA, through the voice of John Kirby (spokesman for the US National Security Council), has already expressed its "absolute and total" support for this Israeli aggression. Until the publication of this communiqué, the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not taken any position, not even through its tweets.

It should be recalled that the city and region of Gaza (territory where more than 2 million people live, mostly refugees from other Palestinian regions, in an area of 365 km2) has been subjected to an iron blockade since 2007, making it the largest open-air prison in the world.

Several personalities and international organizations (including the MPPM) have been warning about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, for which it is difficult to find words and which is criminally aggravated by successive bombing campaigns, such as the one we are witnessing now. By way of example, in the days before these new bombings, the electricity supply in Gaza was limited to between five and eight hours a day. With these attacks and the associated punitive measures, living conditions are even more painful.

The MPPM denounces, once again, the hypocrisy of governments and organisations that in words recognise the so-called two-state solution but do not condemn Israel's crimes, thus supporting, with their complicit silence, the daily advance of the occupation, colonisation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.

It continues without measures being taken to prevent Israel from committing these crimes or to hold Israel accountable for them. In this context, the silence of the Portuguese Government in the face of yet another aggression by Israel against the long-suffering Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip is particularly reprehensible.

Considering these dramatic developments, the pain and suffering inflicted to the Palestinian people and the associated risks of a military confrontation in the region with unforeseeable consequences, the MPPM demands that the Portuguese Government, in respect for the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, international law and international humanitarian law:

- Unequivocally condemn the bombings and the escalation of violence by the Israeli forces against Gaza and against the Palestinian people in general;

- Demand from the government of Israel respect for the rights of the Palestinian people and an end to the blockade of Gaza, an end to settlements, walls and all discriminatory and violent practices against the Palestinian people;

- Demand compliance with the Charter and the UN resolutions to which the State of Israel has bound itself upon its admission to the UN;

- Recognise the State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the UN resolutions and following the recommendations approved by the Assembly of the Republic and the practice of 138 other UN member states.

The MPPM reaffirms its solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation and the right to live in peace and prosperity in their land.

MPPM further calls on all democrats and peace lovers to continue to show their support for the cause of Palestine and to denounce the crimes of Israel.

August 7th 2022

The National Directorate of MPPM