For Immediate Release

Contact: Janvieve Williams Comrie 404 610 2807 jwilliams@ushrnetwork.org

Reacting to the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, US Human Rights Network Executive Director Ajamu Baraka today stated, "We are extremely concerned for the safety and human rights of the civilians living in Gaza. Israel is bombing densely populated civilian areas – putting innocent men, women and children at serious risk of death and injury. The horrifying reported death toll is estimated at 384 (as of December 30th, 2008)– and the over 1,750 injured including men, women and children are at risk due to the serious lack of medical equipment in Gaza, a direct effect of prolonged Israeli blockades.

The US Human Rights Network calls on the Bush Administration to exert all necessary pressure on Israel to put an immediate end to Israel's illegal attacks on Palestinian civilians. The US government must use its unique influence on the Israeli government to demand an immediate end to these hostilities– The US government has a moral duty and obligation to use its power to protect innocent Palestinian civilians who continue to be terrorized by the ongoing bombing campaign being waged by the Israeli military.

"This is not a question of politics – it is a question of human rights. Israel has the right to protect its population. But no government has the right to launch indiscriminate attacks on a civilian population, using security as an excuse”, says Baraka. No government has the right to deprive a civilian population of food, shelter, health care (which has been an acute crisis since 2006), electricity and water. President Bush must call for these attacks to stop immediately, and call on both Israel and Egypt to facilitate the medical care and treatment of those injured."

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