[Reader-list] Call to Endorse and Participate in the India Lifeline to Gaza Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza

[Rakhi Sehgal]

*Apologies for cross posting!*

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*Please write directly to the campaign at <asiatogaza.india at gmail.com> if
you'd like to endorse, participate or contribute in any way to the
campaign. *

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In solidarity,

Rakhi

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*Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza: India Lifeline to Gaza*

*September 2010*



We the people of India extend our solidarity to the courageous people of
Palestine in their struggle and resistance against the occupation of their
land.  Israel’s occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories has lasted
for more than six decades in violation of international law, international
humanitarian law and numerous United Nations resolutions. The occupation of
Palestine must end! Gaza has been turned into a vast
open-air-prison-cum-concentration camp for its 1.5 million inhabitants. The
Palestinian population in the West Bank and in Jerusalem are under
continuous repression, assaults and in a permanent state of siege due to the
ever expanding settlements & the apartheid wall. The Palestinian people must
have the freedom to exercise their right to self-determination including
their right to establish on all the territories that Israel has occupied, an
independent sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital. The
structure of Zionist
apartheid, based on ethno-religious discrimination that Israel has
established, must be dismantled and it must grant equal rights to all its
citizens, including the “Right of Return” to the Palestinians refugees.

*Defend the right of Palestinian people to resist the occupation through all
legitimate means*

The campaign and struggle to end the blockade of Gaza is an integral part
of, and a step to this larger struggle for self determination of the
Palestinian People and for a State of Palestine. The people of Gaza are
being subjected to the Israeli policy of collective punishment for asserting
their democratic right to decide for themselves the leadership and political
organisations to lead their struggle, govern their society and represent
them in all negotiations.



The genocidal nature of the war unleashed on Gaza, is also meant to serve as
a warning to the rest of the Palestinian People. Israel, backed by the US
and reactionary forces, is using war, terror and blockade to break the will
of the people of Gaza.  The Blockade of Gaza since 2007 has resulted in lack
of essential supplies, petrol for electricity, imminent shortage of
medicines, food and water which has triggered a humanitarian crisis that the
world needs to respond to with urgency.



The freedom and peace loving people of the world and democratic states have
to defeat this nefarious design. Palestine is today one of the defining
struggles for freedom, democracy and equality for peoples and nations.


*Let us unite to win this battle*

This struggle is broad, varied and multi-dimensional. It is humanitarian and
for peace, freedom and human dignity. It is against occupation, imperialism,
apartheid, Zionism and all forms of discrimination including religious
discrimination. We call upon all organisations, movements and individuals to
engage, contribute, actively participate and join the struggle. We commit to
respect the right of all participants to share, emphasise and focus on any
aspect and dimension of the struggle that is accordance with their own
views, belief and ideology, provided they do not divide, weaken or vitiate
the common and broad front against the blockade of Gaza and the very
struggle for the liberation of Palestine.



After the terrible massacre aboard the Freedom Flotilla on 31 May
2010, citizens
around the world are taking action to help break the siege which is
suffocating the lives of the people of Gaza and denying them their very
right to exist.

Different movements across the world are mobilising to end the blockade of
the Gaza Strip and to bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. The
IHH (Insani Yardi Vakfi or The Foundation for Human Rights, Freedoms and
Humanitarian Relief), participated in the Freedom Flotilla in which 9 of its
peace activists were murdered in cold blood by Israeli soldiers on board of
Mavi Marmara. The “Free Gaza Movement” has challenged the siege by
organizing ships to the shores of Gaza. The “Viva Palestina” has mobilized
more than 500 vehicles and 60 ships that will reach Gaza in September. “The
European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza” will be sending more than 9000
delegates. Many more organizations around the world are now galvanizing the
global solidarity movement and will be contributing with their local and
global actions.  Convoys from North and South Africa and ships from the USA,
New Zealand, Canada & Australia are also due to join the global effort.

We are committed to and believe that there must be a strong Asian
involvement in the global movement to end the siege of Gaza and for the
liberation of Palestine. It is important that India plays a part in
initiating and building the Asian process for solidarity with Palestine.


It is against this background that the undersigned organisations undertake
to organise an Asian land convoy to Gaza. This convoy will leave from New
Delhi mid-September and will travel across Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria,
Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and ultimately through the Rafah Crossing into
Gaza-Palestine. The Asian convoy will be joined by delegations and vehicles
in each of the nine countries through which it passes. We will coordinate
with existing and new organisations and alliances in each of these countries
and commit together to develop an Asia level campaign to free Palestine. In
each of these countries public meetings, press conferences, meetings with
mass organisations and political parties will be organised.

We endorse the Solidarity Caravan from India to Palestine.

In solidarity,

 *Organisations*
Aman Bharat
Awami Bharat
Asha Parivar

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM)

Bharat Bachao Andolan
Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur)

Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha (Mazdoor Karyakarta Committee)

Ekta Parishad
Forum Against Oppression of Women

Free Gaza - India
India Palestine People’s Solidarity Forum
Intercultural Resources
IIM

INHURED International (Nepal)
Insaaniyat (Bombay)

Loknaad

Mazdoor Ekta Manch

Muslim Intellectual Forum
Muslim Political Council of India
National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW)

New Socialist Initiative (NSI)

New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)
Palestine Solidarity Movement
People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)

Phule-Ambedkar Vichar Manch
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI)

Republican Panther
Saheli Women’s Resource Centre

*South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers (*SANGAT)

South Asia Peace Alliance (SAPA)
Trade Union Centre of India (TUCI)

Vidyarthi Bharti

Yuva Koshish



*Individuals*

Salman Usmani, New Delhi