On January 29, 2008 a protest took place in front of a North Side Chicago theater that was hosting a benefit for the "young leadership of the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces".

On January 29, 2008 a protest took place in front of a North Side Chicago theater that was hosting a benefit for the "young leadership of the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces". The IDF has blocked humanitarian supplies going into to Gaza, which has been put under siege by the Israeli government. This type of collective punishment is a war crime. The action was endorsed by a number of organizations, including International Solidarity Movement, ANSWER-Chicago, Palestinian Solidarity Group, ISO, and others.

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In fact, people all over the world have called for Israel to end the Gaza siege for a very long time now..

UN decries dire Gaza conditions, calls for action

World Bulletin / News Desk - James W. Rawley, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, has described humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip as among the most difficult in the world. At a Monday press conference near the Israel-Gaza Karni border crossing – closed by Israel for the last ten years – Rawley said Gaza's humanitarian situation continued to worsen despite ongoing Palestinian-Israeli peace talks.

At the conference, held to commemorate the launch of a 2013 report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Rawley asserted that Israel's eight-year-old blockade of the Gaza Strip was hindering development in the Palestinian enclave and hurting the coastal strip's economy.  Rawley called for allowing construction materials into the territory and allowing farmers and fishermen to access their places of work. 

He said Gaza has the right to have access to clean drinking water – through the desalination of seawater – and electric power. The U.N. official called on Egyptian authorities to help alleviate the suffering of the strip's inhabitants by allowing individuals, consumer goods and medical supplies into Gaza via the Rafah border crossing.  

UN official calls for Israel to lift siege of Gaza. UN's Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs in the Palestinian Territories James Rowley has called for Israel to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and to reopen the closed legal crossings.

In a press conference held at the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza, Rowley said that although 2013 was the "quietest" year in recent history on the Gaza-Israeli front, the Palestinians in Gaza have witnessed their worst life situation in decades. 

Rowley also called upon Egypt to open the Rafah Crossing for passengers, goods and necessary medical supplies. He suggested for the crossing to at least function as it did before July 2013. 

To help improve the life of the 1.9 million Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, Rowley called upon the international community to give $390 million in aid. 

Regarding the fishermen in Gaza, the UN official called for allowing them to sail freely in the sea and for the farmers to move freely on their farms adjacent or close to the Palestinian-Israeli border.

During the same press conference, a representative of the World Food Programme spoke about the dangerous situation of food security in the Strip. He noted that food insecurity in Gaza has increased from 48 per cent to 57 per cent. He stressed that the international community must continue helping the residents of the Gaza Strip in order to meet the huge need for food. 

UN decries dire Gaza conditions, calls for action

UN official calls for Israel to lift siege of Gaza
UNRWA calls on Egypt, Israel to lift blockade on Gaza Strip
Amnesty International says Israel must immediately lift the blockade of Gaza
UN condemns Israeli action - Gaza siege unsustainable

Israelis, Palestinians call for an end to Gaza violence
The European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza- MAY 2009
Protesters call on Israel to lift blockade on Gaza

https://www.facebook.com/ShiptoGazaSweden
"Gaza Writes Back" - Stories from young writers in Gaza
http://www.inminds.com/caged
soundcloud.com/radio-solidarity-show
Facebook.com/Majed.AbusalamaJournalist
https://www.facebook.com/TeamPalestina
Sign up for DC #Gaza5k, May 17 in support of the children of Gaza!

Norman Finkelstein-THE END OF PALESTINE? It’s Time to Sound an Alarm
Norman Finkelstein Workshop: How you can help the Palestinian cause
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSzfo8XgMpA
Finkelstein from 06' - still relevant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a7jq56gJHs
Finkelstein Workshop: How you can help the Palestinian cause 1-9

#Gaza