GAZA BLOCKADE MUST BE LIFTED TO STOP HUMANITARIAN CRISIS - LIZ LYNNE

11.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 11th Oct 2007

The blockade of the Gaza strip by Israel is only securing the successful transmission of poverty, misery, oppression and hatred to a new generation of Palestinian's according to local MEP Liz Lynne.

Liz, who is Member of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights co-authored a resolution adopted by the European Parliament today calling for urgent action to reverse the worsening humanitarian crisis.

Speaking during the debate on the resolution, Liz Lynne said:

"There is nothing more demoralising than a life lived in poverty, a life without any prospects, a life marred by a conflict and yet this is the sad reality for many of Gaza's 1.3 million people"

"As a humanitarian catastrophe haunts the people of Gaza, it is clear the only objective Israeli and Palestinian leaders are securing is the transmission of pain, poverty, misery and hatred to a new generation of young Palestinians.

"As a direct result of the Israeli blockade on the movement of people and goods, children do not have basic educational facilities; everyone is denied the basic utilities we all take for granted; livelihoods are destroyed as fisherman and farmers cannot trade and individuals suffer needless pain and death due to limited medical services and treatment. All this set against a background of violence and oppression."

"Israel must fulfil its international obligations, such as the Geneva Convention, to guarantee the flow of humanitarian aid, humanitarian assistance and essential services, and open up its borders.

"The European Council and the Commission must keep up the pressure.

"We must above all talk to all sides. Only in that way can we find a lasting solution."

"If nothing is done, people will continue to die needlessly and 1.3 million people in Gaza will continue to be stripped of their dignity."