PALESTINE is engulfed by the flames of a devastating war yet again. The relentless bombing
of a narrow strip of land, home to about 2.3 million impoverished people who were already
living in conditions like an open jail has resulted in unprecedented loss of life, limb &
property. Within a week Gaza was pummelled with ammunition equivalent to what was
dropped by NATO on Afghanistan in a whole year. As a result nearly half of Gaza strip has
been reduced to rubble, 6000 people including 2800 children & scores of women have been
martyred and nearly 16000 people are injured. 31 mosques, 4 churches, several schools and
hospitals have been targeted. Added to this is the total blockade of food, water, fuel,
electricity & medicines, which has shamed humanity on this brazen collective punishment.
The whole world is witnessing never seen before angry huge protests on this barbarity and
savagery by Israel.
The root cause of this problem is the occupation of Palestine by Israel 75 years ago. The
original inhabitants, Palestinian Arabs, who lived there for more than 2500 years have been
continuously oppressed and evicted from their home land. Israel has practiced a policy of
expansion, violent evictions, settlements, apartheid, racism and genocide ever since. The
holy Shrine, Al-Quds, in Jerusalem has been defiled now & then. Israel aims to pursue its
objective of greater Israel by annexing Palestinian territory & lands from adjacent countries
in open contravention to International law, justice and UN Resolutions. Hence the real
problem is OCCUPATION and not RESISTANCE. There is a need for the international
community especially the Muslim countries to come together and create sustained pressure
to put an end to this injustice & oppression.
Immediate Ceasefire, lifting of siege, providing humanitarian relief & restoring basic
amenities, protection to civilians, respect for International law, negotiations should happen
without delay. The establishment of Independent Palestinian state and putting an end to
the injustice & aggression is the only way for a lasting peace.
India has followed a long term policy of supporting the Palestinian cause and upholding
human rights. Our country should play the role of mediator in finding a lasting solution to
this issue in accordance with UN resolutions & International Law. The despatch of relief
consignments to the grief stricken victims in Gaza is a welcome step. To stand up and
support the victims and oppose the oppressor is a fundamental democratic right of citizens
which must be protected a heeded.

Addressed by: Dr. Belgami Mohammed Saad, President JIH Karnataka
Advocate B T Venkatesh, REACH Lawyers
Moulana Maqsood Imran Rashadi, Imam City Jamia Masjid
Moulana Iftekhar Qasmi, President Jamiatul Ulama Karnataka
Mr. Akbar Ali, Mass Media