PROTESTS IN GAZA IN SOLIDARITY WITH BESIEGED YARMOUK

     Gaza, 3 Rabi’ul Awwal 1435/5 January 2014 (MINA) – Protests in solidarity with Palestinian refugees in besieged Yarmouk camp took place in Gaza and El-Bireh in the West Bank on Saturday.

     Dozens of Palestinians, including many children, erected a solidarity camp in front of the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, Ma’an News quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

     The rally was held in solidarity with the people and children of Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, which has been under a siege by regime forces since July of last year.

    Participants called upon the international community to act to save children, women, and the elderly from starvation.

    “The children of Yarmouk camp in Syria are dying of hunger and we demand they be provided with water and food,” read a sign held at the protest camp in Gaza.

    A young protester at the rally, Saima Rana, told Ma’an, “We came in solidarity with the children of Yarmouk camp in Syria who are dying of hunger. We demand their release (from the siege) and that food be allowed to enter in order to allow them to survive.”

     Another child protester, Muhammad Qwaider, called on children around the world to protest in solidarity with Palestinian children in Yarmouk camp who are dying of hunger as a result of the ongoing events in Syria.

     “The refugees in the camp have been subjected to a genocide as a result of the restrictions on importing food supplies,” told a protester named Hekmat Yousef.

      He called for the camps to become neutral zones in the face of the Syrian conflict, and he stressed that Palestinian youth should have an active role in supporting the people of Yarmouk camp in the event that the siege is not lifted.

     Abu Mujahid told Ma’an, “From the heart of the siege that we face (in Gaza) we send a message in support of our people in the refugee camps in Syria and especially to Yarmouk.”

     Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, noted that from the beginning of the conflict, Hamas has insisted on the need for the Palestinian camps to remain a neutral in the conflict.

     “The position of Hamas is clear that we are guests in Syria and all parties must respect our neutrality amid the fighting.”

     He also called for the need to accept the proposed initiatives and put forth by the Palestinian factions, and that could help lead to a cessation of hostilities and would save the Palestinians from “death.”

     Reports of widespread starvation and a general lack of supplies in Yarmouk refugee camp have intensified in recent months.

     After opposition seized control of Yarmouk in December 2012, the camp became embroiled in the armed fighting taking place across Syria and came under heavy regime assault.

     Regime forces eventually encircled the camp and in July imposed a siege on the camp, leading to a rapid deterioration of living conditions. (T/P09/E1).

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).