INTL ULEMA: LOCKADE ON GAZA CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, head of the higher Islamic committee. (Photo: PIC)

Gaza, 21 Rabiul Awwal 1436/12 January 2015 (MINA) – Sheikh Ikrima Sabri, head of the higher Islamic committee, called for reconstructing the impoverished Gaza Strip and ending its siege, describing the blockade as a crime against humanity and mass punishment against the population.

“What adds insult to injury is the incidents that have happened in recent days as a result of the cold spell, and it is expected to see hundreds of families homeless once again and a number of children die of hunger or cold,” Sheikh Sabri stated in press remarks on Sunday, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“It is unfortunate that the Arab countries stand idly by or claim they cannot help because of the ineffectiveness of the unity government, which has actually proved its impotence in the Gaza Strip,” he added, holding Egypt, in particular, responsible for the suffering of the population in Gaza.

He called on the unity government to shoulder its responsibilities towards Gaza and provide it with a special budget to confront emergency situations.

“We have noticed that there are no minimum mechanisms to confront natural disasters, so there is a need for having a special budget for emergency situations in order to save displaced families and protect children and women,” he said.(T/P011/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)