The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the world community to break Israel’s “medieval siege” on Gaza that is resulting in the starvation deaths of Palestinian children.
The World Food Program (WFP) said today it has depleted all its food stocks for families in Gaza because of the Israeli ban on entry of all food and humanitarian supplies. Dozens of people in Gaza have reportedly died of hunger in recent weeks.
WFP stated: “No humanitarian or commercial supplies have entered Gaza for more than seven weeks as all main border crossing points remain closed. This is the longest closure the Gaza Strip has ever faced, exacerbating already fragile markets and food systems. Food prices have skyrocketed up to 1,400% compared to during the ceasefire, and essential food commodities are in short supply raising serious nutrition concerns for vulnerable populations, including children under 5, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the elderly.”
A spokesperson for UNICEF said: “There are thousands of children in his situation suffering very badly. This is a horrible, horrific and unbearable — to watch a child suffer like that. In February, there were 2,027 children admitted for acute malnutrition. In March, that number jumped to 3,669. This is an incredible increase. Families are going hungry, suffering to provide food for their children.”
SEE: Malnutrition in Gaza worsens as Israeli blockade of supplies passes 50-day mark – ABC
Even Israeli groups are beginning to denounce that nation’s deliberate starvation policy in Gaza.
SEE: Israeli rights advocates acknowledge army’s role in starving Gaza civilians
In a statement, CAIR said:
“The world community must make every effort to break Israel’s medieval siege on Gaza that is resulting in the intentional starvation of women, children and the elderly. Our own government is unfortunately complicit in this unconscionable campaign of forced starvation. That complicity must come to an end.”
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com