Gazans must be given a chance to fight COVID-19 – Australia call on Israel to lift the blockade

These are frightening times for everyone. And while everyone is struggling to deal with this crisis, the people in Gaza are especially vulnerable. How horrific must it be to face Coronavirus in Gaza, without enough water, soap, medications, respirators or even food?

When the gut-wrenching news came that Gaza had its first Covid-19 diagnoses, Israel had only allowed in five hundred tests -for a population of 1.8 million people!

Israel must provide what Gazans need to fight this crisis - as the Occupying power it is Israel's responsibility.

Israel has maintained a crippling blockade over Gaza for 13 years ...

These are frightening times for everyone. And while everyone is struggling to deal with this crisis, the people in Gaza are especially vulnerable. How horrific must it be to face Coronavirus in Gaza, without enough water, soap, medications, respirators or even food?

When the gut-wrenching news came that Gaza had its first Covid-19 diagnoses, Israel had only allowed in five hundred tests -for a population of 1.8 million people!

Israel must provide what Gazans need to fight this crisis - as the Occupying power it is Israel's responsibility.

Israel has maintained a crippling blockade over Gaza for 13 years, and the people who are locked within its borders already live on the brink of survival. They are chronically short of medicines and equipment. Their water is not safe to drink. Gazan's homes, offices and hospitals receive an average of four to six hours of electricity per day.

The World Health Organisation has already made it clear: Gaza’s health system is in no way able to cope with an outbreak of the pandemic.

Gaza must be equipped to deal with the COVID pandemic – Israel must urgently allow in the supplies that they need. It must end its illegal blockade now. As the occupying power in Gaza as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Israel is responsible for ensuring all people have what they need to survive.

As the Australian Government prides itself on its close relationship with Israel, the Foreign Minister must use this to call on Israel to take its responsibilities seriously and immediately lift the blockade of Gaza.

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Australia must act to protect all lives during this global pandemic.

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Dear Foreign Minister

The the Health Minister in Gaza has appealed for help - saying that they are about to run out of Coronavirus testing kits and desperately need more. The Minister indicated that only just over 1,000 people have been tested, when nearly 2,000 are in quarantine facilities. Already 12 people have been diagnosed with the disease, but the number of people infected could be much higher.

The World Health Organisation has reported that Gaza’s health system does not have the resources to deal with an outbreak.

Israel must urgently lift its blockade over Gaza to allow food, medical supplies and other necessities into the strip and give the people a chance to fight the pandemic.   The blockade is placing an extreme stress on all the basic human infrastructure in the strip - including hospitals, power plants, and basic sanitation services.

The United Nations Security Council has consistently identified that Israel is clearly an Occupying power in Gaza, and therefore has responsibility for the well-being of its citizens.

The Australian Government must use its close relationship with Israel to call for an end to the blockade of Gaza so that lives can be saved.

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