On Monday, peace and justice organizations in Israel issued an urgent statement, calling on the international community to pressure Israel for the immediate cessation of the siege of the Gaza Strip. Local demonstrations were held in places such as West Jerusalem, Issawiya (East Jerusalem), Tel Aviv, and yesterday, outside the Erez checkpoint by Palestinian citizens of Israel.
Under the heading “End the Siege! Relief Convoy to Our Neighbors in Gaza,” a mass mobilization of activists and organizations from throughout Israel is planned for this coming Saturday, 26 January. A convoy, departing from numerous points throughout Israel, will bring thousands of activists to the border with the Gaza Strip, along with water filters and basic foodstuffs lacking in Gaza. The activists are coming in solidarity with the besieged Palestinian people, particularly those in the Gaza Strip, and with a clear demand that the siege of Gaza must be halted immediately. A simultaneous protest rally will be conducted on the other side of the border by activists with the Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege.