ISNA CONDEMNS ‘DISPROPORTIONATE’ ATTACKS ON GAZA STRIP

(Plainfield, IN, 12/28/08) The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) called on both the government of Israel and Palestinians to immediately end all violence in the region; as Israel continues a third day of airstrikes in response to rocket attacks by militants in Gaza; which have thus far killed over 270 people and wounded more than 600 within the Gaza Strip.

According to CNN, the United Nations Security Council ended a four-hour emergency meeting on Sunday with a collective call for an immediate halt to hostilities and a re-opening of border crossings to allow humanitarian supplies to reach Gaza.

In a statement, ISNA called for an “immediate stop to all military activities and rocket attacks from both sides of the Middle East conflict. We pray for the restoration of calm which will open the way for finding a political solution to the problems existing within the context of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement. There is no military solution for this conflict.

“Like other Muslim, Jewish and Christian organizations, we call for an immediate cease-fire on all sides of this tragic conflict. In addition to condemning the disproportionate retribution on the people of Gaza Strip, we condemn any and all attacks on any civilian populations from rocket attacks in the region as well. We hope that the United States and United Nations will take an active role in addressing the serious humanitarian and economic needs in Gaza and to take necessary measures, including re-opening of border crossings, to ensure that the 1.5 million Palestinians living there can get the food, fuel, medicine and other critical supplies that they so desperately need.”

ISNA is also a part of the National Inter-Religious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East (http://www.nili-mideastpeace.org) and has been working for several years with other major American religious organizations to support a respectable resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue. Additionally, ISNA will be soon holding an emergency press conference of these major faith leaders to convey our concerns and vision for the resolution of this crisis.

CONTACT: Mohamed Elsanousi, Director of Communications and Community Outreach, Phone: (317) 506-2835 or Email: melsanousi@isna.net

-END-