Gaza blockade must end

Independent MP Jamal Al-Khodari Gaza - Mohamed Habib Independent MP Jamal Al-Khodari, head of the popular anti siege committee, National Council (SNC)Jamal Al Khodary, declared that Israel is no more able to use the same pretexts to impose the siege on Gaza, after the completion of the prisoner swap deal and the release of the Israeli soldier captured by the Palestinian resistance. Al Khodary stressed in an exclusive interview with 'Arabs Today' on the need to end the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip immediately, saying that the blockade on Gaza is against the international law, and any excuse to impose the blockade shouldn’t be accepted at all. He emphasized that the siege imposed on Gaza is still the same, despite the little improvement occurred after the Flotilla incident took place, where Israel stared allowing the entrance of some goods that were prohibited before. However he said there is still a long list of prohibited goods. head of the popular anti siege committee, National Council,  said that the possibility of talking about importing construction materials to implement the  international projects remains limited, and hard to discuss, therefore,  international institutions will reduce their projects in Gaza. Al Khodary said that  the international community is required to put pressure on the Israeli occupation to end the siege. He added: “this is a humanitarian issue, the siege is immoral and illegal, and it violates the international law, and the 4th Geneva Convention.” “It is siege is a collective punishment and must be ended,” assuring the continuation of civil peaceful resistance till the end of the siege.” Regarding the reconciliation, Al Khodary said: "We are now closer to achieve the Palestinian reconciliation than ever before, especially after the prisoners swap deal, that helped uniting Palestinians as it included prisoners from all the Palestinian political fractions, and that was seen clearly during the celebrations that took place after implementing the deal.” He added: "We hope that the anticipated meeting between the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas and the head of the Political bureau of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, would be held soon, to accomplish the reconciliation agreement and implement it practically on the ground." Al Khodary said that achieving the national reconciliation should be a top priority for all the political factions and figures at the moment, in order to strengthen our national position to be able to face the occupation, and abort the Israeli plans to make Jerusalem a Jewish city and confiscate more of the Palestinian lands, and to end the unjust siege imposed on Gaza. Al khodary rules out the presence of any obstacles that could further delay achieving the Palestinian reconciliation. He commented on the Palestinian president trip to the United Nations –to obtain the recognition of a Palestinian state, he said: “diplomatic and international efforts are important, and required to support the Palestinian cause, at all times, because we must eventually get our rights, using all the legitimate means". Al Khodary stressed that this step will draw the international community’s attention regarding our cause and help Palestinian gain more international support and sympathy. Al khodary talked about the Arab spring, he said: “the Changes which are taking place in the Arab world must be seen and taken in a positive way, because it will definitely put a positive impact on the Arab’s position towards the Palestinian cause.”