Press Release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Gaza on the stop of aggression
21-05-2021
“But man is not made for defeat. A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”
12 days of the death and destruction, the occupation state didn’t cease its bombing of our defenseless people for one moment. However, Gaza was steadfast in the face of this barbaric aggression, and the time has come for Gaza to harvest the ripe fruits of its patience.
During these watershed moments in the history of our people, we pray for the victims and their families and hope for a speedy recovery for the wounded.
The occupation state has finally responded to the endeavors of the mediators and stopped its aggression on our people. However, it cost our people a dear price in human souls and belongings.
The aggression targeted everything and everyone, as it killed more than 250 people, including 67 children, 39 women, and 17 elderly people, and wounded more than 6000 people in Gaza, Jerusalem, West Bank, and the lands of 1948. In the meantime, efforts are ongoing to get the dead bodies trapped under the rubble of destroyed homes.
Upon a close look at these figures, one will realize the size of the horrible massacre committed by the occupation state in the Gaza Strip, as it bombed homes and residential buildings while women and children are sleeping inside.
Occupation forces have completely destroyed more than 1,400 residential units and partially damaged more than 13,000 others, not to mention the massive destruction of infrastructure, including water supplies, power lines, sewage networks, communication towers, and internet services.
The aggression also caused partial or complete destruction to several schools, mosques, clinics, factories, and economic facilities.
It is true that the sounds of bombs have ceased, but the real battle has just started; the battle of reconstruction and removing the effects of the aggression. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses the following points:
- The necessity to remove the causes of the aggression so it doesn’t rekindle once again by stopping the violations of the occupation state against Al-Aqsa mosque and the residents of Al-Sheikh Jarrah. It should be noted that the people of Jerusalem are under occupation, therefore, they are protected under the international law, and defending them is in fact defending the law itself.
- The occupation is the source of all evils, so as long it exists, the conflict will be renewed over and over again. Therefore, the international community must exert more efforts to end this occupation and enable the Palestinian people of establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
- The international community, along with the countries of the free world, should hold the occupation state accountable for its crimes, instead of providing it with arms and political cover to kill innocents. In this regard, we demand an immediate international investigation in the war crimes, and the crimes against humanity committed by the occupation state in Gaza Strip, most notably the bombing of homes and residential buildings and targeting journalists and media offices.
- This aggression has created unprecedented harmony between all the components of the Palestinian people in Gaza, West Bank, Jerusalem, 1948 lands, and diaspora. This round of aggression has proved the importance of BDS and popular diplomacy in stopping the occupation and forcing it to respect the will of the people.
- The Palestinian people have the ultimate right to defend themselves against any present or future aggression because Palestinians fight for their freedom and their legitimate rights granted by International law. This aggression has led to a new generation of Palestinians who discovered the truth of the false claims of peace and believed in resistance as the only way to get self-determination and establish an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
- We demand full medical care for the wounded by providing the Ministry of Health in Gaza with all the necessary supplies and facilitating the move of the wounded and the doctors on border crossings.
- We call the international community to speed up the process of reconstruction, and the rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure, and exert pressure on the occupation to lift the blockade of Gaza once and for all.
- We commend the nations who stood by the Palestinian rights and condemned the aggression on Gaza. We also send the best greetings to the free people of the world who protested everywhere in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
- We greet local and international media which covered the aggression since the first moment and commend the international sympathy with the Palestinian people through social media. In this regard, we call the free activists around the world to continue their efforts until bringing the criminal leaders of the occupation state to justice.
- We commend all mediators who exerted efforts to stop the aggression and put an end to the crimes of the occupation state. However, we call them to provide all the necessary guarantees that the violations of the occupation state in Al-Aqsa mosque and Al-Sheikh Jarrah are not repeated again.
- We condemn the support of some countries to the occupation and the adoption of its narrative, without even listening to the Palestinian side. In this regard, we invite all ambassadors and international representatives to visit Gaza and examine firsthand the disastrous effects of the aggression and listen to the affidavits of the victims.
Finally, the dust of the battle has settled, however, it is now the time of serious work to reconstruct Gaza once again. We call for the free activists of the world to continue their efforts to expose and boycott the occupation and support the Palestinians’ struggle towards self-determination and the establishment of their independent state.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Gaza – Palestine
