The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) condemns the current Israeli military incursion into Gaza and calls for its immediate halt.

Last Wednesday, scores of tanks rolled into northern Gaza, namely the Jabaliya camp and Beit Hanoun areas. To date, 66 persons, many of whom were civilians, have been killed in this operation, which Israeli officials have threatened to expand into other parts of Gaza and prolong by weeks, not days. The collateral damage has also been high with more than 200 people injured and over 50 homes destroyed in the attacks.

These Israeli atrocities must stop. Normalizing daily bombings and air raid attacks on Palestinian civilians is utterly unacceptable. Palestinian children must be allowed to grow in an atmosphere where they will not be in constant fear of losing a parent, a friend or their own life. It is impossible under the current circumstances and these children will be traumatized for life.

As the fifth day of raids continue to kill and terrorize Palestinians and destroy their homes in Gaza, MIFTAH calls upon the international community to take action instead of statements in order to restore some semblance of calm into the region, or else face losing all credibility among the Palestinian people and in the Arab world. It is time that the UN Security Council passed a resolution that would obligate Israel to retreat and stop the current massacres it is perpetrating in Gaza. It is also time for the United States to stand up to its long-time ally and show that it is indeed an agent for justice and freedom, as it so claims.

The Palestinian struggle against the occupation is just and righteous. Palestinians are following the time-honored tradition of seeking its freedom and a dignified life, like many in the free world have achieved through their struggles against persecution before us. MIFTAH has always advocated and preferred the non-violent means to end our struggle, therefore the world must not stand idly by as we raise our voices against oppression and recognize the validity of our claims as a nation-in-waiting.