In light of the grave deterioration of the security situation in the Palestinian Territories, and the extreme display of militarization on the Palestinian street, MIFTAH, calls on all Palestinian factions to uphold the rule of law in the Palestinian Territories.

MIFTAH believes that Palestinian efforts and energies need to be channeled positively towards the rebuilding of life in Gaza for the welfare and security of its citizens. The President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbas, has repeatedly called on all factions to act in the Palestinian national interest and respect the rule of law.

Our people deserve security and peace; therefore, Palestinians are called upon to refrain from any form of militancy that perpetuates a culture of destruction and fear, which often ends in tragedy, as witnessed last Friday in Gaza with the tragic death of 16 people and the injury of numerous others during a Hamas parade, although the cause of the unfortunate explosion is still unknown, pending the findings of an official investigation.

MIFTAH condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli assault on Gaza, which has seen a return to the targeting of civilians and its assassination policy. These military operations have also included several air strikes, arrests and the complete closure of the Palestinian Occupied Territories. In light of this and the mounting of Israeli troops along the Gaza border, MIFTAH calls upon the international community to exert pressure on Israel to cease all military operations; to increase vigilance over the Israeli army’s continued human rights violations; and, to call on Israel to reciprocate President Abbas’ calls for the resumption of serious negotiations.

The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, MIFTAH, is a non-governmental, non-partisan Jerusalem-based institution dedicated to fostering democracy and good governance within Palestinian society through promoting public accountability, transparency, the free flow of information and ideas and the challenging of stereotyping at home and abroad.