Christchurch Rally And March Against The Killing In Gaza This Saturday

This Saturday at 12 noon a diverse range of political, community and religious groups (as well as individuals) will be holding a demonstration against the brutal Israeli assault on the people of Gaza, starting outside the Canterbury Museum before marching to Cathedral Square.

The newly formed group "Justice for Palestine", which is organising the protest, is calling for an immediate end to the Israeli invasion which has so far claimed the lives of over 1 000 Palestinians - including over 400 women and children - and severely injured more that 5000 - mostly civilians. It is also calling for the lifting of the 2 year-old blockade of Gaza, which prevents the Palestinian population from receiving vital food and medical supplies as well as exercising the basic human right to freedom of movement.

"We are calling on people in Christchurch to turn out on Saturday to show their opposition to what the Israeli government is doing in Gaza," says Justice for Palestine spokesperson Tim Bowron. "We are also encouraging them to join in a complete boycott of all commercial and sporting ties with the state of Israel."

Responding to recent remarks by NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully about the need for both Hamas and Israel to disengage, Mr. Bowron says that as far as the protest organisers are concerned "talk of a ceasefire is meaningless unless the injustices of the Israeli blockade of Gaza and the theft of Palestinian land are also addressed".

"There can be no lasting peace without justice for the Palestinian people."

ENDS

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