June, 03 2009, 10:21am EDT
US Group Returning from Gaza to Deliver Hamas letter to Obama in Cairo
An American group arriving here tomorrow from
war-torn Gaza will deliver a letter penned by Hamas officials to Pres.
Obama, who will be in Cairo delivering his landmark speech to the Arab
world.
WHAT:CODEPINK delivers letter to Obama from the Hamas government
WHEN: 9 a.m. June 4 (tomorrow)
WHERE: U.S. Embassy of Cairo, 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo
CAIRO
An American group arriving here tomorrow from
war-torn Gaza will deliver a letter penned by Hamas officials to Pres.
Obama, who will be in Cairo delivering his landmark speech to the Arab
world.
WHAT:CODEPINK delivers letter to Obama from the Hamas government
WHEN: 9 a.m. June 4 (tomorrow)
WHERE: U.S. Embassy of Cairo, 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo
At 9 a.m. June 4, the delegation
of journalists, social workers, professors and activists will carry the
letter to the U.S. Embassy here along with a petition signed by more
than 10,000 Americans asking Obama to go to Gaza to witness the impact
of the recent Israeli invasion there and its ongoing blockade of the
Gaza border.
"Obama should go to Gaza and see the devastation for himself, or
send envoy George Mitchell," said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the
women's peace group CODEPINK, which led the group through Gaza. "There
is be no significant improvement in relations between the United States
and the Arab world until the U.S. begins to deal directly with Hamas
and shows its commitment to the rights of both Palestinians and
Israelis."
The 66-person delegation was allowed through the Rafah, Egypt
checkpoints into Gaza May 30, bringing toys, school supplies and
playground building supplies, and built three small playgrounds there
(view photos here).
The delegation met with government officials, including the Ministers
of Health and Education, members of Parliament, the Speaker of the
Legislative Council and the Deputy of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Delegates also met with visiting schools, hospitals, mental health
workers, human rights lawyers, businessmen and women's groups.
The group was shocked by the brutality of the Israeli invasion that
killed more than 1,400, displaced more than 50,000 people and destroyed
approximately 4,000 homes. They were also appalled by the effects of
the 21-month siege that has virtually sealed the borders and
constitutes a form of collective punishment, which is illegal under
international law.
"The siege in Gaza is keeping the people in a virtual prison and it
must be lifted," said CODEPINK member Tighe Barry. "We are appealing to
the president to act now to stop this humanitarian crisis and truly
move the peace process forward."
CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.
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