Carter: Gaza blockade an Israeli atrocity

Fri, 18 Apr 2008

Former US president says that sanctions imposed on Gaza Strip by Israel are a criminal atrocity, after meeting in private with Hamas leaders.

Former US President Jimmy Carter called the blockade of Gaza a crime and an atrocity on Thursday and said US attempts to undermine Hamas had been counterproductive.

Speaking at the American University in Cairo after talks with Hamas leaders , Carter said Palestinians in Gaza were being "starved to death" and received fewer calories a day than people in the poorest parts of Africa receive.
"It's an atrocity what is being perpetrated as punishment on the people in Gaza. It's a crime... I think it is an abomination that this continues to go on," Carter said.

Carter said Israel and the US were trying to make the quality of life in Gaza markedly worse than in the West Bank, where the rival Fatah group is in control.

"I think politically speaking this has worked even to strengthen the popularity of Hamas and to the detriment of the popularity of Fatah," he added.

"One of the reasons I wanted to come and meet with the Syrians and Hamas was to set an example that might be emulated by others... I know that there are some officials in the Israeli government that are quite willing to meet with Hamas and maybe that will happen in the near future," he added.

Carter on Sunday began a nine-day tour of the region to promote the Middle East peace process. He said Israel denied him permission to travel to Gaza, where Israel sealed its borders after Hamas took control of the territory.

Press TV - Carter: Gaza blockade an Israeli atrocity



Amazon.com: Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid: Jimmy Carter: Books