The head of the International Popular Committee to Support Gaza has called upon the Arab and Islamic countries to provide more support to the Palestinian people besieged in the Gaza Strip. This is vital, said Dr Essam Yousef, during the humanitarian catastrophe that they are experiencing.

Yousef pointed out that the severe fuel shortage in the enclave is having a direct effect on hospitals and medical centres which depend on emergency generators during the lengthy power cuts. The electricity crisis is a direct result of the Israeli-led siege of Gaza.

In a press statement, the veteran campaigner for Palestinian rights expressed the Committee’s thanks to the Qatari and UAE initiatives to provide urgent support to the health sector, including medicines and medical supplies, as well as food. Such support, he explained, underscores the deep bonds linking the Arab people to the Palestinian cause.

“The Qatari initiative is a continuation of the honourable role played by the country in support of the Palestinian people,” said Yousef, “and the UAE position reflects an authentic gesture to stand by the Palestinians as before.”

Read: Qatar offers $9 million in emergency aid to Gaza

He called upon the rest of the Gulf countries to take similar action based on the original Arab and humanitarian positions that the world has been accustomed to seeing over the decades-long occupation of Palestine. All of the Arab and Islamic countries, he added, should implement similar initiatives to ease the very real suffering of the Palestinians in the besieged territory.

Dr Yousef also appealed directly to the Egyptian government to open the Rafah crossing permanently so that the residents of the Gaza Strip can meet their basic needs of food, medicine, fuel and other human necessities. “This will also allow patients to travel for urgent treatment abroad, and students to take up their places in universities around the world.”

The Egyptian role is important, the Committee head stressed, especially since the government in Cairo is the sponsor of the Palestinian national reconciliation efforts. A move to open the Rafah crossing and ease the siege on Gaza will enhance efforts to achieve reconciliation and strengthen relations between the people of Egypt and Palestine.

The Committee was pleased to note that the government of Qatar announced on Thursday that it is providing emergency aid worth $9 million to the Gaza Strip, including medicines, medical supplies, food and fuel. The government of the United Arab Emirates has also announced the provision of $2 million of aid to help cover the financial deficit in the UN programme to provide fuel for hospitals in Gaza.

UN: Power crisis brings Gaza to ‘verge of disaster’