Hundreds of protesters east of Gaza city demand release of prisoners

[ 17/09/2009 - 04:58 PM PIC ]

GAZA-- Hundreds of Palestinian citizens participated in a protest organized by the popular committee against the siege on the Palestinian side of Al-Shujaiya (Nahal Oz) crossing, east of Gaza city, to demand the release of Palestinian prisoners and the opening of crossings. The Palestinian protest coincided with another one organized by Israelis on their side of the crossing to call for tighter blockade on Gaza and the release of Israeli captive soldier Gilad Shalit. Spokesman for the popular committee Ali Al-Nazli said addressing the Israeli protesters that their demonstrations would not solve the problem and would not get Shalit released, calling on them to pressure their government to abandon its intransigent attitude in this regard. Spokesman Nazli called on the international community to save the situation in Gaza and renounce its timid attitudes through imposing sanctions on Israel for its crimes against the Palestinian people.   The spokesman also stressed that the file of reconstruction is humanitarian and related to the civil rights of the Palestinian people and should not be linked to other political files.