With the armed conflict in the Gaza Strip continuing to increase the number of dead, wounded and displaced and the danger of the conflict spreading to other areas of the Middle East, renewed efforts of conflict resolution need to be made. The United Nations has been active especially in relief efforts, and many non-governmental organizations have expressed their concern. Non-governmental organizations have also been active in relief efforts. However, the inadequate amount of relief supplies that enter the Gaza Strip limits the impact of non-governmental activity.
From the start of the Gaza conflict more than 100 days ago, non-governmental organizations such as the Association of World Citizens have been highlighting positive steps on the path to negotiations. They have stressed four major steps:
1) An immediate ceasefire;
2) Release of hostages held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, release of Palestinians prisoners held in Israeli jails often under administrative detention without trial;
3) Preventing the extention of the conflict to the Lebanon frontier through negotiations with Hezbollah:
4) Preventing an increasing violence in the West Bank area between Israeli settlers and Palestinian villages.
The start of hearings on the charge of genocide in the International Court of Justice has added international attention to the Gaza Strip situation and more broadly to the Israel-Palestine drama. The need for conflict resolution action is great. The proposals of non-governmental organizations hold a light of hope.
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
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