More than 250 artists and writers from around the globe — including noted figures — appealed to Israel to end its blockade on the impoverished Gaza Strip warning the coronavirus epidemic could have a devastating impact on “the world’s largest open-air prison.”
“Long before the global outbreak of COVID-19 threatened to overwhelm the already devastated healthcare system in Gaza the UN had predicted the blockaded coastal strip would be unlivable by 2020” the personages said in an online letter.
“With the pandemic Gaza’s almost two million inhabitants predominantly refugees face a mortal threat in the world’s largest open-air prison.”
Signatories to the letter included rocker Peter Gabriel director Ken Loach actor Viggo Mortensen poet Taha Adnan Canadian writer Naomi Klein and British group Massive Attack.
“Well before the ongoing crisis Gaza’s hospitals were already stretched to breaking point through lack of essential resources denied by Israel’s siege. Its healthcare system could not cope with the thousands of gunshot wounds leading to many amputations” the artists said.
“Reports of the first cases of coronavirus in densely populated Gaza are therefore deeply disturbing. We back Amnesty International’s call on all world governments to impose a military embargo on Israel until it fully complies with its obligations under international law” they added.
The Gaza Strip has been under Israeli blockade since 2007 when the Hamas Movement won legislative elections and later had to take control of the territory. Since then it has been enduring a strict air sea and ground siege backed by Western powers the US and PA chief Mahmoud Abbas.
The Gaza Strip also borders Egypt which severely restricts movement in and out of the territory.
Israel and Hamas have fought three wars and sporadic skirmishes since.
