Palestine spokesman raps Israeli crimes in Gaza

The Israeli regime must face justice for “war crimes” against Palestinians of the besieged Gaza Strip, says a Palestinian spokesman.

Ihab Bseiso, spokesman for the Palestinian Unity Government, said in an interview on Tuesday that the seven year siege on the coastal sliver must be lifted.

“Our people in Gaza should be clearly granted a safe passage and opening of all borders,” Bseiso said, adding, “This is a very clear message to the international community.”

He also said talks between Tel Aviv and the unity government did not bear any results apart from “approval for thousands of settlements in the West Bank and shooting Palestinians… by the Israeli troops… Nothing has been achieved.”

More than half a million Israelis live in over 120 illegal settlements built since Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East al-Quds in 1967.

The Palestinian spokesman also called on the international community to give the state of Palestine “more attention in terms of the political and economic assistance.”

“We are demanding our independence, our state of Palestine free of occupation and the settlements built on our land.”

So far, about 1,900 people have been killed and over 9,500 others injured by the Israeli regime’s massive offensive that began on July 8.

Israeli warplanes pounded numerous sites in the Gaza Strip, demolishing houses and burying families under the rubble. Israeli forces also began a ground offensive against the impoverished Palestinian land on July 17.

A three-day truce took effect at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) Tuesday and Israeli troops withdrew from the coastal enclave.