ADC Condemns Israeli Escalating Military Operation

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) condemned Israel's escalating military siege, dubbed "Operation Summer Rains," in the Gaza Strip.

ADC said in a press released that Israeli Apache helicopters continued intense air strikes in Gaza.

It added that Israel also pushed deeper into the Gaza Strip, which is approximately 360 sq. km and surrounded by an electronic fence, seizing land and reoccupying three previously vacated illegal colonies to create a so-called "buffer zone."

"It should be noted that Israel already maintains control over Gaza's land, sea, and air borders, utilities, tax revenue, and internal economy, continuing its occupation, despite its unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005," it reads.

Additionally, Israel has also stripped four Palestinian Members of Parliament their right to live in East Jerusalem, effectively expelling them from their homes, according to the press release.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has said Israel is in violation of the most fundamental norms of humanitarian and human rights law and is gravely concerned with the violations of the human rights of the Palestinian caused by Israel.

ADC President, ex-congresswomen Mary Rose Oakar, said, "Israel's actions have taken lives, destroyed school buildings, bridges, and Gaza's only power plant and still there seems to be no end in sight. Israel's military offensive unjustly imposes collective punishment on the 1.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and violates international law."

ADC called on the Bush Administration to work to stop the violence immediately and provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.