Suzanne Mubarak: Priority to deliver aid to the Palestinians

Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak, Chairperson of the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC), "took part yesterday in an extraordinary meeting of the Arab Organization of Red Crescent and Red Cross Societies' executive committee to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip in the wake of the current Israeli aggressions," Egypt State Information Service reported.

The report added "The committee reviewed the tragic situation in the strip due to barbaric Israeli attacks on children, women and civilians as well as the demolition of the strip's infrastructure which all constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian laws."

"Palestine and its people are at our hearts all," Mrs Mubarak told the gathering. She thanked Arab States and peoples for their generous donations raised by the Red Crescent and Red Cross for the Palestinians. "But the aid should be given to the Gaza Strip in a safe way," she added, the report said.

"I wish we could come up with best means to translate our efforts into action given the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip because of the ongoing Israeli aggression," she said. Egypt State Information Service reported Mrs Mubarak urging civil society institutions and international "as well as Arab human right organizations to back the Red Crescent and Red Cross in support of the Gaza Strip, together with efforts exerted to secure opening of crossings to transfer the largest amount of relief aid into the Strip."

"The Israeli aggression on the Strip is actually a collective punishment for the Palestinians, a systematic destruction to all aspects of life in the Strip and a blatant targeting of Palestinian civilians," she added.

The report said "Mrs. Mubarak further called the Israeli aggression on the Strip a brazen violation of the Geneva Convention of 1949 on the protection of civilians in times of war and under occupation."