Int'l community slams Gaza lockdown

International community strongly condemned Zionist regime for the lockdown of Gaza Strip, urging the regime to end the blockade.

 

The siege will exacerbate an already dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and risks escalating an already difficult situation on the ground, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Bentita Ferrero-Waldner said in a statement.

 

Urging Israel to lift the blockade, Ferrero-Waldner made it clear that she is 'against this collective punishment of the people of Gaza'.

 

Dr Margaret Chan, the head of the United Nations' World Health Organization (WHO) condemned the 'grave situation' in the Gaza Strip Monday.

 

Addressing members of the (WHO) executive board meeting in Geneva, Dr Chan voiced her concern over the spread of infectious diseases.

 

Meanwhile, a Saudi Arabia cabinet statement said that the country 'is extremely concerned about Israeli violations and Israel's practice of the most brutal form of group punishment in the Gaza Strip and West Bank'.

 

In an effort to ease the sanctions, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and War Minister Ehud Barak on Monday to warn of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

 

Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki also urged Israel to 'end this tragedy immediately'.