Palestinian Foreign Minister, Ziad Abu Amr, blames internal violence on Israeli Siege of the Gaza Strip

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Palestinian Foreign Minister blames internal violence on Gaza hardships

Wednesday June 13, 2007 12:03 by John Smith - IMEMC

The Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr on Wednesday blamed the recent round of infighting on the hardships that the Gaza region faces.

Speaking at a news conference in Tokyo, Abu Amr, an independent in the national unity government, compared the current situation in Gaza to life inside a cage, stating: “If you have two brothers, put them in a cage and deprive them of basic and essential needs for life, they will fight.”

Since Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005, the area has been subject to a strict set of rules governing freedom of movement and the import and export of goods, with the Israeli government exerting the final decision over such issues.

The Minister suggested that despite Israeli withdrawal from the coastal region, the restrictions the (Israeli government) has imposed on the Strip are directly related to the infighting that the area has seen over the past months.

“We need to undo the very problematic situation that others have created […] People cannot move in Gaza. They can’t travel. There’s no work. There’s no normal life. […] We really live in a cage. […] I don’t think we should put the blame on the victim.”

In the aftermath of the Hamas victory in the last legislative elections, Hamas and Fateh have found themselves engaged in a deadly power-struggle in the region, a conflict that has claimed the lives of hundreds of Palestinians. Despite recent ceasefire agreements, the clashes have intensified of late, with approximately 50 Palestinians being killed in the last 48 hours.

Abu Amr made the comments while on a diplomatic visit to Japan.

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