DUSHANBE, January 5, 2009, Asia-Plus — The Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) has organized a relief fund to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians suffering from the Israeli military actions, according to the IRPT head office in Dushanbe.
The source at the IRPT head office said that some 30,000 somoni (equivalent to some 8,500 US dollars) have been remitted to the relief fund to this date.
It is to be noted that the IRPT board organized the inner-Party action of protest in Dushanbe on December 31 to condemn military actions of Israel in the Gaza Strip. More than 1,000 activists of the IRPT participated in the action. Speaking at the meeting, the IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri called actions of Israeli authorities “criminal.” The action of protest resulted in adoption of resolution condemning Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip.
The IRPT board also applied to Tajik authorities for permission to organize a large-scale action of protest in Dushanbe in case of further continuation of Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip.
We will recall that Israel’s military operation is already in its 10th day in the Gaza Strip. According to some international media, Palestinian medical sources say the numbers of people killed in Gaza now stands at more than 500, with some 2,500 others wounded. These figures cannot be independently verified. BBC News reported on January 5 that five Israelis have been killed by Palestinian militant fire since the start of Israel”s military operation. Israeli sources say about 4,000 infantry are inside Gaza, backed by tanks. Information about what is happening is limited, as Israel has barred foreign reporters from entering the territory.
According to BBC News, speaking to MPs, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said the offensive would continue until “peace and tranquility” was secured for Israeli civilians, referring to Israeli towns that have come under rocket attacks by militants.
Intense diplomatic efforts are under way to try to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, with separate missions to the Middle East being led by the French president, and a high-level EU team.
