DUSHANBE, January 19, 2009, Asia-Plus — On an initiative of the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT), some 100,000 somoni, equivalent to some 28,000 US dollars, have been collected in Tajikistan in humanitarian aid for war-affected population in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, a spokesman for the IRPT, said that the party board sent its representative to Palestine recently to hand over the money collected by Tajik people for the Gaza population. “Our representative is currently in Cairo; from there he will try to get to the Gaza Strip,” the IRPT spokesman told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon.”
“Although the Dushanbe mayor’s office refused our application for permission for organization of an action of protest against Israel’s aggression in Gaza, our party continues seeking alternative ways to express solidarity with our Muslim brothers,” Sayfullozoda stressed.
BBC News reported on January 19 that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza is continuing to hold, a day after Hamas said militants would stop attacks for a week to give Israel time to withdraw.
Israeli PM Ehud Olmert said he wanted troops to leave as quickly as possible, and some have already left. Pressure is now growing on Israel to reopen border crossings with Gaza to let in vital aid, as people lack basic supplies after the three-week conflict.
Israel called a ceasefire on Saturday, saying it had met its war aims. Hamas later declared its own truce with one of its leaders claiming a “great victory” over Israel.
At least 1,300 Palestinians, according to Palestinian sources, and 13 Israelis have been killed since Israel launched its offensive on 27 December. Palestinian medical sources say at least 95 bodies have been pulled from the rubble since Israel halted its offensive. Local sources said the conflict had left 4,000 buildings destroyed, according to BBC news. A further 20,000 buildings were severely damaged, Gaza municipal officials said after an initial count.
