MRS Suzanne Mubarak, chairwoman of the Egyptian Red Crescent, headed an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee of the Arab Organisation of Red Crescent and Red Cross international societies on Saturday to discuss the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip in the wake of the current Israeli aggression. The committee reviewed the "tragic situation in the Strip due to the barbaric Israeli attacks on women, children and civilians as well as the demolition of the Strip's infrastructure, all of which constitute a blatant violation of international humanitarian laws." The gathering agreed that the Israeli aggression on the Strip was collective punishment for the Palestinians, a systematic destruction to all aspects of life in the Strip and a blatant targeting of Palestinian civilians. "Palestine and its people are all in our hearts," Mrs Mubarak told the gathering. She thanked Arab states and their people 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 safely. I wish we could come up with the best means to translate our efforts into action given the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip because of the ongoing Israeli aggression," Mrs Mubarak added. Mrs Mubarak called the Israeli aggression on the Strip a brazen violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in times of war and under occupation. Mrs Mubarak urged civil society institutions and international as well as Arab human rights organisations to back the Red Crescent and Red Cross in support of the Gaza Strip, together with efforts exerted to secure the opening of crossings to send the largest amount of relief aid possible into the Strip. "The humanitarian aspect in the Gaza Strip should be the first priority for us all," added Mrs Mubarak. On Wednesday, Mrs Mubarak met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to coordinate relief efforts between the Egyptian Red Crescent and the international organisation.
