The catastrophic Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which left 9 dead, has rightly horrified the international community. However, lethal force by the Israeli military is nothing new to Palestinians. In the Gaza ‘buffer zone', live ammunition is routinely used against unarmed demonstrators and farmers. * The ‘buffer zone' is illegal The Israeli military violently enforces a zone of 300 meters to 2 kilometers along Gaza's lengthy border with Israel, in direct violation of the Oslo Accords of the 1990's. This zone claims 30% of Gaza's farmland, and some of its most fertile. * The Israeli military shoots unarmed farmers Farmers attempting to cultivate land in the ‘buffer zone' are routinely met with barrages of live ammunition and occasional artillery shells. Exacerbating widespread poverty and malnutrition, farmers cannot access one third of their land without facing extreme danger. * Farmers have launched a campaign of popular non-violent resistance Unarmed demonstrations are held in the ‘buffer zone', internationally recognized as Gazan land, to protest the illegal confiscation of farmland which has such grave consequences for Gaza's struggling population. * Live ammunition is used as a form of ‘crowd dispersal' against unarmed demonstrators, with deadly consequences Unarmed demonstrators in the ‘buffer zone' are intentionally shot with live fire. In April 2010 alone, at least six demonstrators were injured by bullets. This includes Maltese activist Bianca Zammit who was shot in the thigh while filming the demonstration in clear view of soldiers. The following week, 19-year-old Ahmad Dib was shot at a demonstration and bled to death two hours later. * The international community cannot remain silent Human rights activists are prevented from entering Gaza; prevented from documenting and reporting on the humanitarian crisis. Israel uses live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators and farmers because it is shielded from international scrutiny. Tell Israel to stop shooting unarmed civilians on Gazan land. TAKE ACTION: 1. Contact your representatives to demand that Israel be held accountable for violence against unarmed activists and end the siege on Gaza Call or email your representative to Israel, http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-in/Israel Write your own or use the provided letter at the end of the email 2. Support the call from Palestinian Civil Society for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel After the recent attack on International activists aboard boats of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the Boycott National Committees have called for an intensification of BDS campaigns and actions around the world (http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/710). While the raid is no longer in the news, Israeli armed forces are still targeting Gazan non-violent activists. Every week near the ‘buffer zone', demonstrators and farmers are shot at with live ammunition. The violence against these activists, just as the violence against the Freedom Flotilla, cannot be ignored. 3. Target local shops that sell Israeli products, http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/4 Supermarkets, clothing stores and consumer goods from Israel can be the focus of a BDS campaign. Find a campaign in your area or launch one today! Ongoing campaigns: http://bdsmovement.net/?q=node/54 Activist resources: http://bdsmovement.net/?q=node/49 ISM
