Washington, DC, March 3 – The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) today renewed its call for an end to armed hostilities between Israel and militia groups based in the Gaza Strip. The Task Force expressed grave concern for the wellbeing of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip – where over 100 people, many of them civilians, have been killed by Israeli forces in recent days – and for the population of Israeli towns, including Sderot and Ashkelon, within the range of rockets fired by militia groups in Gaza.

ATFP urged the Bush Administration to use its leverage with the Israeli government to take urgent steps to help defuse the crisis.

ATFP stressed that all parties have responsibilities in easing the situation. The Task Force said that it is unacceptable for the civilian population of Gaza to be subjected to collective punishments and indiscriminate or disproportionate use of force, and called on Israel to abide by its responsibilities under international law. ATFP also insisted that Palestinian militia groups should immediately and permanently end all rocket attacks on Israel.

ATFP reiterated its earlier suggestion for the assumption of responsibilities for key border crossings, which are currently closed because they are in the hands of Hamas, by the Palestinian National Authority with international assistance. This would be an important first step towards the restoration of law and order to the Gaza Strip and the resumption of normal functioning of these crossing points to the benefit of the civilian population.