Since Saturday December 27th, the Israeli Air Forces have extensively bombed the Gaza Strip. Up until now (Tuesday morning), more than 374 people have been killed and over 800 injured. The horrific images emitting from Gaza over the last few days display the blood shed and regardless destruction for all to see. Hospitals are overflowing, whilst the Strip's largest storage of medical supplies has been bombarded. The Israeli government is threatening that these initial attacks are only the beginning.

We, Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel, are appalled by the actions of the government and the army. We oppose this war and demand the end of the suffering inflicted on the people of Gaza.

We demand:

• An immediate ceasefire and an end to all Israeli military operations
  
• An immediate access to Gaza for ALL humanitarian aid and supplies
  
• Permanent lifting of the siege and all restrictions on movement of people and goods to and from Gaza.
  

Mass bombardment and killing are not self-defense. The Israeli government's actions represent the main threat to the residents of the south and of Gaza. Four Israeli citizens have already died in the south of Israel of missiles fired in response to this attack. We are all hostages of our government.

The Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the entire conflict in the Middle East, are fueled by international economical and political interests. This war is also backed, and legitimized, by the silence of the European Union and the support of the USA in the Security Council of the UN. The blood is on their hands as well as it is on ours.

We alone cannot bring an end to this needless assault and the subsequent bloodshed it is bringing about. We call upon the international community and ask for your help.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Contact your political representatives and demand their engagement in international efforts to end the war.
2. Write letters to the Israeli leadership responsible for this war:

Ehud Olmert - Prime Minister

Tel: 02-6753217

Email: eulmert@knesset.gov.il

Address: Kaplan St. #3, Hakirya, Building 3, Jerusalem 91950 ISRAEL

Tzipi Livni - Foreign Minister

Tel: 02-6753285, Fax: 02-6753792

Email: zlivni@knesset.gov.il

Address: Itzhak Rabin Blvd. #9, Jerusalem 91950, ISRAEL

Ehud Barak - Minister of Defense

Tel: 03-6975000, Fax: 03-6962757

Address: Kaplan St., Hakirya, Tel Aviv 64734 ISRAEL

3. If you haven't signed yet, go and sign the petition: Avaaz

4. Organize a protest action in front of the Israeli embassy or consulate in your city, and join us on the International Action Day to STOP THE WAR IN GAZA! Saturday, January 3rd, 2009.

5. Please inform us of your actions - send email to stoppingthewar@gmail.com with information concerning the place, time and nature of your action. You can also add contact information for people to join (email, website address〓). All posts will be added on to the Coalition's site - www.gazanow.wordpress.com

If possible, inform us also of the outcome of the actions, so that we can update it on the site (number of persons attending, pictures〓)

6. Send an email with the name of your organization to stoppingthewar@gmail.com to enlist your support in this international call. All names of organizations supporting this call will be posted on the site.

7. Alternatively, donate to either of the following organizations:

Donate to Physicians for Human Rights for emergency humanitarian aid.

With a medical system already on the verge of collapse as a result of the ongoing closure, 1.4 million civilians are in desperate need of urgent medical help from outside the Gaza Strip. PHR-Israel has the means to transfer this help within days and is seeking to raise 700,000 USD during the next week for purchase and direct transfer of supplies to Gaza hospitals.

-Donate to the Coalition of Women for Peace for our anti-war campaign.

From the first day of the attack, we have been mobilizing hundreds of Israelis to protest the war. Please support us for further struggle to bring the public to protest in the streets of Israel. A ceasefire may be a matter of time, but each day we make it closer we save people's lives.

The Coalition Against the Siege and War in Gaza is composed of various civil society organizations in Israel:

• Gush Shalom
• Hadash
  
• Yesh Gvul
  
• Balad
  
• New Profile
  
• Combatants for Peace
  
• Alternative Information Center (AIC)
  
• Bat Shalom
  
• Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)
  
• The Democratic Mizrahi Rainbow
  
• Achoti for Women in Israel
  
• Coalition of Women for Peace
  
• Anarchists Against the Wall
  
• the Seniors' Letter
  
• Women in Black
  
• The Fifth Mother
  
• Left Forum Haifa University
  
• Students Coalition - Tel Aviv University
  
• Campus is Not Silent
  
• Maki
  
• Banki
  
• Tandi
  
• Hadash-Students
  
• Indymedia
  
• Social TV on the Internet
  
• Taayush
  
• Hithabrut-Tarabut
  
• Sadaka Reut