World News
Gaza faces 'growing humanitarian crisis,' says Irish Nobel laureate
Published: November 3, 2008
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The situation in Gaza constitutes a "growing humanitarian crisis," said Irish Noble peace laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire during a four-day visit to the Gaza Strip. She arrived in Gaza as part of a 27-person contingent on a boat carrying activists who oppose Israel's blockade of Gaza. The boat, part of the Free Gaza Movement, left Cyprus Oct. 28 and docked at Gaza a day later without interference from Israel. Earlier, Israel had warned that it would not allow the boat to reach Gaza. It was the second such boat from the Free Gaza Movement to reach the Palestinian territory since August. "I wanted to see the situation in Gaza for myself and I am absolutely shocked and appalled. The suffering is enormous," Maguire said in an Oct. 31 phone interview from Gaza. "I decided to come by sea and break the siege. I wanted to help challenge the international community about their silence about what is happening in Gaza." She said the Israeli closure of Gaza was "collective punishment."
Copyright (c) Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .
