Muslim Community Leaders to Announce Humanitarian Campaign for Palestinian Victims of Brutal Israeli Air Strikes
December 29, 2008
Southern California Muslim leaders will hold a news conference on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11 a.m. to condemn the ongoing Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Community leaders will also announce their support for a multi-million dollar fundraising campaign by Islamic Relief USA to provide urgently needed humanitarian aid to Palestinian victims.
MPAC strongly condemns the disproportionate and brutal Israeli military airstrikes which have killed more than 350 people and injured more than 1,500 people in the past three days, and has called upon the Bush administration to immediately apply its diplomatic pressure to negotiate a ceasefire. The first day of the air strikes was the bloodiest in the region in over 40 years.
"How many more must die before our elected officials act to uphold international human rights law?" said Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati. "Our elected officials have a responsibility to stop the massacre of Palestinians, which is taking place using weapons supplied by American taxpayer dollars."
One United Nations humanitarian official called the situation "absolutely disastrous." Gaza was already facing the worst humanitarian crisis in 30 years due to lack of basic food, medicine and fuel. This new crisis has escalated that humanitarian need.Islamic Relief, a non-profit humanitarian organization, has launched an emergency appeal to help the victims of the humanitarian crisis.
Islamic Relief has already provided vital aid to hospitals in Gaza since the crisis began. Islamic Relief, named a "Four Star Charity" by Charity Navigator (America's largest charity evaluator), has been helping the Palestinian people since 1994, providing food aid, medical relief, small business loans, and orphan sponsorships, among other services. Since opening its Gaza City office in 1998, Islamic Relief has also established educational enhancement centers, care programs for psychologically traumatized children and a school for the deaf.
Local Palestinian Americans, who have family members currently in Gaza, will also share their personal experiences and reflections from their families during the news conference.
WHAT: SoCal Muslim Leaders Announce Humanitarian Aid Campaign
for Palestinian Victims
WHEN: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Islamic Center of Southern California
434 South Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90010
WHO: Leaders from CAIR-LA, Islamic Relief Worldwide,
Muslim American Society, and Muslim Public Affairs CouncilHedab El Tarifi, Palestinian Muslim American w/ family in Gaza
