[WATCH] Activists call for sanctions on Israel over 'genocide in Gaza'

The Malta Palestine Solidarity Network holds a symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza, calls on international community to impose sanctions on Israel

A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
A symbolic action in solidarity with Gaza was held in Valletta. Photo by Ray Attard
VOX POP • Tim Diacono asks whether attack on Gaza is justified. Video Ray Attard

The Palestine Solidarity Network (Malta) today held a symbolic action at City Gate, Valletta, where a number of activists lied down on the ground, symbolising the people being killed in Gaza.

While activists holding placards with pictures of the devastating attack on Gaza lied on the ground in silence, audio recordings of the shelling and bombing of Gaza were played out.

The network's spokesperson Andre Callus called for an end to the Israeli "brutal attack on the people of Gaza" where schools, hospitals and homes have been shelled and bombed on a daily basis for more than three weeks, To date, over 1,600 persons in Gaza have been killed.

“As most of the world boycotted and sanctioned countries like Apartheid South Africa or Nazi Germany, the same should be done to the apartheid state of Israel committing acts of genocide on the Palestinian population,” the Palestinian Solidarity Network said.

The Palestine Solidarity Network welcomed foreign affairs Minister George Vella’s recent statement in which he said that, “as things stand, Malta would not be supporting Israel’s bid to join the UN Security Council”.

However, Callus criticised government for not “having clearly condemned the aggression by Israel. Calling on ‘both parties to exercise restraint is nonsensical,” he said.

“Here we have a fully-armed Israeli state unleashing its military force on a people that have been dispossessed by this same state, living under siege for the past eight years.”

This evening a candel-lit vigil for Gaza will be held outside the US embassy in Ta' Qali at 9pm.

The Palestine Solidarity Network – Malta is a group of organisations and individuals active against the systematic oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian population. It includes the following organisations: Moviment Graffitti, Third World Group, Koperattiva Kummerc Gust, Integra Foundation, Zminijietna – Voice of the Left, Arab Maltese Community, Partit Komunista Malti, Arabic Culture Information Society and Garden of Knowledge