Bloody Sunday Trust calls for ceasefire immediately in Gaza
'International conference needed to formulate a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian people'
Derry's Bloody Sunday Trust has called for an immediate ceasefire and the provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
In a statement to Derry Now, the Trust said: "This ceasefire must then be followed by the convening of an international conference to formulate a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian people.
"The participants to this conference must commit to international law and the full implementation of all existing UN resolutions to deliver security for Israeli and Palestinian citizens, end the colonization of Palestine, and uphold the right of self-determination and the right of return for Palestinians.
"The international community should further commit to the establishment of a peacekeeping force in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem to protect Palestinians from the Israeli military and armed, illegal settlers, who are currently supported and supplied by an extremist Israeli government. These settlers must be disarmed.
"The International Criminal Court (ICC) must be guaranteed free and unhindered access to Israel and the Palestinian Territories to investigate and hold accountable both Hamas and Israel for possible war crimes.
"Furthermore the UN Special Committee against Apartheid should be re-established to bring an end to the apartheid system Israel has put in place.
"The Bloody Sunday Trust calls on all political parties to endorse this programme and for the Irish government to take meaningful action in international forums, unilaterally where necessary, and multilaterally where possible to achieve these objectives."