The student movement and NUS like to claim a proud history of international solidarity – of standing on the side of peace, justice and human rights. Such claims mean nothing if we are to turn our backs on what is being inflicted on the people of Gaza by the actions of the Israeli government.

Today Gaza is an open air prison lacking adequate food, electricity, water and medical supplies.

The siege of Gaza is creating a humanitarian crisis. The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 80 per cent of Gazans now live below the poverty line. Over one million Gazans are living on food aid and the United Nation's reports that this only provides 61 per cent of their minimum dietary needs.

At the end of last year the Israeli government announced that in addition to restrictions on food and water supplies into Gaza, it would reduce Gaza 's electricity supply. This move was opposed by a coalition of Israeli and Palestinian human rights organisations. The United Nations has reported that the majority of households in Gaza are now without electricity for more than eight hours a day, 'disrupting healthcare delivery and adding misery to the lives of civilians.'

Medical supplies have become extremely scarce, threatening increased loss of life. A quarter of the items on the Essential Drug List are completely unavailable in Gaza, including antibiotics for children and medicines for cardio-vascular diseases.

What the Israeli government is doing to the people of Gaza cannot be described as anything other than the collective punishment of a civilian population something which is illegal under the fourth Geneva Convention.

The Israeli government’s claim that its actions are motivated by security concerns is false. In the past year Israeli air strikes and ground incursions into the Gaza Strip have killed some 300 Palestinians, including dozens of civilians, but failed to prevent rocket fire. Far from seeking a peaceful solution, between the Annapolis peace meeting in November and 12 February, Israel carried out 880 attacks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip killing 178 Palestinians (18 in the West Bank and 160 in the Gaza Strip, including three children. No Israelis have been killed by Palestinian rocket fire during this period.

Hamas has offered a cease fire if Israel stops military operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Hamas has offered a ten-year ceasefire with Israel. These offers have been flatly rejected.

It is clear that international pressure is needed to force Israel to lift its siege on the people of Gaza. Britain, alongside the US is a key ally of Israel in blocking such international pressure. NUS can and should make a real difference in joining with trade unions, MPs, Amnesty International (http://www.amnesty.org/ ) and others in civil society in demanding that the British government calls publicly on Israel to end its blockade of Gaza immediately.

If our talk of solidarity, of peace, justice and human rights means anything – we will not hesitate to do so. Support this motion.

Ruqayyah Collector
NUS Black Students' Officer
NUS Anti-Racism/Anti-Fascism Convenor