January 8, 2009, Belgrade, Serbia: Women in Black-Serbia will hold a protest today at 2 p.m. in Republic Square in Belgrade to condemn Israel’s ongoing seige of the Gaza Strip.

Women in Black, a women’s peace organization and AP partner, issued a statement condemning the permanent and brutal violation of human rights of the Palestinian population conducted by the Israeli state. They also denounced the constant rocket attacks conducted by Hamas against the Israeli territory, causing death, destruction and fear among the population in the border area.

“The Israeli government is taking advantage of these attacks as an excuse for their aggressive, militaristic policy and violence that provokes even greater casualties and suffering among the population in the Gaza strip,” the group said in its statement. “The killing of innocent civilians and indiscriminate destruction, leaving behind enormous numbers of wounded who cannot be reached or helped, further deteriorates the atmosphere of terror and hate, which in turn raises the support of the Palestinian population to Hamas and hampers the normalization of the situation and coexistence in the Middle East.”

Women in Black-Serbia joins the request of the numerous members of the International Network of Women in Black for Israel to respect international humanitarian law and stop the violence in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The group is also asking European and other countries to discontinue their arms sales to Israel.

Women in Black-Serbia expresses solidarity with and admiration for Palestinian civilian society that is striving for a non-violent and peaceful solution, especially their sister organization, Women in Black of Israel. As of January 9, Women in Black of Israel will have been conducting their non-violent activities against the nationalistic and militaristic policies of their government for 21 years.