JEDDAH, 25 May 2004 — The Makkah Charitable Foundation, an affiliate of the Muslim World League, is calling on philanthropists to support Palestinians displaced by the Israeli attacks on the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
“We make this humanitarian call to all philanthropists to extend their assistance to the afflicted families of Rafah,” said Dr. Muhammad Omar Badahdah, director of the foundation’s Jeddah office.
Israeli occupation forces have demolished more than 200 houses this month, making over 2,000 Palestinians homeless, Badahdah said, adding Israel plan to raze down 200 more Palestinian homes.
“The situation is dangerous,” he said.
The foundation has launched a program to sponsor Palestinian families in Rafah, he said. Sponsorship for each family will cost SR750 ($200) monthly.
Israel’s Justice Minister Yosef Lapid has called for an end to the demolitions, describing the policy as inhumane and liable to lead to war crimes charges against Israel in the International Court of Justice.
The Muslim World League has condemned Israel’s destruction of Palestinian houses in the occupied territories as a grave violation of human rights.
“Muslims were bewildered by an Israeli court’s approval of the military’s destruction of the houses of Palestinian civilians in Rafah,” Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki, the secretary-general of the Makkah-based organization, said in a statement.
He urged the UN Security Council to take the necessary measures to halt Israel’s mass punishment of the population of Rafah.
“We demand that international human rights groups, especially the UN High Commission for Human Rights intervene immediately to stop the killing and destruction perpetrated by the Israeli war machine against Rafah and other Palestinian cities,” the statement said. He also urged UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan “to put an end to this humanitarian disaster.”
Possible donors have been requested to deposit their money in the foundation’s accounts in Al-Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation’s Ruwais branch: General Account 11666/5, Orphans 11777, Projects 11644/2, Zakat 11655/8. For more information contact: Tel. 6736730, Fax 6733673.
