On Wednesday 16th April, 2008, up to fifty people protested outside the office of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Nablus, in repsonse to attacks that have taken place in Gaza by the Israeli army. The protesters called on UNRWA to take action in regards to the recent Israeli attacks on Gaza, and to pressure Israel to lift the siege.
The peaceful demonstration, organised by a coalition of leftist political parties in Nablus, attempted to deliver a letter demanding action to UNRWA – the UN agency that provides basic relief in the form of food, clothing, housing and healthcare to refugees – as over three-quarters of Gaza’s 1.4 million residents are registered refugees. Recent attacks have also been focussed on refugee camps in Gaza, such as the regular attacks on Jabalia camp, during which many civilians have been killed.
The protest lasted for over an hour, with demonstrators chanting and waving flags, holding banners that read: “End the siege on Gaza”.