The assault on Gaza has been an awakening for the American Arab and Muslim youth. The attacks came at the most festive holiday season of the year. Instead of celebrating, young American Arab and Muslim teenagers and kids spent their time protesting on the streets as they watched disturbing and devastating images streaming into their living rooms and onto their computers.

Amnesty International (AI), in its annual report on the Middle East released today, blamed Israel for breaking a six-month ceasefire with Palestinian group Hamas, and for grave breaches of Humanitarian law in its later offensive into the Gaza strip. Amnesty blamed Israel for having collectively punished the entirety of Gaza, and its civilians, with an 18-month crippling siege prior to the January conflict (that continues to this very day), and for a November fourth Israeli attack in Gaza, in which six Hamas fighters were killed. Israel had been expected in a June ceasefire agreement with Hamas to increase the amount of trucks let in to Gaza and to not instigate conflict. Israel did not live up to this agreement. Israel violated the ceasefire by first not diminishing its collective blockade of foodstuffs, medical supplies and building materials and second by invading Gaza on U.S. election day (November 4th).

In the ensuing debate in U.S. media over who started the conflict, blame repeatedly fell on the shoulders of Hamas. Even the U.S. President supported the Gaza offensive and blamed Hamas for violating the ceasefire with renewed rocket attacks. It is refreshing to see an absolute refute of this "blame claim" by AI. Nevertheless, this does nothing to change the horrid conditions of Gaza.

Gaza continues to be under crippling Israeli siege. Products to rebuild the thousands of destroyed homes remain stuck at the border, along with simple foodstuffs such as couscous and pasta. The siege has been described as near-starvation of the Gazan people and many sick or injured have died at the hands of Israeli border authorities, waiting to leave Gaza to receive the medical treatment they desperately need. Hundreds continue to live in tents set up by UNRWA, and few have work to do. The Israeli authorities have created what has repeatedly been called a "concentration camp" or an "open-air prison," and yet, little continues to be done to relieve their perpetual suffering. It appears hopeless to rely on the U.S., the European Union and the U.N. to stop the suffering of Gaza's civilians. Instead, we must act ourselves. Act today by joining UB SJP and contribute to the cause of justice.

World Bank, Palestinian, Israel debate water crisis in West Bank

Xinhua article by David Harris, Huang Heng

JERUSALEM, May 27 (Xinhua) -- As many Palestinians in the West Bank living on just 15 liters of water per day, the World Bank believed "the water crisis has reached a humanitarian scale."

Pier Francesco Mantovani, the organization's lead water supply and sanitation specialist for the Middle East and North Africa, made the comment during an environmental conference in Jerusalem Wednesday after the World Bank published a report on the water situation in the Palestinian areas, with a focus on the West Bank.

According to the World Health Organization, the minimum quantity of water needed for short-term survival is 30 liters per capita per day.