First deputy speaker calls for lifting Gaza siege

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi First Deputy Speaker Khaled al-Attiya on Thursday from Beirut called for lifting the Israeli siege against the Gaza Strip. Speaking at the 14 th conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (AIPU) in Beirut, al-Attiya said “we demand to lift the siege imposed on Gaza and to open all crossing points to allow the humanitarian and medical aids as well as the immediate stop of the Israeli aggression.” “Strengthening joint Arab action and a unified stance should be done through the legislative institutions, which we hope they adopt a supporting stance on Palestine,” he added. The Iraqi government on Tuesday announced that it will send medical and food assistance to the Gaza Strip, which has been bombarded by Israeli war planes. Hundreds of Palestinians were reported killed or wounded after Israeli F-16 bombers launched a series of air strikes against multiple targets in the Hamas-run territories.   Israel said the operation was in response to rockets fired into Israeli towns and villages by Hamas and other militant groups based in Gaza.   The AIPU is an Arab parliamentary organization composed of parliamentary groups representing Arab Parliaments. SH (S) 1