In response to the latest crisis, emergency aid from Interpal, the British charity which helps Palestinians in need, has been delivered to Gaza over the past week – amongst the first aid to enter the stricken Palestinian territory.

Following the initial Israeli bombing assault on Gaza, Interpal immediately allocated £500,000 from its own resources towards UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), the Egyptian Medical Syndicate and local partners in the field.

This has helped to provide desperately needed medical supplies in addition to immediate relief for the victims, including alternate sheltering, kitchen and hygiene equipment and food aid.

Interpal calls for the State of Israel to end the current violence against the civilian population of Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to enter through the crossing points under its control. In a statement this morning (27 December, 2008), Interpal’s chairman, Ibrahim Hewitt said, “As is usual in such circumstances, attacks are going to hurt ordinary men, women and children more than anyone or anything else. On top of the Israeli-imposed siege, this latest action means that the humanitarian crisis affecting Gaza has reached new levels of severity.”

In calling for the international community to impose restraint on Israel, Mr. Hewitt also asked for extra political and humanitarian support for relief agencies, including UNRWA, to provide the means to deliver desperately-needed aid. News that the Egyptian border crossing at Rafah has been opened was most welcome, he added.

Ibrahim Hewitt
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Interpal

News that the Chairman of Kettering Town FC, Imraan Ladak, is returning his “Asian Jewel 2007″ award to the sponsor Lloyds TSB in protest at what the bank has done to Interpal’s bank account has been welcomed by the Trustees and staff of the charity. These awards, correctly called the Lloyds TSB Jewel Awards, are described by the bank as “a celebration of the wealth of experience, expertise and success which is becoming increasingly evident in the Asian community today”. The awards are regarded by Lloyds TSB as “a significant milestone in our calendar”, so Mr. Ladak’s decision to return his award at this time must be equally significant for the bank that likes to promote its “commitment to serve the UK Muslim community”.

According to Ibrahim Hewitt, Interpal’s chairman, Imraan Ladak’s decision is a celebration of something else that is “increasingly evident in the Asian community today” - a social conscience, something that is missing from Lloyds TSB’s action.