EREZ CROSSING - Some 2,000 Israeli Arabs, MPs and left-wing activists gathered outside the Erez crossing into Gaza Strip on Saturday in protest at Israel's 10-day blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.
The protesters gathered close to the barbed wire fence near the deserted border terminal with two trucks laden with foodstuffs -- including oil, water, flower, chocolate and sugar -- which they had collected.
Waving dozens of Palestinian flags and just one Israeli flag, the demonstrators called on Israel to reopen its crossings with Gaza, which it sealed on January 17 in response to rocket fire from militants.
Israeli Arab lawmaker Jamal Zhalka said that "the Israeli government bears the responsibility for the humanitarian disaster in Gaza."
Veteran Israeli left-wing activist Uri Avneri said that the goal of the rally was "to tell the Israeli public and the entire world we will not be part of this crime. We are ashamed of this siege."
Israel and the Palestinians "must strive for a complete, mutual ceasefire without Qassam (rockets), without killings, executions, sieges and starving," Avneri said.
Israel's Supreme Court was on Sunday set to hold an urgent session to weigh a petition filed by several Israeli human rights groups and NGOs against the blockade, a spokeswoman for one of the groups told AFP.
The Islamists of Hamas -- which won democratic Palestinian elections in early 2006 -- violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, 2007 when they routed forces loyal to president Mahmud Abbas.
Israel has progressively tightened restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza since June 2006, when militants from the territory seized an Israeli soldier in a deadly cross-border raid. He remains in captivity.
01/26/2008 13:00 GMT