Israel killed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin

"We condemn in the strongest terms this political assassination and violation of international law as an act of state terrorism. Israel's extra-judicial killing of an Islamic religious leader can only serve to perpetuate the cycle of violence throughout the region. Our heartfelt prayers and commiserations go out to the Palestinian people in their struggle to live in peace, dignity and freedom in their own homeland.” said Khallad Swaid, president of FEMYSO.

“We welcome the statements from all over the world, as such from the European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana who said it was "very, very bad news" for the peace process", Khallad Swaid added, “but we urge the international community and especially the European Union to take a leading role working on concrete steps to help protect the Palestinian people against such wanton Israeli violence. We do not accept at all that we just pay to build up, what others are destroying.”

The Commission's humanitarian support for victims of the Middle East crisis has risen since the start of the second Intifada, from €15 million in 2000 to €38 million in 2003. ECHO's assistance to the Palestinians since September 2000 now amounts to €119 million. Due to the situation of the Palestinian people this and more help is needed.

Israel killed Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a 67-year-old quadriplegic and one of the most prominent Palestinian Islamic figures, in a missile strike when he was leaving a Gaza City mosque in his wheelchair on Monday morning and seven others after fulfilling their morning prayer.