The evacuation of Israeli settlers from Gaza Strip started few days ago and will continue for the next few weeks. This Israeli unilateral step comes as part of the Israeli Prime Minster's plan to evacuate all 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and 4 of the Northern West Bank. We are not confident of the Israeli intentions for true peace, based on international legality and justice; but, we would like to express our optimism and welcoming of this step hoping that it will be the beginning towards the liberation of all the Palestinian land.

The eviction of the settlers from the Palestinian land, reminds us of the tragic memories of suffering that Palestinians went through as they were uprooted and evacuated from their land by the leaders of the Zionist movement, who used all means of oppression, killings, and tyranny to forcefully throw Palestinians away from their land and taking over it.

What is happening today in terms of settlers' trauma and refusal to evacuate the settlements and Palestinian land evokes the deep-rooted Palestinian suffering as a result of what they have gone through of numerous painful experiences of uprooting, evacuation, displacement and demolitions - all of which influenced their lives, leading to trans-generational traumas.

The evacuation of settlers from Gaza Strip is an evidence of the failure of the colonization and settlement project and proves that Palestinian people and Jews are victims of this Zionist project.

Peace and security can not be achieved without termination of settlements and ending occupation and oppression. The interests for both nations can not be achieved without peace that is based on mutual respect of rights as stated by international law and respect of principles of human rights. Any divergence of such clear principles will bring nothing but more suffering, pain, and violence to both nations.

GCMHP views the evacuation of Israelis from Gaza today as a victory to justice and compensates - although not fully - some of the sufferings, deprivations, uprooting, loss, and traumas Palestinians encountered over the years. It will terminate all means of daily humiliation, degradation, and insults experienced by Palestinians over the last decades, particularly in the last five years of Al-Aqsa Intifada.

In this particular time, the whole world is watching Palestinian people's performance. The Palestinian Authority has to show the highest levels of transparency in dealing with the evacuated property and using it after the Israeli pullout. In this regard, we welcome president Abbass' declarations of collective work and sharing responsibility with political factions and civil society in the proper management of the evacuated land and using it afterwards. .

We, at GCMHP, hope that this evacuation is the beginning towards the path for freedom, security, hope, and elimination of all forms of suffering and violence, which will strengthen peace and justice in the region and worldwide.