DUSHANBE, January 8, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- On Wednesday January 7, the board of the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT) applied to the Dushanbe mayor’s office for permission to organize in Dushanbe a large-scale action of protest against Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, a spokesman for IRPT, said today that it they get permission they plan to hold the protest action in Dushanbe on January 23.   

As it had been reported earlier, the IRPT board organized the inner-Party action of protest in Dushanbe on December 31 to condemn military actions of Israel in the Gaza Strip.  More than 1,000 activists of the IRPT participated in the action.  Speaking at the meeting, the IRPT leader Muhiddin Kabiri called actions of Israeli authorities “criminal.”  The action of protest resulted in adoption of resolution condemning Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip.

In the meantime, Israel yesterday halted military operations in Gaza for three hours in the first of what it says will be a daily ceasefire, according to BBC News.  An Israeli spokesman said it would allow Gazans to "get medical attention, get supplies... whatever they need".  Israel''s move came as pressure built on it and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to accept a ceasefire deal.  The plan, backed by the UN and the US and proposed by Egypt and France, calls for an immediate ceasefire

Israel has been criticized by aid agencies who have warned of a mounting humanitarian crisis for the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza, who are unable to escape from the conflict because of Israel''s blockade.

According to Vesti.ru, 660 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its offensive on December 27.  215 children and 89 women were among those killed.