Gaza Situation Report

Dated June 20, OCHA reports:

Crossing points into Gaza remain largely closed.The re-opening of Karni crossing vital to prevent general food shortages is expected within 2-4 weeks. UNRWA wheat flour reserves 10 days, and WFP food reserves 7 days, unless normal imports are resumed. Seven truckloads of food (WFP) and 3 trucks of medical supplies (ICRC/WHO) entered Gaza through Kerem Shalom on 19 June.

The Gaza Strip has been relatively calm since 15 June. The Ministry of Health reports 135 deceased and 487 injured as a result of fighting. These are official numbers. Independent estimates are higher. There are intermittent reports of extrajudicial killings raising concerns about violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

More in the report.

Alvaro de Soto's end of mission report

Dated may 2007, the end of mission report of the Under Secretary General United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process is worth a read. Key points for me are:

• the Gaza disengagement process (paragraphs 8 to 22)
• The role of the Quartet in the current crisis (following election of Hamas)
• The value of the UN as the guardian of international law and not as a political actor (paragraphs 105 to 114)

Crisis in Gaza

What future for Gaza?

The humanitarian situation in the Strip of Gaza has been deteriorating as a result of continued Israeli control of borders, trade, entry into Gaza and of the suspension of international aid to the Palestinian National Authority following the election of Hamas last January.

The bloody fighting between Hamas and Fatah movement, which has peaked with Hamas’ complete control of the Gaza Strip by its military wing—Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, has taken the lives of 146 Palestinians (36 of them are civilians), including 5 children and 8 women, and has wounded at least 700 others according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights.

With Israel closing all border crossings with the Strip, Gaza being defined as a hostile entity, its whole population seen as allied to Hamas, it is expected that the humanitarian situation will further deteriorate.

Sailing a boat to Gaza

Sailing a boat to Gaza or challenging Israel's claim that they no longer occupy Gaza.

For the second anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, Greta Berlin, a 66 years old businesswoman from Los Angeles, USA, is one of the many people organizing an unusual project: sailing to Gaza. The idea which sprang last October is a political as well as humanitarian decision - Greta Berlin says.

The journey will begin in Alexandria or Cyprus toward the end of this summer. 50 to 80 of men and women, many over 50, will embark on a boat called FREE GAZA. Their mission states:" We tried to enter Palestine by ground. We tried to enter by air. Now we are going to go by sea."