a CNN article dated November 10, 2009
Highlights are the same as in 2005:
Sara Roy is a senior researcher at Harvard University. This article of hers was published today. It describes the current economic, political and human situation of the people in Gaza. Definitely worth reading.
The Peril of Forgetting Gaza
Published On Tuesday, June 02, 2009 5:23 PM
By SARA ROY
(...) Gaza is an example of a society that has been deliberately reduced to a state of abject destitution, its once productive population transformed into one of aid-dependent paupers. (...)
Published on June 16th 2009 on Ynetnews, a Israeli news website. The fishermen claim that their livelihood had been gravely undermined by Israel's Defense Ministry and demand compensation in addition to the ship's return. Two Palestinians were eventually questioned by Shin Bet officials following the seizure, before being returned to the Gaza Strip via the Erez crossing. The four ship owners say Israeli officials promised to return the ship and its contents within a week, but have not done so to date
..."Four Palestinians from Gaza petitioned the High Court of Justice Tuesday in an effort to get back their confiscated fishing boat, seized by the IDF last month.
The petitioners say they approached the Defense Ministry several times but have not received a relevant response. They said that none of them were ever involved in terror activity against Israel."
Tyler Westbrook forwarded me these images which he shot last April in Gaza. Click on the link. Thanks Tyler
Inspired from a true story, “Fatenah” is the first Palestinian animation film. It is directed by Ahmad Habash, produced by Dar Films and funded by the World Health Organization. It will come out in Ramallah. I don't know about Europe. Synopsis below:
" Fatenah is a Palestinian woman who lives in Gaza Strip. Her simple wishes were her consolation in the absurd living situation around her. But when she discovers a lump near her breast, she will start a journey to save her dreams."
According to the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) Gaza, "Since the end of the recent onslaught on Gaza, at least 28 fishermen have been abducted, 13 fishing boats stolen and not returned and at least 5 fishermen have been injured in the sea whilst others have reportedly been injured on the shore. " The news item, dated April 21st, 2009, comes from the ISM Gaza blog whose focus is exclusively on Gaza fishers. To keep an eye onto.
This is a photograph of the Erez crossing terminal (from Israel's side) which I found on the web. We hear about it but never see it.
Erez terminal is mostly for foreigners (diplomats, consuls, UN agencies, Red Cross, Government aid agencies, etc.) who want to get into the Gaza strip. Entry and exit procedures are controlled by Israel. They are complex, lengthy and frequently changing making it extremely difficult to enter Gaza.
Guy Delisle is Canadian comic book author, well known for his book on Burma (Myanmar), Chroniques Birmanes, which was published in 2007. Guy Delisle is married to a médecins sans frontière (MSF) administrator. With her, he travels around and recounts his trips in comic books. They are now in Jerusalem. In the link attached to the title, there is a posting "Parcours du combattant" dated January, 20th 2008 which is on Gaza. It tells the difficulties for MSF and other NGOs to enter Gaza, via Israel and Egypt, to bring medical assistance to the Gazans. And it tells "l’étendue de cette catastrophe humanitaire".
"Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement calls on the State of Israel to fully open Gaza's crossings and to allow the real victims of the closure - 1.5 million human beings - the freedom of movement necessary to realize their dreams and aspirations."
watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzqw7oBZT8k&eurl
" to attack a population that has no air force, no air defense, no navy, no heavy weapons, no artillery units, no mechanized armor, no command and control, no army; and [call] it a war-- It is not a war, it is murder."
This is quote from a Chris Hedges' speech. The speech was delivered on January, 13th 2009 at an event organized by the Society for Ethical Culture in New York.
Chris Hedges, a journalist and author, condemns the Israeli incursion on Gaza while analysing the situation there .... and here (US weapons sold to Israel; no platform in the press for Noam Chomsky, Amira Haas, Ilan Pappe, etc.).
This is the first time I hear of Chris Hedges. His speech is very strong. Link to the video below and in the title.
http://a18.video2.blip.tv/1910000576134/Deepdishtv-ChrisHedgesGazaACallToAct105.mov
A cartoon by Chapatte on the victims of the war: the civilians in Gaza. It's in french.
First time in years US government officials enter Gaza. U.S. congressmen Baird and Ellison have issued a joint statement available on the web. Below an extract:
Inquiring about the status of relief efforts, the Congressmen learned that some aid material has been allowed in since the intensity of the attacks lessened a month ago, but much is still being blocked by the Israeli defense forces. An example of aid that has been banned by the Israeli Government includes lentils, macaroni, tomato paste, and other common food products. Basic building materials, generator fuel and parts to repair damaged water treatment equipment have also been kept out.
“If this had happened in our own country, there would be national outrage and an appeal for urgent assistance. We are glad that President Obama acted quickly to send much needed humanitarian funding to Gaza for this effort. However, the arbitrary and unreasonable Israeli limitations on food, and repair and reconstruction materials are unacceptable and indefensible. People; innocent children, women and non-combatants, are going without water, food and sanitation, while the things they so desperately need are sitting in trucks at the border, being denied permission to go in” said Ellison.
Beginning of a change?
What's the situation like for Gaza fishers after the Israeli 22 day assault on Gaza? I just came across an article on reuters website looking at fishers in Gaza.
Fishing is still restricted to 3 miles from the shore. Fishers are regularly fired upon by the IDF, as before the 22 day assault.
The reduction in the coastal waters, Gaza fishers say, has allowed their Israeli and Egyptian counterparts access to the best hunting grounds, leaving slim pickings. In the meantime people in Gaza have no food.
The title of the article is Gaza Fishermen at risk as Israel hits arms smuggling....Since I've started this blog, fishers have always been at risk in Gaza. And there is no evidence of arms smuggling at sea.
The reuters article is dated february, 8th 2009.
Alain Gresh is a journalist and a specialist on the Middle East
I just came across his blog. The blog has 2 purposes: i) to inform people on the Middle East, and ii) to break away from the dominant view the media convey on the Middle East. Worth reading and following up onto.
Alain Gresh is editor of Le Monde diplomatique.
A very interesting article by Gideon Levy for the Haaretz. Below a summary of the key points Levy develops:
- The initial objective of the war was to put an end to the firing of Qassam rockets. Defense officials estimate that Hamas still has 1,000 rockets.
- The war's second objective, the prevention of smuggling, was not met either. Smuggling will be renewed within two months.
- Israel's ability to achieve its third objective is also dubious. Deterrence, my foot. The sporadic firing of rockets from the Gaza Strip has continued over the past few days.
- The fourth objective, which remained undeclared, was not met either. The IDF has not restored its capability. It couldn't have against a miserable and poorly-equipped organization relying on makeshift weapons, whose combatants barely put up a fight.
So what was achieved, after all? As a war waged to satisfy considerations of internal politics, the operation has succeeded beyond all expectations. Likud Chair Benjamin Netanyahu is getting stronger in the polls.
" On 29 January the Security Council will hold a private meeting on Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Respect for International Humanitarian Law. The meeting will focus on possible measures the Council can consider to more effectively prevent and stop violations of international humanitarian law. The ICRC, OCHA, the UN Office of Legal Affairs, OHCHR and UNHCR have been invited to brief the Council. France has prepared a concept paper for the meeting and has also proposed that the Council might adopt a presidential statement."
Let's see what comes out of the meeting. Even if the meeting is general in nature, it is still interesting in view of the violence in Gaza.
" Gaza: Yesterday 95 bodies were dug up from the ruins. As of today, at least 1,300 killed, of them at least 410 children and 104 women. Over 5,320 injured, of them over 350 severely injured (Palestinian Ministry of Health figures).
Israel: 3 civilians and 10 soldiers killed. Over 84 civilians injured, of them 4 severely injured, not including those treated for shock, and 113 soldiers injured, of them one in critical condition and 20 Moderately or severely injured. "
"Gaza: at least 1,205 killed, of them at least 410 children and 98 women. More than half those killed since the ground incursion began (580) are women and children. Over 3,520 injured, of them over 350 severely (Palestinian Ministry of Health figures).
Israel: 13 killed, of them 1 woman and 10 soldiers. Over 82 civilians injured, of them 4 severely injured, not including those treated for shock , and 113 soldiers injured, of them one in critical condition and 20 suffer moderate or severe injuries."
... from Betselem website. The site explains that all throughout the fighting, Israeli human rights groups worked together to inform the Israeli public of the impact on civilians....while many others were trying to make us believe that Israel was making every possible effort to avoid civilian casualties. on this, i strongly recommend Robert Fisk’s article for the Independent: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-do-they-hate-the-west-so-much-we-will-ask-1230046.html
