Six months after the end of the Israeli invasion, the Gaza Strip remains in ruins, with the billions of dollars pledged for its reconstruction largely unused in the face of a restrictive Israeli blockade. Today, the Israeli Defense Ministry is distributing a document warning that it thinks Hamas would probably end up with a measure of control over the funds.
The document also accuses the United Nations aid agencies of setting up “joint committees” with unions it claims have ties to Hamas. While they have contact with the Hamas-led government of the Gaza Strip, the UNRWA insists aid is distributed purely on the basis of need and not according to Hamas dictates.
The Israeli government has maintained a blockade since the end of its invasion, barring the importation of steel, cement and glass, claiming they all might have military uses for the Hamas government, and forcing Gazans to try to rebuild their destroyed cities with mud.
Earlier this month the Israeli Defense Ministry recommended the relaxation of certain restrictions, allowing clothing and chicken into the strip for the first time in months and allowing a somewhat increased supply of canned soup. This was presented as a “goodwill gesture,” but the restrictions on reconstruction materials remain in place despite international criticism.
More Israeli lies to hide the fact that they continue to use collective punishment( illegal under international law) against 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza in order to get them to reject Hamas. Hamas, unlike Fatah, cannot be bought off by Israel and their puppet government in Washington, and therefore must be destroyed by israel. Hamas refuses to accept Israel's brutal occupation of the Palestinians and demands freedom from this occupation. A recent article in the NYT discusses how Hamas has traded rockets for diplomacy. The U.S. must take this opportunity to engage Hamas and demand that Israel do the same by opening all the borders to Gaza.
Hamas is certainly closer to the Palestinian people's aspirations under Israeli occupation.
Cannot forget it came to being under Israeli sponsership.
Just as Hizbollah came into being as a result of the brutal Israeli occupation of Lebanon.
US should consider dialogue as an incentive for Israel to cease and desist
deopopulating the West bank of it's Non Jewish natives and stop buliding
exclusive Jewish Only housing that is bankrolled by the US Taxpayer.
What is humanitarian about the "generous" Israelis allowing "canned soups" into Gaza? The United States must demand that Israel allow construction materials, medicine and all foods into Gaza. Why is the US Government keeping the Israeli "jack boots" on the Palestinians' necks and at the same time taxing us to give the Israeli Government money to continue this strangulation? There is no gain for the United States in continuing these Israeli policies.
It is past time that the United States and other interesed nations come together and DEMAND that Israel open the Gaza border and give it control of its water, power , and sea and air lanes. Who is Israel to be the final say in what Gaza does? I am tired of our tax monies going to pay for such collective punishment. Cut Israel off now and let it float out there alone. If a few rockets continue, the other countries should decide what is to be done, proportionally, not Israel by itself.