Gaza: Humanitarian situation worst since 1967

JamieSW — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:34:27 +0000

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worse now than it's been at any time since the beginning of the Israeli occupation in 1967, according to a new report published today (6 March) by a coalition of leading humanitarian and human rights organisations. The weekend's upsurge in violence and human misery underlines the urgency of this report.

In their new joint report, the coalition - comprising Amnesty International, CARE International UK, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Médecins du Monde UK, Oxfam, Save The Children UK and Trócaire - warns that Israel's blockade of Gaza is a collective punishment of the entire Gazan civilian population of 1.5 million. The report concludes that the Israeli government's policy of blockade is unacceptable, illegal and fails to deliver security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.

Geoffrey Dennis, Chief Executive of CARE International UK said:

'The recent escalation in violence, both from rocket attacks and military strikes, will make life even more unbearable in Gaza. Unemployment has soared and 80% of people in Gaza are now dependent on food aid compared to 63% in 2006. Water and sewage infrastructure is on the point of total collapse. Unless the blockade ends now, it will be impossible to pull Gaza back from the brink of this disaster and any hopes for peace in the region will be dashed.'

According to the report, the blockade of Gaza has dramatically worsened levels of poverty and unemployment and has led to deterioration in education and health services. Over 1.1 million people are now dependent on food aid and of 110,000 workers previously employed in the private sector, 75,000 workers have now lost their jobs.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

'Israel has the right and obligation to protect its citizens, but as the occupying power in Gaza it also has a legal duty to ensure that Gazans have access to food, clean water, electricity and medical care. Punishing the entire Gazan population by denying them these basic human rights is utterly indefensible. The current situation is man-made and must be reversed.'

The coalition's 16 page report, 'The Gaza Strip: A humanitarian implosion', urges the UK government and EU to press for a new strategy for Gaza. In particular, the report calls on the UK government to:

* Exert greater pressure on the Israeli government to open the crossings into Gaza and stop fuel and electricity cuts in order to stem the worsening humanitarian crisis.

* Help facilitate a process of Palestinian reconciliation that can lead to a credible and effective peace process with Israel.

* Abandon the failed policy of non-engagement and begin negotiations with all Palestinian parties, including Hamas.

The report calls on the Israeli Government and Palestinian armed groups to immediately cease all attacks against civilians. All unlawful attacks must stop: the Government of Israel should put an immediate end to disproportionate attacks in Gaza and Palestinian armed groups should immediately stop indiscriminate rocket attacks into southern Israel.

Christian Aid's Director, Daleep Mukarji, said:

'The UK government should acknowledge that a new strategy is needed for Gaza. The current policy does not secure vital security for Israeli citizens, and even if it did the blockade policy would still be unacceptable and illegal. Humanitarian aid can help stave off total collapse but it will not provide a long-term solution. Gaza cannot become a partner for peace unless Israel, Fatah and the Quartet engage with Hamas and give the people of Gaza a future.'

Read the full report here (.pdf).

AMW Concern at Lack of Gaza Commentary

JamieSW — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:49:33 +0000

Arab Media Watch expresses concern at the lack of critical commentary in the British press on Israel’s recent decision to intensify its siege of the Gaza Strip by withholding vital fuel supplies and increasing military attacks.

Israel’s actions have resulted in civilian deaths, a worsening humanitarian crisis, the breach of Gaza’s border with Egypt, and bleaker prospects for the resumption of peace talks. Nonetheless, there has been no comment whatsoever in the Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Star and Evening Standard.

The only commentary in the Times, by Robin Shepherd entitled “A barrage against Israel,” unreservedly defends Israel’s actions, blaming the situation in Gaza on “the culture of violence in Palestinian society” and accusing Israel’s critics of “sheer irrationality.”

He adds: “In the topsy-turvy world of British and European commentary…reasoned argument is cast aside. The frenzied, rhetorical onslaught against the Jewish state is at best intellectually lazy. At worst it forms part of a hateful agenda that shames those who indulge in it.”

It is deeply troubling that this is the only comment made in the Times about the collective punishment of 1.5 million civilians, which is illegal under international law and a violation of Israel’s responsibilities as an occupying power.

The only commentary in the Daily Express, by Frederick Forsyth, focuses on how Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria have “kept the Palestinians penned like animals in rat-infested ‘refugee camps’, which are truly stinking slums breeding hopelessness and despair,” and have kept them “in destitution and captivity as a stick to beat Israel.”

Sympathy for Palestinian living conditions is unusual for Forsyth who, unsurprisingly, has no such strong words for Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians.

A commentary by Deborah Orr in the Independent (”The tragic truth about collective punishment“) and one by Con Coughlin in the Daily Telegraph (”Gazans should make the most of liberation“) take a similar approach, focusing more on Arab treatment of the Palestinians, and Palestinian treatment of themselves and Israel. This is puzzling given the country’s central role in the crisis, and the fact that it initiated the military and economic siege.

The Telegraph, Independent, Financial Times and Guardian each published a leader on the issue. Each is praiseworthy for their condemnation of Israel’s actions, but perhaps most interestingly and unexpectedly, the Telegraph calls on Israel to “consider putting out feelers to Hamas, with the aim of starting a political dialogue…Hamas should no longer simply be ignored.”

This pragmatic approach is, however, countered by Coughlin’s view on how Israel should “deal with the existential threat the terror group poses”: “To make peace in the Middle East, it is often necessary first to make war.”

In addition to the leaders, nine commentaries were published: five in the Independent, and one each in the Telegraph, Guardian, Times and Daily Express. As such, the Independent had by far the most to say.

However, the Independent was the only newspaper to react directly to Israel’s intensification of its siege on Gaza. Commentary in the other newspapers appeared only after the Gaza-Egypt border was breached as a reaction to the blockade. As such, one wonders whether there would have been any commentary beyond the Independent had Palestinians not reacted the way they did.

AMW commends commentaries by Mark Steel (”Not a shopping spree, just a taste of freedom“) and Richard Ingrams in the Independent, and Karen Koning Abu Zayd in the Guardian.

However, the treatment of the issue by significant sections of the British press can be summed up by Guardian correspondent Rory McCarthy’s statement last month: “The case of the increasingly desperate humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has been…often ignored.”

collective punishment | ukwatch.net

Gaza: Humanitarian situation worst since 1967

AMW Concern at Lack of Gaza Commentary