Egypt opens Gaza Border in response to action on Flotilla

[fallout man]

It seems like the Israelis document the supplies they send in.

Also, I love taking straight from the horse in the mouth.

Cool story, PJ.

 

[PJABBER]

Cool story, PJ.

As it was presented to the UN and represents aid that is channeled through third party aid agencies that would also document it, I kinda think it tells a pretty clear story. Even to a blatant anti-Semite like yourself.

 

[theeedude]

Maybe Gazans don't want an Israeli lifeline. Maybe they want the blockade lifted so they can rebuild their lives. Have you thought of that? They aren't even allowed to bring in the concrete they need to rebuild from the bombing Israel inflicted on them.

 

[fallout man]

Even to a blatant anti-Semite like yourself.

LOL. You can do better than that, PDiddle. Can I get a "Nazi-sympathizer" up this shit too, plz? Do it for the lulz, and your receding hair-line. It'll make you feel better inside.

Big balls you have, yes.

 

[Double Trouble]

Maybe Gazans don't want an Israeli lifeline. Maybe they want the blockade lifted so they can rebuild their lives. Have you thought of that? They aren't even allowed to bring in the concrete they need to rebuild from the bombing Israel inflicted on them.

For once I'd have to agree with senseamp: providing a "lifeline" is fine and would be much appreciated during a catastrophe or crisis, but the people living in Gaza need more than just food and medicine, they need equipment, parts, supplies, etc etc to (re)build an infrastructure. The fact that the islamaic wackos living in Gaza have carried out attacks against Isreal doesn't change that fact.

 

[Freshgeardude]

Maybe Gazans don't want an Israeli lifeline. Maybe they want the blockade lifted so they can rebuild their lives. Have you thought of that? They aren't even allowed to bring in the concrete they need to rebuild from the bombing Israel inflicted on them.

maybe israel doesnt want to be attacked by constant missile and mortar attacks daily? maybe that is the reason the blockade was instated. no, it couldnt be, it is to simply make the gazan people suffer.

 

[theeedude]

maybe israel doesnt want to be attacked by constant missile and mortar attacks daily? maybe that is the reason the blockade was instated. no, it couldnt be, it is to simply make the gazan people suffer.

So? That doesn't require Israel to limit the flow of civilian goods.

 

[DucatiMonster696]

For once I'd have to agree with senseamp: providing a "lifeline" is fine and would be much appreciated during a catastrophe or crisis, but the people living in Gaza need more than just food and medicine, they need equipment, parts, supplies, etc etc to (re)build an infrastructure. The fact that the islamaic wackos living in Gaza have carried out attacks against Isreal doesn't change that fact.

The islamic wackos (Hamas) are the ones these people voted in to be in charge and run the place. This means most of the things you've mention will go straight into their hands to be used against the Israelis at a later date.

 

[fallout man]

The islamic wackos (Hamas) are the ones these people voted in to be in charge and run the place. This means most of the things you've mention will go straight into their hands to be used against the Israelis at a later date.

qft.

To date, Israel has been unable to counter the Pikachu-backback bombings, nor the cilantro rockets seasoning the open spaces of southern Israel. Lives are at stake here, people!

 

[cwjerome]

Huge victory for Hamas.

Here is the reality: Israel is at war with Hamas and the boats were clearly supporters and members of Hamas, they were and are enemy combatants. Israel offered to deliver the aid on the boats to Gaza after a weapons inspection. The flotilla was going to Gaza and there is a legal right for a military to board and search in international waters if a vessel is suspect. The vessels were warned far in advance they would not be allowed to enter Gaza, and refuse to be redirected or searched. Even if the vessels felt the boarding by the IDF wasn't legal, they had enough observers on board to make a legal case in an international court. They chose not to protest in a peaceful manner, but to attack with pre-staged weapons.

Here's the outcome: Israel gets owned hard.

From a strategic standpoint, Hamas had one primary mission for their vessels: strategic communication and information warfare. The objective was to break the blockade. The news media coverage worldwide characterized the event as 'freedom flotilla activists' ... 'attacked' ... 'by Israeli raid.' Almost as if the Hamas press office had written the articles. Israel for its part seems to have played directly and completely into the Palestinian strategy. From the selection of tactics, to the choice of spokesmen and message, and to how the press was handled indicate a lack of prparation for the information fight. The outcome is a strategic victory for Hamas in the information space. Egypt instantly lifted its blockade of Gaza, mission accomplished!

The lack of clarity and sophistication by most of the propagandized fools on P&N is alarming. Suckers.

 

[CLite]

Humanitarian aid despite Hamas attacks

Despite attacks by Hamas, Israel maintains an ongoing humanitarian corridor for the transfer of perishable and staple food items to Gaza. This conduit is used by internationally recognized organizations including the United Nations and the Red Cross.

Well over a million tons of humanitarian supplies entered Gaza from Israel over the last 18 months equaling nearly a ton of aid for every man, woman and child in Gaza.

Millions of dollars worth of international food aid continually flows through the Israeli humanitarian apparatus, ensuring that there is no food shortage in Gaza.

Food and supplies are shipped from Israel to Gaza six days a week. These items were channeled through aid organizations or via Gaza's private sector.

Large quantities of essential food items like baby formula, wheat, meat, dairy products and other perishables are transferred daily and weekly to Gaza. Fertilizers that cannot be used to make explosives are shipped into the Strip regularly, as are potato seeds, eggs for reproduction, bees, and equipment for the flower industry.

In 2009 alone, more than 738,000 tons of food and supplies entered Gaza. Pictures in local newspapers show local markets aplenty with fruit, vegetables, cheese, spices, bread and meat to feed 1.4 million Gazans.

In the first quarter of 2010 (January-March), 94,500 tons of supplies were transferred in 3,676 trucks to the Strip: 48,000 tons of food products; 40,000 tons of wheat; 2,760 tons of rice; 1,987 tons of clothes and footwear; 553 tons of milk powder and baby food.

In a typical week the IDF coordinates the transfer of hundreds of trucks containing about 15,000 tons of supplies. During the week of May 18, 2010 there were more than 100 truckloads of animal food, 65 trucks of fruit and vegetables; 22 truckloads of sugar, some 27 truckloads of meat, poultry and fish; and 40 trucks of dairy products. At holiday times, Israel increases transfers. During the Muslim holy days of Ramadhan and Eid al-Adha, Israel shipped some 11,000 heads of cattle into the Strip.

Beyond the fact that these numbers are straight from Israel I will give them the benefit of the doubt of providing true facts, but that doesn't mean they can't disguise reality by throwing out "OMG A TON PER PERSON" to fool the nitwits. (Note 2,000 lb's per person for 18 months including everything from building materials to food to medical supplies to transportation to the fuel supplied to Gaza's fuel plant is pathetically low......)

Let's review these numbers. First of all 2010 and 2009 numbers show a dramatic decrease in supplies, dropping from 184,500 tons a quarter to 94,500 tons a quarter.

Let's focus in on the first quarter of 2010 [four months of supply]
-A total of 0.79lb's of milk were provided per person. Ratio this by a factor of 4 for powder conversion...... 0.4 gallons of milk for 4 months
-A total of 2.83lb's of clothes were provided per person (this is about equal to a shoe)
-A total of 3.93lb's of rice per person
-A total of 57lb's of wheat.
-"Food products", see this is where it gets tricky because the weight obvious includes packaging.
-Say anywhere from 15% to 35% of the weight is packaging.
-A total of 44.5lb to 58lb's of other food.

These numbers don't show some shocking oversupply of food to Gaza strip. I will also pass on taking their qualitative assessment "Pictures in local newspapers show local markets aplenty with fruit, vegetables, cheese, spices, bread and meat to feed 1.4 million Gazans." at face value.

Personally I have zero information on the current state of things in the Gaza strip, but when I saw a string of numbers and spent 2 seconds thinking about it was clear propaganda.

If anyone else is inspired the other categories contain a plethora of supposedly large numbers that actually wash-out to pathetic when scaled to 1.4 Million people. Finally I did make the assumption that Israel is using a short ton which I think is valid because let's be honest they would be interested in showing a larger number of tons.

 

[PJABBER]

Let's review these numbers.

Your error is in believing that these numbers represent the totality of gross domestic consumption in the Gaza Strip. They only represent aid over and above the domestic production there. For an accurate picture you should combine the two.

Also, you might consider the efficiencies of third world populations rather than the first world consumption types and quantities you yourself use/waste.

Perhaps you should read and refer to my entire post again, including the actual state of affairs and relative quality of life in Gaza, including life spans relative to first and second world nations and the astounding amount of non-life essential goods they have.

You may not appreciate it, being coddled in an insanely consumer focused life of your own, but compared to many of the places I have seen around the world, it seems like the residents of Gaza actually have it vastly better.

Of course it could be even better for them, but they need to kick out the personally corrupt Hamas rulers that seem to be taking incoming supplies for their members first, always first, to see that.

It would be so helpful if the things they receive and produce are not first utilized for war making materiel or to feed an army rather than a family. But, that is the choice of their leadership, better guns than butter. Hence, not much interest in passing the means of destruction on to them.

For more information, click here.

 

[CLite]

I wouldn't expect some of the lagging indicators to reveal deficiencies in quality of life.

First there was a serious bombing campaign of the entire area destroying a ton of infrastructure. Directly after that a massive blockade blocked essentially all building materials until recently. This has led to a huge stress on Gaza's infrastructure according to most any unbiased article.

Sure they could get Israel healthcare but 10% the cost of US healthcare for a population that's had a lot of it's assets frozen isn't wonderful and dandy.

Personally I understand the Israeli perspective, they are trying to sufficiently reduce the quality of life in the Gaza strip to force a change in leadership (personally I think they are just reinforcing the current leadership). However, I'm not some simpleton who has shit for brains that reads an Israel ministry of foreign affairs website and deduces life in the Gaza strip is wonderful.

oh and from the CIA factbook on the gaza strip
"Israeli-imposed crossings closures, which became more restrictive after HAMAS violently took over the territory in June 2007, and fighting between HAMAS and Israel during December 2008-January 2009, resulted in the near collapse of most of the private sector, extremely high unemployment, and high poverty rates. Shortages of many goods are met through the HAMAS-controlled black market tunnel trade that flourishes under the Gaza Strip's border with Egypt."

It's clear a rosy picture of Gaza strip life is nothing but smoke blown out their asses.

 

[Noobtastic]

Maybe Gazans don't want an Israeli lifeline. Maybe they want the blockade lifted so they can rebuild their lives. Have you thought of that? They aren't even allowed to bring in the concrete they need to rebuild from the bombing Israel inflicted on them.

what "blockade?"

israel has no trade obligations to gaza. the cairo agreements are expired. hamas doesnt even recognize israel.

south korea placed a "blockade" on the north after an attack. the arab states "blockaded" israel's economy for decades.

us "blockades" iran's economy.

so fucking what?

israel is a sovereign nation, it doesn't have to do business with a terrorist state. if gazans want concrete then they have to prove they wont use it for rockets or weapons shelters, and hamas would have to renounce its charter, apologize to israel for decades of terrorism, and pay reparations.

 

[theeedude]

what "blockade?"

israel has no trade obligations to gaza. the cairo agreements are expired. hamas doesnt even recognize israel.

south korea placed a "blockade" on the north after an attack. the arab states "blockaded" israel's economy for decades.

us "blockades" iran's economy.

so fucking what?

israel is a sovereign nation, it doesn't have to do business with a terrorist state. if gazans want concrete then they have to prove they wont use it for rockets or weapons shelters, and hamas would have to renounce its charter, apologize to israel for decades of terrorism, and pay reparations.

Israel doesn't have to trade with Gaza, that is right, but it wants to block others from trading with Gaza too.

 

[Noobtastic]

Israel doesn't have to trade with Gaza, that is right, but it wants to block others from trading with Gaza too.

no it doesn't.

israel and egypt have imposed a blockade on gaza, so what?

what other countries besides iran wants to trade with gaza? gaza has nothing to export. its whole industry, shaped and built by israel, was confiscated by hamas.

hamas extorts palestinian businesses and sells UN food on the black market. the arabs hate the palestinians because all they do is bitch and moan.

the only thing they're good for is attacking israel, but even then they fail miserably.