Egypt opens Gaza Border in response to action on Flotilla

[JSt0rm]

See. They should of waited till the thing was in there own waters... Now they have another boat on the way and this border opened up lol. Talk about a fuck up. Whoever made that call is getting their balls chopped off right about now.

 

[nageov3t]

See. They should of waited till the thing was in there own waters... Now they have another boat on the way and this border opened up lol. Talk about a fuck up. Whoever made that call is getting their balls chopped off right about now.

the fact that it happened in international waters really, really, really doesn't matter.

 

[JSt0rm]

the fact that it happened in international waters really, really, really doesn't matter.

obviously it does as they lost control of the situation from a pr perspective. I would of just sunk the fucking thing in my own waters and say "we lost contact with it, no you cant come look"

 

[Lemon law]

Now DaFin comes back with the dubious contention of "MOST of the land ISRAEL BOUGHT from the palestinians with way above market prices."

And in all honesty we can't say that is only minuscule partially correct. But in the larger sense, and in the right to return sense that still drives the conflict, its so full of shit its not funny.

The giant mistakes we face still trace back to the first two years of Israeli history, and in choosing to take the road of Israeli injustice, Israel still mortgages its future in a mortgage they can never repay.

It would be more cheaply repairable if Israel had confronted its problems earlier, but now we find, the longer Israel waits, the greater the heap of problems they are in.

Now there are either two ways forward for the mid-east, either a separate and viable Palestinian State, or a Israeli requirement to assimilate the Palestinian people with full voting rights. Silly Israel in stalling too long may have waited too long to make a viable Palestinian possible, so they will win the other alternative.

 

[Jaskalas]

Makes you wonder why Egypt did it in the first place if just 9 deaths of foreign activists gets them to change their mind.

 

[woolfe9999]

Now DaFin comes back with the dubious contention of "MOST of the land ISRAEL BOUGHT from the palestinians with way above market prices."

And in all honesty we can't say that is only minuscule partially correct. But in the larger sense, and in the right to return sense that still drives the conflict, its so full of shit its not funny.

The giant mistakes we face still trace back to the first two years of Israeli history, and in choosing to take the road of Israeli injustice, Israel still mortgages its future in a mortgage they can never repay.

It would be more cheaply repairable if Israel had confronted its problems earlier, but now we find, the longer Israel waits, the greater the heap of problems they are in.

Now there are either two ways forward for the mid-east, either a separate and viable Palestinian State, or a Israeli requirement to assimilate the Palestinian people with full voting rights. Silly Israel in stalling too long may have waited too long to make a viable Palestinian possible, so they will win the other alternative.

So if Israel had ceded over territory for a Palestinian state earlier, then there wouldn't be a problem, right? So tell me, at which earlier point in time, let's say between 1967 and the present, were the Palestinians, a) able to negotiate such a deal with a single, trusted authority negotiating on their behalf, and b) capable of governing themselves? Pick a time.

- wolf

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Now DaFin comes back with the dubious contention of "MOST of the land ISRAEL BOUGHT from the palestinians with way above market prices."

And in all honesty we can't say that is only minuscule partially correct. But in the larger sense, and in the right to return sense that still drives the conflict, its so full of shit its not funny.

The giant mistakes we face still trace back to the first two years of Israeli history, and in choosing to take the road of Israeli injustice, Israel still mortgages its future in a mortgage they can never repay.

It would be more cheaply repairable if Israel had confronted its problems earlier, but now we find, the longer Israel waits, the greater the heap of problems they are in.

Now there are either two ways forward for the mid-east, either a separate and viable Palestinian State, or a Israeli requirement to assimilate the Palestinian people with full voting rights. Silly Israel in stalling too long may have waited too long to make a viable Palestinian possible, so they will win the other alternative.

You didn't even explain how the Israelis didn't buy the land. Or how the Israelis didn't steal it, but rather took it after the Palestinians abandoned it in the war. You're so biased, and your writing is so illegible, that this isn't even funny anymore. It's just depressing.

 

[Turin39789]

did we really need a separate thread for this? please spam the other thread. i need the post counts to go up on it.

mods, please lock. thanks

oooh what do win if we get more post counts?

 

[fallout man]

how should Israel have responded to Gaza electing terrorists to lead their government and launching rockets at Israel?

They could have started at the root of the problem, by not propping-up Hamas during the movement's early days so that they would be a thorn in Fatah's side. Israel fell in their own ditch by trying to divide and conquer. When "democratic elections" happened in Gaza, Israel got all BAAAWWWWW, then itchy and paranoid. Did rockets start with Hamas? I think they started with Israel's years of brutal Gaza occupation, and continued when Israel "withdrew" (but not really LOL) from Gaza. It's an open-air prison, with airspace and borders effectively controlled by Israel in entirety (because Egypt has shriveled balls) at Israel's whim. The blockade of Gaza isn't there to stop weapons from going in (murder by chocholate, LOL)--it's there because the Israeli government and their right-wing religious extremist supporters are vindictive, whiny bitches with a persecution complex.

Right, which is why when Israel offered the palestinians their own sovereign contiguous state with all of the land they demanded including part of Jerusalem, they turned it down and initiated the intifada instead.

Israel sure knows how to set examples for "withdrawal" and illustrating their version of "sovereign contiguous space," don't they?

http://www.gush-shalom.org/media/barak_eng.swf

Waiter, please hold the check-points!

 

[spittledip]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally a good idea, as the first thing the Israeli Jews would do is to demonize Utah Mormons, confiscate their land, and drive them all into the great salt flats of Utah.

Its the Israeli mantra, why share anything when you can have it all for yourselves.

Wow, you don't care for Jews do you?

 

[fallout man]

Makes you wonder why Egypt did it in the first place if just 9 deaths of foreign activists gets them to change their mind.

The same reason the Lebanese army fired at one of the daily, totally illegal Israeli jet overflights of south Lebanon today.

Poor Israel just can't seem to get it right these days, but heckuva job, Bibi!

Also, I'm really pretty sad at reading the repetition of "oh, they could have just docked in Israel, and super-nice Israel would just transfer the cargo to Gaza after checking for contraband..." ()

The point is that the Israeli government is off its fucking rocker, and they would steal all of the chocolate because they are greedy.

Guide: Gaza under blockade

By Heather Sharp
BBC News, Jerusalem

The Gaza Strip has been under a heightened Israeli blockade since the militant group Hamas seized control in June 2007. Israel wants to weaken Hamas, end its rockets attacks against Israeli towns and get back captured soldier Gilad Shalit.

Amnesty International has dubbed the blockade "collective punishment" resulting in a "humanitarian crisis"; UN officials have described the situation as "grim", "deteriorating" and a "medieval siege", but Israel says there are no shortages in Gaza, pointing to the aid it allows in.

What gets in and out of Gaza, and what impact has it had?



OVERVIEW: WHAT GETS IN

For much of the three years since Hamas took control of Gaza, its 1.5m people have relied on less than a quarter of the volume of imported supplies they received in December 2005.

In the wake of the Hamas takeover, Israel said it would allow only basic humanitarian supplies into the Strip. It has a list of dual-use items such as steel pipes and fertiliser which it says could be used to manufacture weapons.

These are not allowed in, with the exception of "special humanitarian cases". Other than that, no specific list of what is and is not allowed in has been published, and items gaining entry vary over time.

The UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees Unrwa's list of household items that have been refused entry at various times includes light bulbs, candles, matches, books, musical instruments, crayons, clothing, shoes, mattresses, sheets, blankets, pasta, tea, coffee, chocolate, nuts, shampoo and conditioner.

GOODS ALLOWED INTO GAZA
Canned meat and tuna, but not canned fruit
Mineral water, but not fruit juice
Sesame paste (tahini) but not jam
Tea and coffee but not chocolate

Many other items - ranging from cars to fridges to computers - are generally refused entry.

Building materials such as cement, concrete and wood were nearly always refused entry until early 2010, when some glass, wood, cement and aluminium were allowed in.

During the six month truce between Israel and Hamas, which began in June 2008, and in early 2010, the volume and range of goods increased with trucks of shoes and clothes entering Gaza.

Israel says Hamas has diverted aid in the past, and could appropriate building materials for its own use. Aid agencies say they have stringent monitoring systems in place.


FOOD

Aid agencies operating in Gaza say they have largely been able to continue to transport basic supplies such as flour and cooking oil into the territory.

But the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation says 61% of Gazans are "food insecure".

According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, 80% of Gazan households rely on some kind of food aid.

Unrwa provides food aid for 750,000 people, half the population.

Its food distribution has been suspended several times since June 2007 as a result of border closures or fuel shortages.

Israel usually says crossings are closed for security reasons, pointing to occasions when Palestinian militants have attacked the crossings or fired barrages of rockets into Israel.

Unrwa rations provide about two-thirds of dietary needs, and so need to be supplemented by dairy products, meat, fish and fresh fruit and vegetables. Some of these items are grown locally, some allowed in from Israel, and some smuggled in through tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border.

But with the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics estimating unemployment at 38.6% in early 2010, some Gazans cannot afford the basics, even if they are physically available.

Unrwa says the number of Gazan that it helps who are unable to buy basic items such as soap, stationary and safe drinking water has tripled since 2007.

A UN survey in 2008 found more than half Gaza's households had sold their disposable assets and were relying on credit to buy food, three-quarters of Gazans were buying less food than in the past, and almost all were eating less fresh fruit, vegetables and animal protein to save money.

The Israeli military operation in December and January 2009 disrupted food aid transfer and distribution significantly, as well as causing what the UN FAO estimates at $180m of damage to the agricultural sector.

According to the World Health Organization, one third of children under five and women of childbearing age are anaemic.

FUEL AND POWER

In September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Strip a "hostile entity" in response to continued rocket attacks on southern Israel, and said it would start cutting fuel imports.

At times, petrol and diesel shortages have caused major problems. Donkey carts are a common sight in Gaza. Vehicle fuel enters from Egypt through the tunnels.

According to information complied by Oxfam, no petrol or diesel for vehicles has been allowed in from Israel since November 2008, except for fuel for UN cars and five other shipments in three years.

The amount of cooking gas allowed in has generally fluctuated between about a third and a half of requirements, Oxfam figures show.


ELECTRICITY

Gaza's electricity supply is made up of 144MW from Israel, 17MW from Egypt and the rest from an EU-run power plant in Gaza which can generate up to 80MW.

The power plant's fuel is usually brought in through the main fuel entry point, the Nahal Oz crossing. The plant has shut down completely several times after running out of fuel because the crossing was closed. It was out of fuel for most of the Israeli operation in January 2009, leaving two-thirds of Gazans without power at the height of the crisis.

Since early 2008, the power plant has received enough fuel to operate at only about two-thirds of its capacity - in line with an Israeli Supreme Court ruling which set a minimum amount of fuel that Israel must allow into Gaza.

Figures monitored by international agencies show fuel deliveries dropped even below these minimums at several points in the first half of 2008.

In late 2009, the responsibility for funding the fuel was transferred from the EU to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority - since then the amount of fuel supplied has declined. In April and May 2010, fuel supply fluctuated, with the plant able to operate at between 20 and 50% of its capacity.

Power cuts remain frequent. Research by Oxfam in April 2010 showed houses across Gaza without power for 35-60 hours a week.


SEWAGE AND WATER

The blockade has taken its toll on Gaza's water and sewage network. Lack of spare parts has made repairs difficult. Intermittent power supplies have made pumps reliant on generators, which in turn have lacked spare parts and fuel.

The WHO says Operation Cast Lead worsened an already bad situation. Before the operation, it says Gazans had only half the water they needed according to international standards, and 80% of water supplied did not meet WHO drinking standards.

At the height of the January fighting, half of Gaza's population had no access to piped water.

Gaza's sewage treatment body estimates that at least 50m litres of raw or poorly-treated sewage is released into the sea daily.

Some of Gaza's sewage is stored in huge lagoons, one of which burst in 2007 causing at least five deaths.


BUSINESSES

Overall, the UN says the blockade has caused the economy "irreversible damage". Unemployment has soared from 30% in 2007 to 40% in 2008, according to the World Bank, though it dropped slightly in early 2010. The UN says that when aid is discounted, 70% of Gazan families live on less than a dollar a day per person.

The closures have devastated the private sector. Before 2007, up to about 750 trucks of furniture, food products, textiles and agricultural produce left Gaza each month, worth half a million US dollars a day.

Under the blockade, the only exports allowed have been a small number of trucks of strawberries and flowers - although the situation improved slightly in early 2010, with 118 trucks leaving between December 2009 to April 2010.

Even production for local needs has come to a virtual standstill because raw materials are usually refused entry

According to Israeli rights organisation Gisha, small containers of margarine are allowed in for household consumption, but not large buckets, which might be used for industrial food manufacturing.

Some industrial premises have resumed limited production using goods brought in from the tunnels.

Before the blockade, 3,900 industrial premises were operating, employing 35,000 people - by June 2008, only 90 were still functioning, employing only 860, according to the Palestinian Trade Center. The situation improved slightly during the truce.

An estimated total of $140m of damage was done to Gaza businesses during the December and January military operation, according to a Palestinian business body, the Palestinian Private Sector Coordinating Council.


AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is also an important employer, but with exports at almost zero, thousands of tonnes of flowers, fruit and vegetables have been destroyed or sold at a loss on the local market.

Other food production has also been affected - for example, rising fishermen's fuel costs pushed up the price of sardines, and one poultry farmer had to slaughter 165,000 chicks because he did not have the fuel for the incubators to keep them alive.

The UN's FAO says $180m of trees, fields, livestock, greenhouses and nurseries were destroyed during operation Cast Lead. The Palestinian Authority estimates 15% of agricultural land was destroyed.

The FAO says the closed borders are a major obstacle to reconstruction, with fertilizer, livestock, seedlings and agricultural equipment in short supply.

Israel says that in 2010 it has allowed potato seeds, eggs for reproduction, bees and fertiliser that could not be used to manufacture explosives into the Strip.


CONSTRUCTION

Restrictions on construction materials, particularly cement, and spare parts for machinery, have had a big impact on projects ranging from water treatment to grave digging. Reconstruction of buildings and infrastructure destroyed in the 2009 Israeli operations in Gaza has been virtually impossible.

The UN says restrictions on cement have made the reconstruction of 12,000 Palestinian homes damaged or destroyed in Israeli military operations "impossible".

It says it has not been able to build schools to house 15,000 new pupils, necessary because of population growth since the blockade began.

A few hundred tonnes of cement entered Gaza in the first half of 2010, but aid organisations say this is a fraction of the need - Gisha says 70,000 tonnes arrived monthly before the blockade.

Even before operation Cast Lead, all factories making construction materials had shut down (13 making tiles, 30 concrete, 145 marble and 250 making bricks), and the building of roads, water and sanitation infrastructure, medical facilities, schools and housing was on hold.

During the truce, some trucks of cement and gravel began to enter Gaza, but the volume was well below the need, and the flow stopped as the truce fell apart.


MEDICAL CARE

The World Health Organization says the blockade has lead to a general "worsening of the health conditions of the population" and "accelerated the degeneration" of the health system.

Israel generally allows medicines into Gaza. The WHO says that shortages of drugs are a problem, with 15-30% of essential drugs out of stock over 2009. But it blames problems in the supply chain, including the rift between Fatah and Hamas.

However it says the blockade is a major factor in the "dire state" of much of Gaza's medical equipment, with delays in approval of machines and spare parts, and engineers denied access to fit them.

The medical system has also struggled with lack of spare parts and, at times, fuel for back-up generators, and lack of building work because of the shortage of materials.

Before Operation Cast Lead, Gaza had only 133 hospital beds per 100,000 population, compared to 583 in Israel, and it lost some of that capacity in the fighting.

Six hospitals suffered damage, including one that had a new building completely destroyed, another lost two whole floors.

Gaza is simply not equipped to treat many severe cases.

According to Israeli figures, 10,544 patients and their companions left the Gaza Strip for medical treatment in Israel in 2009.

But the WHO says that in December 2009, permission for 21% of patients was denied or delayed, and 27 patients in total died during the year while waiting for referrals to Israel.

The Rafah crossing into Egypt has been closed since June 2007, although special medical cases are sporadically allowed to pass through it.

Israel says extensive security screening is necessary, as it says three people with permits to leave for medical reasons have been found to be planning attacks in Israel.

It also says it has offered to facilitate passage through Israel to Jordan for Palestinians it refuses permits to on security grounds.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/7545636.stm

 

[Patranus]

Its a shame that Obama lacks balls.
He should tell Egypt that if they don't play ball the U.S. will cut all aid to Egypt which would result in the collapse of the Egyptian government.

Sadly, Obama will continue to let the few terrorize the West.

 

[fallout man]

Its a shame that Obama lacks balls.
He should tell Egypt that if they don't play ball the U.S. will cut all aid to Egypt which would result in the collapse of the Egyptian government.

Sadly, Obama will continue to let the few terrorize the West.

Is this the general consensus of your constituency?

 

[Freshgeardude]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh how very very stupid, no first, arabs were selfish peices of shit and didnt agree to the borders in 1948 and opened a war on the newly formed israel. first Israel confiscates Palestinians land and tosses Palestinians into concentration camps, and then says, them ingrate Palestinians are shooting rockets at us sweet little blameless thieves.. Then Israel says that if we don't starve them within an inch of their lives we will get rockets shot at us and Israelis are right.

Pretty soon we all lose track of what started the whole mess. But God no, surely not, we can't possible do anything to help the Palestinians or do anything in terms of ending or solving the conflict. Greshams law of Common sense, stupidity drives common sense out of circulations so everyone gets to wallow in misery forever.

Human stupidity now, Human stupidity forever.

But in terms of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, it was a short term strategy designed to force Hamas out of power, and as an Israeli strategy, its did exactly the opposite. That was apparent two years ago, so why do we still have a Gaza blockade now???????????????

because rockets and mortars are still falling on israel??????

corrected and answers in bold

 

[Freshgeardude]

The same reason the Lebanese army fired at one of the daily, totally illegal Israeli jet overflights of south Lebanon today.

Poor Israel just can't seem to get it right these days, but heckuva job, Bibi!

Also, I'm really pretty sad at reading the repetition of "oh, they could have just docked in Israel, and super-nice Israel would just transfer the cargo to Gaza after checking for contraband..." ()

The point is that the Israeli government is off its fucking rocker, and they would steal all of the chocolate because they are greedy.

THIS JUST IN!!! BREAKING NEWS!!!! : israel is stealing palestinian chocolate in an effort to stop palestinians from launching rockets and mortars!!!

well... at least in fallout man's world, this is how he sees it.

 

[theeedude]

THIS JUST IN!!! BREAKING NEWS!!!! : israel is stealing palestinian chocolate in an effort to stop palestinians from launching rockets and mortars!!!

well... at least in fallout man's world, this is how he sees it.

Why are they seizing chocolate then?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemon law
Oh how very very stupid, first Israel confiscates Palestinians land and tosses Palestinians into concentration camps

Do you enjoy being disengenious?

Lemon law enjoys being ignorant and wordy!

 

[Freshgeardude]

Why are they seizing chocolate then?

because they want to eat it all apparently....


its all tactics israel is trying to play on hamas. why give hamas everything they want/ need if a blockade is up? plenty of terrorist funding countries will give them anything they need.

if israel takes off the ban on certain things, people will demand even more

 

[JSt0rm]

if israel takes off the ban on certain things, people will demand even more

Thats why they dont let them have chocolate? hahahaha.

 

[theeedude]

because they want to eat it all apparently....


its all tactics israel is trying to play on hamas. why give hamas everything they want/ need if a blockade is up? plenty of terrorist funding countries will give them anything they need.

if israel takes off the ban on certain things, people will demand even more

Yes, if they take off ban on chocoloate, Gazans may ask for ban on toys to be lifted too.
Israel's current position is indefensible. Doesn't mean they won't waste their diplomatic relations trying to defend it, but eventually they will retreat to only banning actual weapons from being brought in.

 

[fallout man]

why give hamas everything they want/ need if a blockade is up?

I didn't realize that Hamas were fueling their murderous troops with pure, sweet chocolate and canned fruit. Those guys sure know how to live.

 

[Freshgeardude]

I didn't realize that Hamas were fueling their murderous troops with pure, sweet chocolate and canned fruit. Those guys sure know how to live.

no but those are considered luxuries

 

[fallout man]

Lemon law enjoys being ignorant and wordy!

Ey chlopetz! Yak spravy?

Pan JEDIYoda zajubyv svoyu rozmovu? Davay, my budem prekrasni kolegi!

 

[fallout man]

no but those are considered luxuries

Actually, you're part right. Looking through the list of stuff Israel bans from entering Gaza, I get the sneaking suspicion that they're trying to deprive Gazan kids of vitamins and fun. The Russian immigrant faux-jew refugees in the Israeli government must be enjoying putting others though their own personal plight of the olden days.

 

[PJABBER]

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

Is this an inconvenient truth?

Behind the Headlines: The Israeli humanitarian lifeline to Gaza

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

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.

Maintaining medical aid for all in need

The medical corridor

No Palestinian is denied medical care in Israel. However, if the Hamas regime does not grant permits for medical care, the Israeli government can do nothing to help the patient. Israel will facilitate all cases of medical treatments from Gaza, unless the patient is a known perpetrator of terror.

Israel maintains a corridor for the transfer of medical patients out of Gaza, and about 200 medical staff members go through the crossings every month. Israel also helps coordinate the transfer of Jordanian doctors into Gaza.

In 2009 alone, 10,544 patients and their companions left the Gaza Strip for medical treatment in Israel. Moreover, there were 382 emergency evacuations from Gaza for medical purposes.

The Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem donates $3 million in aid annually to treat Palestinians in Israel. Following fears of a swine flu outbreak, three Israeli hospitals were assigned to treat cases in the Gaza Strip and 44,500 immunizations were transferred to the Strip.

Since 2005, Palestinians exploited medical care arrangements more than 20 times to carry out terror attacks.

Medical equipment

In 2009, some 4,883 tons of medical equipment and medicine were brought in.

In the first quarter of 2010, Israel shipped 152 trucks of medical supplies and equipment into Gaza. In a typical week (in May 2010), some 37 truckloads of hygiene products were shipped to Gaza through the land crossings. In addition, a new CAT scan machine was recently shipped to Gaza.

In 2009, Israel coordinated the transfer of medical supplies for the disabled including wheelchairs, crutches and first aid kits. Other equipment shipped to Gaza include heart-monitors, baby feeding tubes, dental equipment, medical books, ambulance emergency equipment, artificial limbs and infant sleeping bags.

Building for the future: Infrastructure and economic aid

Building materials

While the import of cement and iron has been restricted into Gaza since these are used by the Hamas to cast rockets and bunkers, monitored imports of truckloads of cement, iron, and building supplies such as wood and windows are regularly coordinated with international parties. Already in the first quarter of 2010, 23 tons of iron and 25 tons of cement were transferred to the Gaza Strip.

On 13 May 2010, Israel allowed approximately 39 tons of building material into Gaza to help rebuild a damaged hospital. The construction material for al Quds hospital was transferred after safeguards in place and French assurances ensured that the construction material would not be diverted elsewhere.

On 24 May 2010 Israel opened the Kerem Shalom crossing to 97 trucks loaded with aid and goods, including six trucks holding 250 tons of cement and one truck loaded with five tons of iron for projects executed and operated by UNRWA.

Electricity

According to the UN report of May 2010, 120 megawatts (over 70%) of the Strip's electricity supply comes from the Israeli electric grid, while 17 MWs come from Egypt and 30 MWs are produced by the Gaza city power station. Since January 2010, there has been deterioration in the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip since the Hamas regime is unwilling to purchase the fuel to run the Gaza City power station.

Throughout 2009 Israel transferred 41 trucks of equipment for the maintenance of Gaza's electricity grid.

Israel facilitates the transfer of fuel through the border, and maintains that the diversion of fuel from domestic power generators to other uses is wholly a Hamas decision. Over 133 million liters of fuel entered Gaza from Israel over the last 18 months.

Sewage

During the first quarter of 2010, the UN coordinated with Israel the transfer of equipment for UNWRA to upgrade the sewage pumping station. In 2009, 127 trucks containing more than 3,000 tons of hypochlorite entered the Gaza Strip for water purification purposes. Moreover, 48 trucks of equipment for improving the sanitation infrastructure led to a substantial reduction in the Beit Lahya facility's waste levels.

Economy

The United States, Israel, Canada, and the European Union have frozen funds to the Palestinian Hamas government since 2006, recognizing it as a terror organization. Israel has taken measures to support trade and commerce, the banking system, and the existing financial market in the Gaza Strip.

Gazans produce much of their own food products including olives, citrus, vegetables, Halal beef, and dairy products. Primary exports from Gaza are cut flowers and citrus, with trade partners being Israel, Egypt and the West Bank. During 2009, 7.5 million tons of flowers and 54 tons of strawberries were exported from Gaza with Israeli cooperation.

In 2009, 1.1 billion shekels (about $250 million) were transferred to the Gaza Strip for the ongoing activity of international organizations and to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority workers. 40 million damaged bank notes were traded for new bills, and at the request of the Palestinian Monetary Fund, 282.5 million shekels were transferred from Gazan to Israeli banks.

In February 2010, an agreement was reached with the Palestinian Authority's National Insurance Department to ensure that pensions reached those formerly employed in Israel. The funds were deposited in banks in Judea and Samaria, while the Palestinian Authority was given the responsibility of distributing the funds to the pensioners in Gaza.

Fostering hope and trust - Quality of life in Gaza

The cycle of life

Projected life expectancy in the Gaza Strip (2010) is 73.86, greater than Estonia, Malaysia, Jamaica and Bulgaria. The infant mortality rate in Gaza is 17.71 per 1000, above that of China, Jordan, Lebanon and Thailand. Fertility rates are about five children per family, equal to many African nations such as Rwanda and Senegal.

Healthcare

Palestinian families receive the same subsidized healthcare as Israelis, about 10% of the cost for the same treatment in the United States.

Schoolchildren

Israel transfers school equipment supplied by UNRWA including notebooks, school bags, writing implements and textbooks. Israel is currently coordinating the transfer of 200,000 laptops for Gaza schoolchildren and the shipment of 74 maritime containers for conversion into Gaza classrooms.

In the first quarter of 2010, Israel transferred 250 trucks with equipment for the UNWRA summer camp, including arts-and-crafts equipment, swimming pools, inflatable toys, ice cream machines, musical instruments, clothing, sports equipment.

Electronic life

About 20% of the population in Gaza owns a personal computer - this is more than Portugal, Brazil, Saudi Arabia or Russia. They have access to ADSL and dial-up Internet service, provided by one of four providers.

About 70% of Gazans own a TV and radio and have access to satellite TV or broadcast TV from the PA or Israel.

Gaza has well-developed telephone landlines, and extensive mobile telephone services provided by PalTel (Jawwal) and the Israeli provider Cellcom.

According to USAID report, 81% of households in Gaza have access to a cell phone. The PA-owned cell phone provider Jawwal has more than 1 million cellular subscribers.

Travel

Despite the inherent dangers involved, Israel permits Gazans and visitors to travel between Gaza and Israel, from Gaza to Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), and even abroad for medical treatment, religious pilgrimages, and business trips. Whenever possible Israel allows for diplomatic activities and trade and commerce with the Gaza Strip.

In additional to medical travel, 21,200 activists from international organizations and over 400 diplomatic delegations were permitted entry into Gaza, while 2,200 Palestinians employed by international organizations were given exit permits from the Gaza Strip.

147 permits were given to Palestinian students for academic studies around the world and special permission was given to Gazan footballers to train in Judea and Samaria and compete in international matches abroad.

During the Christmas holiday, approximately 400 permits were given to visit Bethlehem from Gaza as well 100 permits to travel abroad. In addition, 257 permits were given to businessmen from Gaza to facilitate business operations.


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