The Real Facts about Gaza

I believe that many of you are like myself – knowing that the Gaza situation just feels inherently wrong. We are smart enough to know that the national media / propaganda doesn’t tell us the whole story.

We know that the responses by Israel are unbalanced, where thousands of Palestinians are injured and hundreds killed for less than 10 Isrealis killed. We know that countries can live side by side – even if they hate each other – without murder, war, and conflict. For this stuff to happen, there has to be provoking by one side.

Well, I finally came across the facts why there is this problem. Isreal has been provoking Gaza ever since they left. They have blockaded the country completely. They have essentially imprisoned the entire population of Gaza. It is no wonder that a few rockets are fired whenever they can. The Palestinians are literally dying to be free. Finally, their message is being heard. Please Listen!

For the complete report, please go to this link:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/downloads/oxfam_gaza_lowres.pdf
Here are the highlights…

The current situation in Gaza is man-made, completely avoidable and, with the necessary political will, can also be reversed.

An Imprisoned Population

Isreal has blockaded Gaza. Gaza is now an Imprisoned Population. Blocking movement almost completely from air, land, sea, and by foot. Movement in and out of Gaza is all but impossible and supplies of food and water, sewage treatment, and basic healthcare are only sporatically available. As a result of the blockade and collapse of the economy, there is little money to buy food and limited food to buy.

Economic Collapse

The Gaza economy is no longer on the brink of collapse – it has collapsed. In the last 6 months, the majority of private businesses have shut down and 95% of Gaza’s industrial operations are suspended due to the ban on imported raw materials and the block on exports.

In June 2007, there were 748 truckloads of exports leaving Gaza for Israel and other countries. A month later there were none.

On top of the strangulation of the Gaza economy, the economic interdependence that once existed between Israel and Gaza is also being destroyed. In September 2000, just before the outbreak of the second Palestinian Intifada and the escalation of violence on both sides, some 24,000 Palestinians crossed out of Gaza everyday to work in Israel. Today that figure is zero.

Failing to Deliver Security

This humanitarian crisis is a direct result of a blockade, which is an on-going collective punishment of ordinary men, women and children and is illegal under international law. Isolation and poverty are breeding increasing levels of violence for which both Palestinians and Israelis are paying the price.

The blockade, in response to indiscriminate rocket attacks into Israel, constitutes a reprisal against a civilian population and is forbidden by international humanitarian law.

Peace will not be achieved by locking 1.5 million people into a prison of spiralling poverty and misery.

Failure to end the policy of isolation will only continue the cycle of increasing poverty and extremism in Gaza rather than bring an end to it.

Israel has the right and duty to defend itself against indiscriminate rocket attacks against its civilian population, but the current policy fails to provide Israel with increased security and has led to increasing polarisation. As the head of UNRWA has pointed out,

‘Hungry, unhealthy, angry communities do not make good partners for peace.’

Please write your Senator or Representative to inform them of this tragedy. The US must stop supporting these horrific violations of humanitarian law. Have them come up with a plan that ends the blockade and live peacefully next to each other. It can be done!

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml