BS: Humanitarian voyage

Subject: BS: Humanitarian voyage
From: Lox
Date: 24 May 10 - 05:05 AM

I am full of admiration for the elected parliamentarians, doctors, dentists etc from all over the world who have taken the brave step of joining the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

They will be sailing through international waters and then through Gazan waters and will at no point cross into Israeli jurisdiction.

They are carrying medical supplies, and bulding materials to try to rebuild schools and hospitals in Gaza and they will be running medical and dental clinics on board the ships.

There will be no threat of any imaginable kind to Israels national security.

Despite this, the Israeli navy intends to prevent them from getting through to Gaza.

To do this they will need to go beyond their jurisdiction and assert control over waters that they have no mandate to control.

To enforce this they will need to use military force.

I hope the Israeli Government makes the right choice and lets them do the work they have set out to do.

I await to see what happens.

Will they allow the children of Gaza, who are too young to vote and therefore bear no responsibility for the current situation, to have access to basic health care and somewhere warm to learn and live, or will they use military force against an unarmed convoy of humanitarian aid that presents no risk to their national security in waters that do not belong to them to prevent the ships reaching their destination.

The story today ...

Subject: RE: BS: Humanitarian voyage
From: bobad
Date: 24 May 10 - 07:14 AM

"A government spokesman has said the fleet is welcome to deliver its cargo of construction materials and medical supplies to an Israeli port."

BBC News



"Over 14,000 tons of humanitarian aid were transferred from Israel into the Gaza Strip last week, the IDF announced on Tuesday in its weekly summary of COGAT operations.

"A total of 637 truckloads, consisting of 14,069 tons of humanitarian aid, were transferred into the Gaza Strip from Israel via the various crossings," read a statement by the IDF Spokesperson.


According to the statement, the shipments consisted of hundreds of thousands of liters of fuel; 21 truckloads of milk formula and baby food; 897 tons of cooking gas, 66 truckloads of fruits and vegetables; 51 truckloads of wheat, 27 truckloads of meat, poultry and fish; 40 truckloads of dairy products; 117 truckloads of animal food; 37 truckloads of hygiene products; 22 truckloads of sugar; and 38 truckloads of clothing and shoes.

In addition, 781 medical patients the Gaza Strip crossed into Israel and the West Bank along with their chaperones for medical treatment. Into Gaza, meanwhile, went four truckloads of medicine and medical equipment.

Aside from humanitarian and medical supplies, 191 staff members of international organizations crossed into the Gaza Strip, and 202 crossed from the Gaza Strip into Israel."

The Jerusalem Post
Monday May 24 2010

Subject: RE: BS: Humanitarian voyage
From: Emma B
Date: 24 May 10 - 08:13 AM

But what Israel considers to be the "humanitarian minimum" is obscure according to Martha Myers, chairwoman of the Association of International Development Agencies (AIDA), who represents about 90 organisations from all over the world.

"Experience has taught that in the past two years these clearances to Gaza change all the time. We were already told that lettuce, jam, dates, macaroni and candles were not allowed. Gaza needs about 2,000 tons of cooking gas a week, and gets just about 800 tons."

"Since the beginning of April, Israel showed a sign of good will and decided that fashion no longer constitutes a security threat, at least temporarily.
It allowed, contingent on certain conditions, the transfer of containers of clothes and footwear, at a rate of 10 trucks a day, of those containers that have been stored at Israel's port in Ashdod or in the West Bank since the closure was imposed in 2007. However, the clothes and shoes have accumulated moisture in the many months of storage, and many of the products have either rotted completely or been partially damaged by mildew. The losses to the merchants, in addition to the costs of storage, are estimated at 30 percent of the value of each truck."

On April 28th, Israel allowed that approximately 133 truckloads of aid could enter via Kerem Shalom and 122 truckloads of wheat and animal feed through the northern Kani crossing; a contribution, but still insufficient.

For Sari Bashi (Founder and Executive Director of Gisha) it is clear that Israel just wants to paralyse the whole economy of Gaza.

"Israel claims that its restrictions on the movement of goods into Gaza constitute "economic sanctions" or "economic warfare" designed to weaken the economy in Gaza as part of its warfare against the Hamas regime. But it's just a collective punishment, which is forbidden by International Law, for the rocket fire by militants and the failure of the Hamas regime to prevent such rocket fire."

The result of this economic warfare is that ninety percent of Gaza's factories are already closed or operating at ten percent or less capacity. "In addition to the ban of construction materials and industrial fuel, Israel forbids large buckets of margarine, because these are designed for industrial use, rather than home consumption", explains Bashi how the crossings policy is aimed at preventing economic development. "Israel says that these large buckets could be used to allow a local factory to produce biscuits, and thus engage in economic activity. Similarly is the ban of empty cans, intended for the preservation and marketing of Gaza-produced tomato paste. Israel only allows Israeli-made tomato paste.

As a result of this policy, more than 80 percent of Gaza's population is dependent on humanitarian aid."

Martha Myers acknowledges the legitimate security concerns of Israel.
"But now it takes the food out of the people's mouth. A significant percentage of the donor's money for humanitarian aid goes to the administration services to solve problems and to cope with all these clearances, permissions and licences."
.....we have to prove that anything we import into Gaza passes through Israel."


According to Gisha**, imports are currently at approximately 25 percent of what Gaza needs, including grain and animal feed transferred not on trucks but via conveyer belt. That amounts to 2,500 truckloads of goods per month as opposed to the 10,400 truckloads per month entering before the June 2007 closure began.


**Gisha is an Israeli not-for-profit organization, founded in 2005, whose goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents.
Gisha promotes rights guaranteed by international and Israeli law.

It is operated by a professional staff and guided by a board that includes legal academics and practitioners, women and men, Arabs and Jews, who have helped shape Israeli human rights law through their advocacy and writings.

Subject: RE: BS: Humanitarian voyage
From: Emma B
Date: 24 May 10 - 08:43 AM

State of the Gaza Strip's Border Crossings 1 January – 15 February 2010

During this period, Israeli continued to impose a ban on the export of products from Gaza. Only limited quantities of flowers and strawberries were allowed to be exported; the delivery of limited quantities of foodstuffs, cleaning items, and some necessary medical, educational and agricultural supplies was allowed

Al-Mentar crossing was completely closed for 35 days. It was partially opened for limited hours on 11 days.

- Karm Abu Salem crossing was completely closed for 14 days. It was partially opened for 32 days to allow the delivery of limited quantities of humanitarian aid, basic goods and fuel supplies.

- Sofa crossing, which is used for the delivery of construction materials, remained completely closed throughout the 46-day reporting period

Rafah International Crossing Point was completely closed for 42 days (91% of the time), while it was partially opened for 4 days (9%).
(Since 12 June 2007, the crossing point has been completely closed on 906 days.)
During the partial opening of Rafah crossing, a number of patients and their escorts were allowed to travel abroad for treatment or return to Gaza after receiving required treatment.
In addition, a number of political leaders were allowed to travel to Egypt via the crossing to attend meetings, and a number of international solidarity delegations and members of humanitarian organizations were allowed to enter to and exit Gaza.

During the reporting period, the Beit Hanoun crossing was completely closed for 7 days.
Israel also significantly reduced the number of Gazan patients who were permitted to cross Beit Hanoun crossing during this period.

From 1 January – 15 February 2010 Israel did not permit the entry of journalists and media representatives and members of international humanitarian organizations into Gaza for 9 days.

During the opening days, approximately 120 journalists, 110 members of diplomatic missions and 750 employees of international humanitarian organizations were allowed to enter Gaza, although only after having to undergo complicated security procedures, resulting in delays of several days for many of those allowed to enter.

During the reporting period, Israel completely closed the Nahal Oz crossing, which is built for the delivery of fuel supplies, including benzene, diesel, industrial fuel and cooking gas.
Before taking this decision, Israel had obstructed the delivery of fuel to Gaza via Nahal Oz crossing and reduced the delivery of industrial fuel and cooking gas to minimal levels.
The Gaza Strip suffered from a severe shortage of cooking gas as a result; many cooking gas distribution stations were forced to shut down.
The operation of the Gaza Power Plant was significantly affected due to the severe shortage of industrial fuel and various areas of the Gaza Strip suffered electrical power outages.

etc etc .......

Article 55 of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention stipulates:

"To the fullest extent of the means available to it, the Occupying Power has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population; it should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate.
The Occupying Power may not requisition foodstuffs, articles or medical supplies available in the occupied territory, and then only if the requirements of the civilian population have been taken into account".

Subject: RE: BS: Humanitarian voyage
From: Lox
Date: 24 May 10 - 09:29 AM

UN report of 22nd may on the restoration of Gaza.

"The survey, published by the UN Development Programme, said that much of the repair work that has been carried out has used materials smuggled in through tunnels from neighbouring Egypt to circumvent Israeli and Egyptian blockades.

Constrained by those sanctions, the report said, traditional international aid donors find themselves severely handicapped."

Full report from press trust of India


As Emmas posts show, and as the UN seems to confirm, the likelihood of the aid in question getting through in its entirety and on time is low unless it can get straight through to Gaza.


In the case of the on board clinics, residents of Gaza will not have any access to the facilities on offer if the ships are docked somewhere else.

Besides which, Bobads posts is a red herring as whether the ships dock in Gaza or not is none of Israels business since the ships will not be passing through Israeli jurisdiction and the Israeli navy will have no legal right either to refuse or allow the ships access to Gaza.

That is up to the elected Government of Gaza to refuse or deny as they choose.

Subject: RE: BS: Humanitarian voyage
From: Emma B
Date: 24 May 10 - 01:12 PM

No one is doubting the figures published in The Jerusalem Post

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories of the Israel Defense Forces issues a weekly report on the amount of humanitarian aid and other merchandise that is transferred from Israel to the Gaza Strip

BUT !!!

As reported in my earlier post, much of the recent clothing and shoes allowed through has been in 'storage' since 2007 as truck-loads of goods were impounded in Israeli ports, and has suffered considerable deterioration

"Israel allowed a shipment of clothes and shoes for Palestinian traders into the Gaza Strip this April for the first time in its almost three-year-old blockade of the enclave

An Israeli military spokesman said clothes and shoes had been allowed into the territory on a regular basis as part of humanitarian aid. But this was the first time that privately imported clothing was allowed in for traders to sell on.

Gaza's merchants, who imported the goods privately, said Sunday's shipment was not enough to replenish their stocks and demanded Israel release more goods held at its ports since 2007.
"Some of it even smells bad. I can say half of the merchandise is still good, but the other half is damaged. I fear I may not be able to recoup my outlay," importer Ziad Barbakh told Reuters while frantically inspecting his clothes shipment."

Merchants said they had to pay 2000 shekels (about $540) per month for storing their merchandise at the Israeli port of Ashdod for the last three years.

- Reuters report 04 Apr 2010


In addition the amount of food now entering Gaza is only 25% of the June 2007 figures.

A UN study has found that Gazan families are eating fewer meals a day and mainly relying on carbohydrates such as rice and flour because protein foods are expensive or unavailable. Chicken eggs have doubled in price due to the destruction of chicken coops during the Gaza war

After visiting Gaza in March, Irish foreign minister Michael Martin described the Israeli blockade of Palestinian-ruled Gaza as "inhumane and unacceptable" and called on the European Union and other countries to increase pressure on Israel to lift the blockade.
Michael Martin was the first EU foreign minister to enter Gaza in over a year
"The tragedy of Gaza is that it is fast in danger of becoming a tolerated humanitarian crisis," he wrote in an opinion piece for the International Herald Tribune

Israel bans shipments of cement and steel and other construction materials on the grounds that Hamas could use them for military purposes.

However its long list of controlled goods also includes items that critics say have no apparent military value, such as children's crayons and books.

"All that is being achieved through the imposition of the blockade is to enrich Hamas and marginalize even further the voices of moderation." commented Michael Martin

Subject: RE: BS: Humanitarian voyage
From: Emma B
Date: 24 May 10 - 01:49 PM

Sorry Lox, I can't get your link to work but, if anyone genuinely wishes to understand the aims of the 'Freedom Flotilla' project and the very real danger its passengers may encounter please read this Q & A article

"the Director of Operations of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, John Ging, has called for the international community to "break" the siege on Gaza by sending ships.

The Irish ambassador in Israel has also expressed support, asking Israel to ensure that all the aid arrives in its destination and Irish citizens not be harmed.

The Free Gaza Movement, one of the organizing groups which attempted such trips eight times before, has endorsements from Arshbishop Desmond Tutu and Noam Chomsky among many others.

Israel controls Gaza's territorial waters, and has warned campaigners not to attempt to break the blockade, saying it will use "any means necessary" to stop the flotilla.

Israel has, in the past, stopped the flotilla by ramming it with gunboats, towing it to its own ports as well as taking in passengers from international waters and detaining them.

The Israeli navy has reportedly been conducting practice exercises in order to block the Freedom Flotilla."