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Blockade putting Gaza at risk of starvation, says UN
Ed Harris12.11.08
The UN warned today that Gaza would run out of food aid in two days unless Israel's blockade, which it described as "shameful and unacceptable", is relaxed.
The UN Relief and Works Agency, which distributes food to half of Gaza's 1.5 million people, called the blockade "a physical as well as a mental punishment".
Israel is now allowing a limited amount of fuel across the border but is still blocking food deliveries.
It tightened sanctions because of rocket attacks by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza. Hamas said the rockets were in reply to an Israeli raid that killed six gunmen on 4 November.
Reader views (7)
Lauren Booth here. Some shops are partially stocked with over priced, poor quality products that have to be smuggled in via tunnels. The majority of the population of Gaza are children, some 780,000. Please try to remember that when you applaud the 'punishment' of the Gazan people. The UN syas this week that it cannot provide essential aid to three quarters of a million civilians in the Strip, unable to survive on a day to day basis as Israel controls and blocks every border with help from Egypt.
- Lauren Booth, France
Israel has no right in the middle east full stop, it never has had.
- Kev, London
Israel controls the land, air and sea routes into Gaza and is responsible for the strangulation of the people of Gaza. I hope Obama can ignore the powerful Isreali lobby and do whats best for America and the peaceful world and cut off the funding and support for the occupying Isreali government. Every aid agency and non-political body that I know of has condemned the Isreali's actions in Gaza.
International law is clear about the occupation and settlement of the West Bank by extremist Jews as illegal. Everyone knows that in 50-100 years time, all the palestianians will return home. Why delay whats held in the future?
The civilised world should treat Isreal treats others and launch a blockade of that country.
- Alan Rex, london, england
Graham
There are no settlements in Gaza. Israel is not an occupier of Gaza. It owes the Gazan's nothing and is not responsible for them. HAMAS is but it chooses to spend the funds provided by the EU on weapons and bombs.
The West Bank is disputed territory. Israel gained it as the spoils of war. If anyone has more right to develop this land it is Israel.
Perhaps if the Arabs hadn't tried to destroy Israel ever since it was created in 1948 and the Palestinians had accepted the best offer they were going to get in 2000 then they would have a state now and there'd be peace.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
When Lauren Booth visited Gaza a couple of weeks ago, she was photographed in well stocked shops. What happened to all that food? Can't they bring in stuff through the tunnels?
- Sue R, London
Adam, it would be nice if Israel would get their illegal settlements off Palestinian land and get back within their internationally recognised 1967 borders. Then we would all have peace.
- Graham, Malaga, Spain
It would be nice if the UN would condemn the rocket attacks from Gaza that land on Israeli soil every day even though there is supposed to be a cease fire.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
