Red Cross Warns of Gaza Crisis

[Purveyor]

(01-22) 06:47 PST GENEVA, Switzerland (AP) --

The international Red Cross issued a dire warning on the state of basic services in Gaza on Tuesday, calling on Israel to lift a blockade it has imposed in response to increased rocket attacks by Palestinian militants.

Israel eased the siege for a day on Tueday, allowing in shipments of fuel and medicine. But the International Committee of the Red Cross said aid needed to be allowed into the territory on a regular basis to prevent a complete collapse of health and sanitary services.

"Deliveries of essential humanitarian goods must be secured in the long run to prevent more hardship and to avoid the collapse of the already fragile infrastructure," said Dorothea Krimitsas, a spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

--
Krimitsas said the situation remained precarious. Gaza's hospitals were pooling their fuel to maintain life-saving services such as surgery and intensive care units.

Medical supplies are running out and health staff are having problems getting to work because transportation has become more difficult, Krimitsas told reporters.

---eoe---

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/22/international/i064706S88.DTL

[Vegasaurus]

1. I't's really very very easy

Hamas controls all their militants and stops the rocket fire and, TA DA: No Crisis! Aid returns, fuel returns.

It isn't Israel's fault that Hamas can't control all its terrorists. If Hamas controls its terrorists, they will have plenty of food and fuel.

[breakaleg]

3. Right. And they can go back to that cushy life they had before, being locked in a prison. nt

[Vegasaurus]

4. Stop the rockets and terrorism, work hard and life improves

It's called taking responsibility, stop playing the victim, stop expecting everyone to rescue you.

[breakaleg]

5. And they are supposed to do all this within a locked open-air prison? Wow.

[Shaktimaan]

6. Well, it wasn't a prison before.

You are mixing up the causes and effects. Israel shut down the crossings and held onto tax money AFTER Hamas continuously fired rockets over the border, not before. Look at the Gaza that existed on the day that Israel pulled out the settlers and military, not the Gaza that exists now as a result of political violence between Palestinian factions, Israeli actions following the kidnapping and unceasing rocket attacks, etc. Today's Gaza exists because of policies like Hamas' Qassam attacks. It took quite awhile for things to get this bad, but they can always get worse unless Gaza changes its strategy.

The first rule when you're in a hole is to STOP DIGGING. (Not say, "what's the point, I'm already in this crappy hole. Why bother stopping?")

[breakaleg]

7. It's easy to say Hamas is wrong. But sometimes, no matter how wrong someone can be, there are

lines you can't cross in retaliation and punishment. Israel has crossed that line.

[Shaktimaan]

8. I don't disagree.

But Israel has few options open to her. The biggest problem with this one is that it is probably pointless. Israel is trying to exert pressure while doing the least amount of real damage to the people, which is why once they really started to run out of supplies she relented.

There's not much Israel can do to alter Hamas' motives, goals or actions. But she has a responsibility to protect her citizens as best as possible. If you were in Israel's shoes, what steps would you take to keep the Qassams in check?

[breakaleg]

14. I don't know what I would do.

It sounds like you are saying there aren't any good options right now, so Israel has to do something, why not this. But I think having no good options isn't a very good reason to proceed with some bad ones.

I don't think it's pointless because Israel is so compassionate, they are unable to follow through on their punishment. That's what you seem to be suggesting. I think this plan is pointless because the Palestinian people have been through a 40 year occupation and trying to bully or beat them into submission is never going to work. All it does is create more extremists, more fighters for the cause.

[Vegasaurus]

11. What would you do? Nothing?

Believe it or not, many Israelis, not just those right wing fundamentalists, do not believe that the government is doing ENOUGH. You think it is too much retaliation, but if you were an Israeli citizen, you might disagree.

It's easy to pass judgement when you aren't the one enduring the terrorism or threats of terrorism.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

12. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

Back in 1987, the Erez checkpoint was pretty open. Lots of Gazans made money doing dirty work in Israel (often times locked in their places of work at night all week long). They were paid slave wages by israeli standards. They could rive to Quds to pray, drive to Netanya to go to the beach. Gazans could go to Bir Zeit or An-Najah universities.

Compared to today, those days look like a paradise. But guess what?

It was life under tyranny. Gazans then and Gazans now had no self-determination. No ability to elect representatives and have that respected.

You know what difference between then and now is? Now no civilized person can deny Israel's crimes, with babies dying in hospitals and kids walking around malnourished in what amounts to a fucking GHETTO.

Tyranny then. Tyranny now.

[Shaktimaan]

15. Well then,

in 1987, what did the Palestinians want?

At the time no one was talking about an independent Palestinian state in Gaza and the WB. The Palestinians wanted free and fair elections? Well, they got them. (Israel respected their decision too, and treated the Palestinians like adults when they elected terrorists.) They wanted autonomy? Well, they actually got that, after a fashion. They got a golden opportunity to show Israel and the world that they were capable of using their newfound (albeit limited) independence constructively. They weren't given their own state, no. They were essentially given the resources and the chance to make a presentation to the world about what kind of nation they could expect in the future from the Palestinians. They used their resources and made their presentation.

Now don't go blaming Israel because the prototype they unveiled is a nightmare. Israel can't build a state for the Palestinians nor does anyone want them to. But if the Palestinians build a Gaza that is focused on hurting Israel instead of building itself up then it stands to reason that they won't be seeing any help from Israel at all. Even the help that the Palestinians have come to rely on.

You cry tyranny, but answer me something. Directly following Israel's withdrawal what was stopping Gaza from building themselves a proud, self-sufficient, co-operative presentation that would've been the envy of the West Bank, would have lent muscle to the anti-settler, Israeli left's arguments, would have encouraged the western world to invest and would've given the Palestinians pride in achievement? Why did they use this opportunity to immediately start attacking Israel instead, despite causing little damage to anyone but themselves?

When given an opportunity for self-determination and freedom, why did Gaza choose tyranny instead?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

16. Shakti, ifyou think what Israel did by pulling out and then isolating Gaza was

giving them a fair shot, then there is nothing to discuss.

Do you need to tell you the goals of the first intifada? Same as they are today: 2 states, 1967 borders, East Jerusalem, removal of settlements and right of return for refugees.

I made my post to you to point out that this siege isn't the problem. The problem is the ongoing refusal of Israel to allow Palestine it's god-given right to the same freedoms you and I enjoy.

I realize that it's difficult for you to grasp the kind of freedom that I am describing. I think many pro-Israeli people see palestinians as relative-humans.

I think this blogger (incidentally Jewish) expresses the issues at hand well:

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/mitchell_plitnick/2007/nov/24/the_right_to_exist_a_double_edged_red_herring

[Vegasaurus]

17. Israel "allowing" the Palestinians anything

puts them in the position of children, expecting the elders to make decisions for them.

There have been ample opportunities, again, and again, for the Palestinians to have their self-determination, not to be the victims. Why should they expect Israel to make a state for them, provide them with opportunities, give them infrastructure, food, fuel or whatever? Instead, they should work together to create something.

Of course it could have been done. States have done it with much, much less. The whole world was watching, ready to open their pocketbooks, for Gaza. They elected terrorists. It wasn't Israel's fault that they failed after the withdrawal, that they elected Hamas, or that the world turned their backs.

If you expect to be treated like a child, then you can't cry when your hand is slapped. If you grow up and act like an adult, than you don't need the approval, or anyone "allowing" anything. You simply do it.

This is the Palestinians' biggest hurdle, that they don't see themselves yet as anything but victims., who "things happen to", as opposed to being responsible for their own actions.

Their whole mentality has to change, if they want to see any improvement in their lifetimes.

[Vegasaurus]

10. There needn't have been a locked in prison

had the terrorists stopped terrorizing, bombing crossings, shooting rockets.

In fact, there would never have even been an occupation had the Arabs not started the '67 war. There would be no wall or checkpoints, if it weren't for the fact that the terrorists have taken every possible opportunity to terrorize Israeli citizens.

Life could be better, and still could, if the governments in Palestine would put the welfare of their citizens above destroying Israel.

[Tom Joad]

2. I figure that those who have accused the Red Cross and other aid

organizations of being part of the "international anti-Jewish conspiracy" will chime in at any time.

This is important news, thanks for posting.

[azurnoir]

9. Ever find it odd that so many o this board

who claim to be "liberal" are so at ease with holding every man, woman, and child in Gaza responsible for the acts of a relative few? Guess having the upper allows one to see a not individuals but a single entity "all they have to do"

[pelsar]

13. your alternative...

is let the israeli residents of the area around gaza to be terrorized...as they have been for over 2 years.

how do we know this?..because all those that complain about every attempt israel has done to stop the terrorism.....have nothing to suggest to protect israelis..... israel should do nothing, given the limitations...i.e. let its citizens be terrorized.

[azurnoir]

19. Think we have been here before

how ever, Israel could try dealing in good faith for once instead of finding ways to technically appear to fulfill agreements, while maintaining the status quo. Gaza is perfect example yes Israel removed its settlements the resentment of which is apparent in every post on the subject by pro-Israeli people here, and withdrew its troops however, kept it planes in sky's and boats in the water. things not covered in the original agreement or covered under some "defense" clause.
The those Pali's should be grateful(we allow them to suck our air) attitude has become quite apparent.
As to the Kassams, posture all you want- they are worth their weight in political platinum to the Israeli government they allow the maintaining of the status quo. As to the beleaguered people Sderot and surrounding area they (no matter who they are) are political pawns in an endless game to appear to do want peace whist doing all to keep a conflict going one in where the gains far outweigh the losses.

Now go ahead nitpick, insult or just get PO'd

[Vegasaurus]

20. PO'd? It's so ludicrous it's hilarious! nt

[azurnoir]

21. I am glad you think so n/t

[Tom Joad]

18. Especially when the very violent and bloody act of the blockade is not even

going to work? It just doesn't make any sense, does it. (read Gideon Levy's article "Strength in Numbers")