UN: Israel must allow building supplies into Gaza

[bemildred]

United Nations agencies and two dozen international aid groups have urged Israel to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip or at least allow in construction materials to repair war-damaged schools.

The groups warned Tuesday that Gaza isn't ready for the new school year, and that thousands of students will have to crowd into already crammed classrooms. They said there's also a shortage of school supplies.

Some 280 schools were damaged and 18 destroyed in the Israel Defense Forces' three-week offensive in the Gaza Strip in January.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1103454.html

[wurzel]

1. It would be news if the Israelis did something decent.

That they continue their brutal and hypocritical policies toward the Palestinians is no news at all.

[ConsAreLiars]

2. The siege seems designed to cause the greatest amount of suffering to the children of Gaza.

Probably some psywar "experts" determined that seeing their children suffer would be most effective in turning the people of Gaza against Hamas, which is the clearly stated objective of the blockade and the resulting slow starvation and constant deprivation. Saw a report earlier on the rising rate of malnutrition among the children of Gaza. Destroying the schools was just one more part of this policy of targeting the children.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/chronic-malnutrition-in-gaza-blamed-on-israel-1019521.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8YfA_DngUM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-xsNvKWsFY&feature=related

(edit to add a dropped "r," add another link, and to editorialize by pointing out that using the edit function to rewrite, erase, or otherwise change a post without explanation is something I have never done, will never do, and think shows a lack of candor at best.)

[azurnoir]

3. Israel to allow cement into Gaza

Gaza – Ma’an – Israel will allow cement into the besieged Gaza Strip on Thursday for the first time since the threw week military offensive against the territory last winter.

Raed Fattouh, an official in the Palestinian Ministry of National economy, confirmed in an interview with Ma’an that cement shipped by UNRWA, the United Nation’s relief agency for Palestinian refugees, will be allowed through the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

Israel has banned cement and other construction materials that are badly needed to rebuild from the land air and sea onslaught that killed up to 1,500 Palestinians. Virtually no reconstruction has taken place since January.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=215630