Israeli siege forces UN to halt food aid in Gaza Strip
By Agence France Presse (AFP), The Daily Star, 14 November 2008
A Palestinian woman reacts during the funeral of Hamas militant Ismael Abu Alla in Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008. Abu Alla and three other Hamas militants were killed Wednesday as Israeli troops and Palestinian militants fought with missiles and mortars along the Gaza-Israel border, raising new concerns that an increasingly shaky five-month-old truce might collapse. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)
Israel usually allows some humanitarian supplies into Gaza, but even this has stopped over the past week, leading to harsh criticism from aid agencies.
“Pushing people to the brink of desperation every few months and forcing UNRWA into yet another cycle of crisis management is not in the interest of anyone who believes in peace, moderation and stability,” said Gunness.
Israel also cut off European Union-funded fuel supplies to Gaza’s sole power plant on Thursday, prompting it to close down for want of diesel.
“It is completely shut down,” Palestinian Energy Authority official Qanaan Obeid told AFP.
The plant, which provides between a quarter and a third of Gaza’s power with the rest coming from the Egyptian and Israeli national grids, shut down on Monday after Israel cut off fuel deliveries.
Israel allowed the supply of what it described as “minimal quantities” of fuel to the plant on Tuesday and Wednesday before cutting it off again Thursday.
Related:
Gaza Again Plunged into Darkness, Hunger as Israel Blocks Fuel, Food to Suffering Population
Suffering population?!?!?
this is what happens when palestinians elect a terrorist group that declares war on israel, firing rockets on a daily basis deliberately aiming at civilians. Even during the “cease fire” rockets still fell on israeli land. Israelis are not happy about the whole blockade, We’re very sad to see the suffering of lack of electricity and supplies in the palestinian side. when israeli civilians are killed the “suffering population” throws out parties in the streets and gives candies to passing cars. Israel pulled out of Gaza, Israel offered to Arafat the west bank, gaza, and parts of jerusalem and Arafat rejected the offer. Israel would open all the borders tommorow if it would be assured that israeli civilians are not in danger by doing that. The problem is if the borders would be open tomorrow, more supplies to create bombs and rockets will flow in and terrorists will flow out. Israelis would live in peace, to have open borders and see palestinians prosper but first the palestinians have to want to do the same.
Yes, a population that’s endured decades of suffering at the hands of ignorant and ragingly damaged people the so-called enlightened world goes to extraordinary lengths to explicate and excuse.