Suddenly, humanitarian supplies now include cement.
Activists campaigning for an end to Gaza’s blockade by Israel will sail to the enclave from Cyprus in defiance of the Israeli navy, they said Thursday.
Two boats, including one carrying cement and building supplies — materials not permitted by Israel — will sail from Cyprus on June 25, the multi-national Free Gaza Movement said.
“We are taking 15 tons of cement, which is just a token of how much the Palestinians need, because the Israelis won’t allow building supplies into Gaza,” said Greta Berlin, a representative of the group.
That’s funny. I thought humanitarian supplies were the biggest need. Medicines, food, clothing—all those things that the Gazans are supposedly not getting. Oh, wait—they are getting food. Even the Palestinian news agency acknowledges this.
Gaza – Ma’an – Israel will open three entry points into the Gaza Strip and allow 115 truckloads of aid and commercial goods into the Strip including limited amounts of cooking gas and industrial diesel on Thursday.
Crossings official Raed Fattouh said animal feed and wheat are expected to be transferred through the Karni Crossing, limited fuel through Nahal Oz and commercial and agricultural products through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern part of the Strip.
This marks the first time since Monday that three crossings will be open simultaneously, though the lowest number of trucks is set to deliver supplies to the Strip since last week.
Crossing activity for the week is as follows:
Saturday 13 – closed
Sunday 14 – closed
Monday 15 – three crossings open, 132 truckloads delivered
Tuesday 16 – two crossings open, 132 truckloads delivered
Wednesday 17 – two crossings open, 120 truckloads delivered
Looks like someone’s lying about the humanitarian “crisis” in Gaza. That’s because the “activists” aren’t actually there for peaceful purposes. They’re on the other side. If you doubt it, read their website:
In December 2008, Israel broke a ceasefire with Gaza and began a three week campaign of bombings, home invasions, and general destruction. During this massacre, homes, schools, mosques, and UN centers were all attacked by Israel. Thirteen Israelis, including 4 Israeli civilians, lost their lives, while over 1,300 Palestinian men, women, and children were slaughtered. Since the end of the massacre it has become harder than ever to bring in humanitarian relief, reconstruction aid, or developmental supplies.
My prediction: Their boat will not be allowed to offload that cement, if it makes it to Gaza at all.
Ah, Meryl, when you understand the sublties of language as I do you won’t cast aspersions on Reuters, accusing them of bias.
For Israel “ceasefire” means Israel isn’t shooting. For the Arabs, “ceasefire” means “not shooting as much,” and it is indubitable that at one point Hamas did reduce the number of rockets they were tossing at Israel.
And yes, for whatever reason, Israel did attack homes, mosques, schools, and so forth. Apparently it didn’t attack weapons dumps or military positions, just hospitals, orphanages, and UN centers.
I also note that Israelis are “killed” but Palestinians are “slaughtered.” Slaughtered–interesting choice of words. Causes images in your mind of people just murdered willy-nilly for the sake of killing them. Curiously, I do not seem to be able to find any Reuters dispatches talking about Israelis at seders or pizzerias being slaughtered.