Gaza's Real Humanitarian Crisis

The Guardian has this op-ed by Victoria Brittain, a former associate foreign editor of the Guardian and author (Hidden Lives, Hidden Deaths; Death of Dignity), a research associate at the London School of Economics and a patron of Palestine Solidarity,



suggesting that the two foreign ministers of England and France, Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner have an "invisible humanitarian crisis on their hands" [invisible? after Tony Blair's former sister-in-law's visit?]. And she suggests

...they should announce visits to Jerusalem to speak to Israel's leaders, and then arrive by helicopter (the airport is destroyed) in Gaza City, breaking the Israel military's 17-month siege of Gaza.

and there they would see, she claims,

...how Israel's collective punishment of 1.5 million people has crippled Gaza's economy, cut fuel and electricity, leaving its desperate people hungry, deprived of medicines, with hundreds barred from travelling for operations or healthcare, or for education.

She notes that

...the former US first lady, Rosalyn Carter. Mrs Carter deplored the fact that "the closure of Gaza is making it impossible for people to lead normal lives," and said she looked forward to the conference's recommendations.

And she complains

Do Miliband and Kouchner really not know what Mrs Carter knows about the devastating impact on people of Israel's continuing control over the Gaza Strip's borders, airspace and coastal water? Or about the effect of Israeli military occupation, checkpoints, and the wall, in crushing economic, social and intellectual life for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank?

But not once, not even to condemn it or support it, does she mention the Arab terror, the Arab refusal to acknowledge Israel's existence or any of the foibles, mistakes or other irrresponsibilities of the rulers of Gaza for their own fate.

Shame on you Brittain.


P.S.

Arab terrorists bombarded Sderot and Gaza Belt communities and Ashkelon Wednesday morning with more than 40 Kassam rockets and mortar shells after the IDF killed six terrorists and destroyed a tunnel that was to be used to kidnap soldiers. The tunnel was located underneath the home of an Arab family, and the IDF stated that its construction, adjacent to the separation barrier was a "blatant violation of the ceasefire." The soldiers withdrew before dawn.

Ms. Brittain, the rockets were aimed at civilians, only civilians and purposefully at civilians.

This is the real humanitarian crisis.

Or is it that Ms. Brittain is not really a humanitarian?


P.P.S.

Two Kassam rockets were fired into Ashkelon Wednesday morning, Army Radio reported. The rocket fell in an open field.