There is a lot of publicity at the moment about Israel’s alleged mistreatment of the Palestinian population in Gaza. It is claimed that Palestinians are being ”massacred”, and that Israel is guilty of “genocide”. Some pro-Palestinian activists even compare this with Nazis’ treatment of the Jews in WWII. Pictures are circulated via email chains showing Palestinian women and children side by side with pictures of Jews in concentration camps.
No-one denies that the situation in Gaza is terrible. The question is who is responsible. It is so easy to point the figure at Israel. The fact is, the Arab people in Gaza live under a regime of terror and hate. No wonder that – despite the millions of dollars and euro’s poured into Palestinian economic and social development (including by Israel) – they cannot manage to form a civil society that respects human rights and dignity.
The comparison with the Nazi regime is not only historically inaccurate and misleading, it is a pathetic, shocking denial of the horrific persecution and genocide conditions under which Jews have lived in Europe for hundreds of years.
As far as I am aware, there is no evidence that Israel has ever willfully killed an innocent Arab because he/she is an Arab. Life may be difficult in Gaza, and yes, civilians were killed during the Gaza war (in which war were civilians not killed?), but the claim that Israel is killing Arabs or has the intention of wiping out the Arab population there is a complete lie.
Jews, on the other hand, have throughout history been massacred by the millions for the simple fact that they are Jews.
Israel gave Gaza back to the Arabs, and all she got in return was a constant rain of Qasam rockets reaching into the heartland of Israel. What country in the world would not do its utmost to protect its own citizens (Jews and Arabs, by the way) from such attacks?
A recent report published by the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories demonstrates that – despite claims to the contrary – Israel is doing its utmost – within the security restraints – to enable humanitarian aid to reach the real victims in Gaza – the Arabs themselves.
Summary of Gaza humanitarian activity in 2009 presented to international organizations
(Communicated by the Ministry of Defense, Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories)
CoGAT reports 28% rise in humanitarian goods brought into the Gaza Strip, including 1,400 trucks during Operation Cast Lead.
On Thursday (14 January 2010), the Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration held a conference summing up its work in 2009. Headed by Col. Moshe Levy, commander of the Gaza CLA, the conference brought together all the large international organizations operating in the Gaza Strip. During the meeting the parties reviewed activities during the past year and the goals for 2010.
During 2009, international organizations were more active in the Gaza Strip despite the complex security situation in Gaza. There was an increase of 125% in the number of internationals crossing into the Gaza Strip and some 400 delegations of foreign officials, including activists and diplomats, who have entered Gaza Strip in coordination with the Gaza CLA. Furthermore, there was a 28% increase in the transfer of humanitarian goods from Israel to Gaza via the Kerem Shalom and Sufa crossings.
During the meeting participants were presented with details of the activities of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories and of the Gaza CLA during Operation Cast Lead, during which the Gaza CLA maintained regular contact with all organizations in order to meet their needs. During the operation there were approximately 1,600 cases where the Gaza CLA coordinated the evacuation of populations from combat areas, and of casualties via international organizations, including the Red Cross. In addition, 1,400 truckloads of humanitarian goods were transferred from Israel into Gaza Strip through the crossing points, during the fighting, coordinated by the Gaza CLA and supplied by international organizations.
Gaza CLA commander Col. Moshe Levy, said: “The fruitful cooperation between the Coordination and Liaison Administration and the international organizations allows us to respond to the needs of the Palestinian population in Gaza, which currently lives under a regime of terror. Because of the cooperation and the support given by international organizations, there is a wide and varied supply of food and medicine in the Gaza Strip, a fact well established by in official reports of UN personnel,” added Col. Levy. “The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories and of the Gaza CLA understands the importance of international organizations work in Gaza and maintains close, continuous contact with them on a daily basis to provide the best response to their needs.”
Tags: Gaza, palestinians, War
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