Berita Terkini dari Tim Global Peace Malaysia di Al Arish, Mesir

Menjelang subuh, saya menerima satu SMS dari sdr. Khairil.  Saya kongsikan bersama disini.

“Aku kat Arish.  Today dah settle warehouse.  Border ditutup sepenuhnya.  Barangan bantuan kemanusiaan pun tak dibenarkan masuk melalui border rafah.  Dah work out other alternative.”  Khairil

p/s turut serta bersama Sdr. Khairil Anuar Khalid ialah Mejar (B) Azlan.

Saya mendapat maklumat bahawa GPM akan menghantar Tim ke 2 untuk memantapkan lagi operasi GPM di Gaza.  Dijangka mereka akan berlepas pada malam ini.  Sdr. Khairil dan Mej Azlan dijangka akan pulang ke tanahair pada 11hb Februari nanti setelah selesai menyerahkan segala tugas dan memberikan taklimat kepada petugas GPM yang baru mengambil alih.  Semoga semuannya berjalan dengan baik dan lancar.

Shahrul Peshawar, Alor Setar

THE GREAT ARAB BETRAYAL THAT STINKS

By Dr. ABBAS BAKHTIAR

Betrayal is the only truth that sticks – Arthur Miller

The Arab Collaborators

The often asked question, when it comes to the Palestinians, is about the role of Arab countries in the Palestinian struggle for freedom. The people not familiar with the political landscape of the area often see the Middle East as two camps, Arab countries on one side and Israel on the other. The reality is totally different. Israel has seldom been alone. Beside its usual American, French, British and other staunch allies, she has had the hidden backing of several Arab countries.

For close to 30 years now, many Arab countries have been collaborating with Israel ; some like Egypt (gained independence: 1922) and Jordan (gained independence: 1946) openly, while others like Saudi Arabia (founded: 1932), UAE (founded: 1972) and Kuwait (founded: 1961) from behind the scenes. The reasons for this collaboration vary from country to country but they all have one thing in common: the rulers of these countries are all dictators and need foreign protection from their own people. Some such as Saudi Arabia , Jordan , Kuwait and UAE were put in power by the British. The founder of Saudi Arabia , Abdul-Aziz bin Saud (the kingdom is name after him) was put in power
by the British.

The same goes for the others, except Egypt which experienced a coup by the army officers in 1952, resulting in the ousting of the monarchy and the accompanying British influence. But the Western influence returned with
Anwar Sadat. All these countries are dictatorships and all are under pressure from their people. What they cannot accept is any democratically elected form of government in their mist.

They fear that if an Arab government becomes democratic they may have to become one themselves, hence losing power. One of the things that they love about Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, is that he won the election not by popular vote but by popular method of rigging the election; something that these Arab leaders understand and respect.

In contrast, Hamas really represented the aspiration of the people. As soon as Mahmood Abbas’ term as president is over and he had to stand for re-election, he would surely lose. In contrast, Hamas really won the municipal elections in
2005 and the Parliamentary election in 2006. The elections were supervised by international observers, many from Europe , and US.

Palestinians were fed-up with the corrupt regime of Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah. They wanted to clean house. But as soon as Hamas took over, the US and the Europeans put an embargo on Hamas, calling it a terrorist organisation and not a peace partner. Israel closed the borders and refused to let anything into Gaza . Egypt also did the same.

What is not mentioned much in the media is that this was done with the complete approval of the Saudi Arabia , Egypt and Jordan . After all, Egypt could have opened its border for transfer of food and fuel. The reasons behind this hostility were and are that Hamas is a truly elected government and worst of all, Hamas is a branch or an off-shoot of Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt.

Muslim Brotherhood has a branch or related organisation in Jordan as well. Egypt and Jordan are worried that should Hamas survive and show its resistance, their people may get the idea that they can also resist the tyrannical rule of
these despots. One must not forget that Muslim Brotherhood represents the only serious challenge to the Mubarak’s rule in Egypt .

Egypt

The 81 year old Hosni Mubarak of Egypt has been “president” since 1981 (28 years). He has won every election with a comfortable majority. He is much loved by his secret services. Prior to every election he arrests and imprisons all the opposition, ensuring a “clean” election. Torture is so widely used and accepted in Egypt that US outsources torturing of some its prisoners to Egypt .

This alone should tell you volumes about the nature of Mubarak’s rule. He is now trying hard to crown his playboy son as his successor. But the Americans are not so sure if the son is capable of keeping the 80 million Egyptians in line and are therefore looking for alternative candidates. The head of the feared main secret service is one of the prime candidates along with some of the top generals. Challenging him is the Muslim Brotherhood organisation, enjoying grass root support from all sections of the Egyptian society including Lawyers, doctors, judges and student associations. Not surprisingly, US and Israel call Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation.

By all accounts, the Muslim Brotherhood be it in Jordan , Egypt or the occupied territories such as Gaza runs a clean operation, running many charity organisations and providing services to the poor and the needy. As such wherever they are, they pose a threat to the corrupt regimes, since they provide an alternative to the people of that area.

Jordan

King Abdullah II of Jordan , born of a British mother, educated in the West, including the Jesuit Center of Georgetown University, was brought to power by the CIA. His Uncle was a long time crown price, yet after his father died in a US hospital, Madeline Albright, Clinton ‘s Secretary of Estate flew to Jordan to inform the Jordanians that the King on his death bed had changed his will and named his son Abdullah as his successor. The new king Abdullah II is married to the Queen Rania, a Palestinian.

The majority of this Kingdom of 5 million people are Palestinians who are not very friendly to this King. In 1967 there was a Palestinian uprising (led by the PLO) against King Hussein (ruled: 1952-1999, the father of the current king), which resulted in heavy casualties among Palestinians. In addition, the Kingdom is currently full of Iraqi refugees who resent the King’s help to the Americans in invasion of their country. On top of all this, we have the Muslim Brotherhood which tries hard to abolish the monarchy. King Abdullah relies heavily on the US support and backing for staying in power. King Abdullah also sees a natural ally in Israel , a country that can come to its aid in case of another uprising.

Saudi Arabia (House of Saud)

I don’t have to tell you much about Saudi Arabia . The Kingdom is run by the 84 year old, ailing Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. His personal wealth is estimated at $21 billion USD. He rules a clan of 8000 princes who in turn rule the country. Saudi Arabia is the centre of corruption in the Arab world. The Saudi rulers corrupt everything with their money. Lacking the necessary mental power or physical courage, they try to stay in power by subterfuge, lies, and deception. They fund the real extremists on the one hand while portraying themselves as the protectors of the Western interest on the other. They preach intolerance and xenophobia to their people decrying the Western decadence, while spending a lot of time enjoying the life in the West. They pay the West for protection against their own people and they pay the extremists to do their fighting elsewhere. Saudi rulers are indeed the worst of them all.

House of Saud is also the financier of the so called Arab Moderates and the extremism that they cause. House of Saud financed the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan to fight the Soviets. They later financed the Taliban. They also paid Saddam Hussein to fight Iran . Then they paid the Americans and Egyptians to fight Saddam Hussein. They are the financiers of death and misery. They finance anything, anywhere, as long as this reduces the threat to their illegitimate rule. They are currently financing the civil war in Somalia , bandits in Baluchistan ( Pakistan and Iran ) and god knows what else. They are detested by their own people and neighbours yet loved by Bush, Cheney and the oil companies.

As long as they provide the money and oil the US is willing to tolerate them. And guess what? The Muslim Brotherhood hates the House of Saud too. This makes them a threat and hence they have to be dealt with.

The Collaboration

As can be seen, each country has a selfish reason to eliminate Hamas, but each is restrained by its population. Israel has no such a restraint imposed on it. She not only can wage a terrible war, but she also gets assistance from Arab countries. Indeed it is the second time (the first was the invasion of Lebanon in 2006) that Israel is getting open and solid support from these Arab countries.  The invasion of Gaza was discussed in Egypt before its implementation. Egypt , Jordan , and Saudi Arabia are Israel ‘s active partners.

Egypt is actively involved in stopping all aids from getting to Palestinians in Gaza save a token few trucks. These few trucks are allowed to go through so they can be filmed and shown to Egyptian people. All demonstrations are banned, and all Egyptian volunteers for Gaza are either arrested or sent back.

There are hundreds of thousands of volunteers across the Muslim world that are willing to go to the aid of the Palestinians, but the Egyptian authorities don’t allow them passage. Egyptians even stop medical aid from passing through
their territory.

This is part of a report from Associated Press:

RAFAH, Egypt : Frustration is mounting at Egypt ‘s border with the Gaza Strip, where many local and foreign doctors are stuck after Egyptian authorities denied them entry into the coastal area now under an Israeli ground invasion.

Anesthesiologist Dimitrios Mognie from Greece idles his time at a cafe near the border, drinking tea and chatting with other doctors, aid workers and curious Egyptians.

“This is a shame,” said Mognie, who decided to use his vacation time to try help Gazans. He thought entering through Egypt , which has a narrow border with the Hamas-ruled strip, was his best bet. “That in 2009 they have people in need of help from a doctor and we can go to help and they won’t let us.

This is crazy,” he added.

In addition there are many Iranian cargo planes full of food and medicine which have been sitting on the tarmacs in Egypt for days waiting for permission to deliver their cargo. Egyptians even denied the medical aid sent by the son of the Libyan President Qaddafi to land in Egypt .

One thing is clear: these three countries do not want the Israelis to fail in their mission of totally destroying Gaza . Hosni Mubarak said so himself. The daily Haaretz reported that Hosni Mubarak had told European ministers on a peace mission that Hamas must not be allowed to win the ongoing war in Gaza .

As Egypt physically aids the Israeli military by denying food, fuel and medicine to the civilians, the House of Saud helps Israel by giving her time and diplomatic cover. When Israel started its invasion there was an immediate call for an Arab summit. Saudi Arabia and Jordan (along with Egypt of course) delayed the summit. The Saudis along with the UAE said that they had another meeting to attend to and therefore Palestinian issue had to wait. After a few days when the summit was eventually held, they issued the same old statements. Yet this time same as the Israel ‘s invasion of Lebanon in 2006, they blamed the victims.

In a statement, Saudi Arabia blamed Hamas for Israel ‘s continuing offensive in the Gaza Strip. Saudi Arabia , after blaming Hamas, declared that it will not even consider an oil embargo on Israel ‘s supporters. She then again blamed Hamas.

By this time, the three Arab countries along with Kuwait and UAE began singing the old song: international community is not doing anything about the catastrophe that is taking place in Gaza . It seems that these Arab tyrants have no shame at all. This reminds me of a quote from Marquis De Sade (1740-1814):  “One is never so dangerous when one has no shame, than when one has grown too old to blush.”

These Arab leaders (many are indeed too old to blush) are complicit in the murder of so many civilians, especially young children. According to Agence France-Presse, quoting the medics on the ground, fully one third of all people killed have been children.

How can these Arab leaders justify this to their people?

The answer is that they cannot. Israel knows this and for the second time can show the Arab street that their leaders are nothing but a bunch of old hypocrites.  These Arab leaders are now exposed and can do nothing but to cooperate fully with Israel and US. What stand between them and their people’s rage is their army and secret services; which in turn are supported by US.

Israel has cleverly exposed these leaders for what they are: collaborators of the worst kind. These Arab leaders have brought an unimaginable shame to their people. To quote Lucien Bouchard: I have never known a more vulgar expression of betrayal and deceit. Our hope is now with the people of these countries to clean this stain from their honour.

1. ABC News Norway . “Røde Kors sjokkert over Israel ,” (Red Cross Shocked by Israel ), 8 January 2009.

2. Aljazeera.net. “UN: No fighters in targeted school,” 8 January 2009.

3.  Aljazeera.net. ” Israel fires on UN Gaza convoy,” 8 January 2009.

4. nytimes.com. “For Israel , 2006 Lessons but Old Pitfalls,” 5 January 2009.

5.  The Associated Press. “Doctors stuck at bottleneck on Egypt-Gaza border,” 6 January 2009.

6. google.com: hosted news. ” Egypt denies Kadhafi’s son permission to land at airport,” 6 January 2009.

7. Agence France-Presse. “Children make up third of Gaza dead,” 7 January 2009.

Dr. Abbas Bakhtiar lives in Norway . He is a management consultant and a contributing writer for many online journals. He’s a former associate professor of Nordland University , Norway and can be contacted at:
Bakhtiarspace- articles@ yahoo. no

23 proofs of Israel’s defeat in the 23-day war

Israel began its Operation Cast Lead against Hamas in the Gaza Strip on December 27, 2008, an almost three-week long bloodbath which killed or wounded thousands of civilians.

Taking into consideration the lessons the regime learned from its defeat in the summer 2006 war against the Lebanese Hezbollah, Tel Aviv avoided setting out any specific objectives for its military operation in a bid to enable it to claim victory after the conflict ended.

The Israeli military initially presumed that it could settle its old score with Hamas and crush the movement in a matter of days. Relying on the support of some Arab states which viewed Hamas’s defeat as a blow to Iran, the regime, therefore, took the opportunity provided by the transitional period in the White House and escalated its bombing campaign into a full-blown ground offensive to kill Hamas leaders once and for all.

The plan, however, blew up in the face of its masterminds; everything spiraled out of control and the Israeli Army found itself stuck in a quagmire. Subsequently, the leaders of the Kadima Party who were on the brink of political bankruptcy and had resorted to the plan to save themselves ahead of the general elections, had to hastily find a way to clean up the mess.

They unilaterally declared a truce to break the deadlock while disguising their military failure as a humanitarian act.

However, Israeli military and political officials interestingly are still boasting about a decisive victory over Hamas. The reality on the ground proves the opposite; it indicates a defeat more humiliating than what the regime suffered in the 33-day war.

Israel was, without doubt, the loser because:

1- From the military perspective, “the most powerful” army in the Middle East which faced only a militia group hardly advanced into the Gaza Strip’s urban areas. It faced fierce resistance and realized that the price of any military victory would be too high.

2- At the beginning of the operation, Israel announced that the operation was aimed at preventing rocket attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian groups against Israeli towns. Palestinians, however, continued striking Israeli targets, even in the last hours of the war.

3- Hamas extended the range of its rockets and managed to hit targets as far away as 60 kilometers from the Gaza Strip. In fact, the Israeli operation helped Hamas boost its military might.

4- In the course of killing civilians, the Israeli regime set up a factory for producing living time bombs which will jeopardize the security situation for Israel. Civilian casualties in any conflict always radicalize members of bereaved families. Following the massacre of civilians in Gaza, it is more likely that those Palestinians who adopted a nonviolent approach to resist the Israeli occupation, will now turn to military tactics. Keep in mind that many of them have noting to lose.

5- Israel hastily signed an agreement with the US-a third party which was not directly involved in the war-to prevent “the arm smuggling” into the Gaza Strip. The deal envisaged measures to prevent Hamas from rearming, going so far as to for example seek US assistance in policing sea routes to Gaza and providing Egypt with the equipment to destroy smuggling tunnels along its border with the coastal sliver. This was however nothing but a propaganda tactic to persuade public opinion that the war had had some achievements. Shin Bet’s announcement that Hamas will be able to rearm within a few months supports this notion. The Israeli media has also revealed that Washington has given no guarantees to Tel Aviv that Hamas would not be rearmed.

6- Hamas has vowed to restore its arsenals, dealing a blow to Israeli officials who claim that the movement has been “punished” and it knows that it cannot continue its armed campaign against Israel.

7- No high-ranking Hamas leader, except Said Siyam, was killed in the Israeli operation. In fact, it is estimated that out of more than thousands of victims of the Israeli offensive, only 95 people were Hamas members and most of them were killed on the first day of the attack when Hamas was caught off guard due to alleged betrayal of some Arab states.

8- Israel’s defeat by a small group has shattered the image of an invincible army that overpowered the army of several Arab nations in 1967. It would not be surprising if Israel’s arch foes were encouraged to settle their old score with the regime after its recent defeat. No matter what you have in your arsenals, you are considered the loser if you have been defeated in your enemy’s mind. Israel seems to have entered the spiral of decline.

9- From the political perspective, Israel’s situation is not any better than the one in the military arena. For the first time, two Israeli ambassadors were expelled, a big diplomatic humiliation for Tel Aviv.

10- The indiscriminate killing of civilians including women and children drew international condemnation to the point that the US, which always vetoes UN Security Council resolutions against Israel, was neutralized and gave in to mounting international pressure when the council voted on a binding resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

11- Israel’s strategy of decreasing Hamas’s popularity through putting pressure on the Gazans has obviously backfired. The Islamic movement emerged more popular than ever before after the war, because any group or person who deals a blow to Israel will be praised as a hero in the eyes of Arab nations. We witnessed the phenomenon during the 33-day war which made Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah the most popular Arab leader in the Islamic world.

12- Following the Gaza war, Mahmoud Abbas’s political life came to an end. Now, Abbas who was reportedly preparing himself for returning to Gaza after the Hamas government was toppled, has to desperately beg to political brokers to find a place for him in the political future of Palestine. If Abbas loses in the Palestinian Authority general elections – a strong possibility given the situation after the Gaza war- Israel will lose its partner for peace talks.

13- Kadima’s hopes for victory in the upcoming elections have been dashed. In other words, right-wing parties like the Likud and people like Israel Beitenu’s and Shas’s hawks will come to power, fanatics who do not even believe in peace. Israel should brace itself for days during which there would be no hope for a political solution to the current conflict.

14- The Gaza war managed another sort of uncalled for achievement for Israel: it united all Muslims and anti-Israeli parties across the world! The world has never witnessed such massive anti-Israeli rallies.

15- Hamas has set a good example for others. A small group managed to defeat the most powerful army in the Middle East. It would not be surprising if someday, we see Israel struggling to survive in a battle with a host of small or big groups and organizations which adopt military resistance as their approach.

16- The Israelis have realized that their leaders are unable to protect them; there is no safe place inside the occupied territories. It means that Israel’s worst nightmare is coming true: a dramatic rise in the rate of negative immigration followed by major demographical impacts. It could shake the foundation of the Israeli regime through changing the Jewish people to a minority group in occupied Palestine. The apprehensions about this issue have so far prompted the regime to deny Palestinian refugees the right to return to their land.

17- After the war, the world is recognizing Hamas as a major player whose role can no longer be ignored and it cannot be excluded from any political process in the Middle East.

18- Prime Minister Ismail Haniya called the war “Forqan”, a Quranic word meaning what separates good and evil. The outcome of the war weakened those Arab states who had adopted a pro-Israeli stance. On the other hand, it also highlighted the significance of the role of pro-resistance countries including Iran and Syria. Therefore, the balance of power has changed with regards to Israel’s interests.

19- Kadima leaders made a fool of themselves and showed that they lack the qualifications required to lead the regime. Kadima, which was set up by former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to end the regime’s political deadlock, committed a political suicide by attacking Gaza.

20- The war also weakened the political base of those leaders of Islamic countries who are close to Israel. They have to face their people. The process has already started as we have witnessed demonstrations in some countries in which political or social protests are rare.

21- Despite nonstop bombing of the Gaza Strip by unconventional weapons, Gazans kept their high morale, a fact reported by Western journalists. There were no long queues of people at border crossings wanting to flee to a safe place. Inside Israeli towns, scores of people were treated for “shock” everyday. In other words, Israel has also lost the psychological war.

22- The war unfortunately fueled anti-Semitic sentiments across the world. Although attacks on Jews or their property under any pretext are certainly condemned, the fact indicates that Israel, despite paying lip service to the world Jewry, never considers the interests of the Jewish. Tel Aviv even turned down a request by 11 prominent leaders of the British Jewish community who asked the regime to stop its offensive for the sake of their security.

23- There are and will be groups which will open legal cases against Israel in international courts for its war crimes in Gaza. If Hamas had been destroyed, Israeli leaders might have been able to claim that it had been worth paying such a heavy price. But without achieving anything, how can they justify their acts which have drawn a wave of international condemnation?

The Gaza war has certainly changed the status quo against Israel. History seems to repeat itself; the situation is the same as that of the days after the end of the 33-Day War except for one thing: this time, the regime has no excuse to justify its defeat; there was no inexperienced defense minister leading the war.

The Gaza war dealt the last blow to the Israeli regime and its end result is the start of a battle within the regime which will put its very existence at risk.

Those who make a mistake once may be considered as inexperienced but those who repeat their mistakes are certainly judged as being “incompetent and insane”. Shall we expect another Winograd report?

Israeli soldier killed, three wounded near Gaza border

JERUSALEM, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) — An Israeli soldier was killed on Tuesday morning in a blast at the border with the Gaza Strip, triggering the first notable outbreak of violence since a fragile ceasefire went into effect nine days ago. Three other soldiers were wounded, one in serious conditions, when an explosive device went off near an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) patrol near the Kissufim border crossing, a gateway into the middle part of the Hamas-ruled enclave, said the IDF. It is still not clear whether the bomb, which caused the first death on the Israeli side since the Jewish state wrapped up its three-week punishing onslaught in Gaza with a unilateral ceasefire on Jan. 18, was planted before or after the truce was staged. No Palestinian militant group claimed responsibility for the incident. Gazan militants have generally observed their own ceasefire, which was introduced on the same day with the Israeli one. Should it is proved that the attack, which Defense Minister Ehud Barak called “a serious incident that cannot be accepted,” was a breach of the ceasefire, Israel would consider a severe response, local news service Ynet quoted senior officials as saying. “I am not interested in who did it. Israel needs to respond. This test is one of action and not just of words,” Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was quoted as saying. Israel pulled all of its troops out of Gaza on Jan. 21, and redeployed them along the Gaza border. Israeli officials have repeatedly said the army would resume military operations in Gaza if necessary. Palestinian sources said following the fatal blast, IDF troops clashed with Gazan militants, and a Gazan farmer was killed in an Israeli shelling. Israel also closed all the commercial crossings along the Israel-Gaza border, the main route ways for the humanitarian supplies to enter the coastal area, which has just been devastated by the Israeli operation, said Palestinian officials.

Anggota Parlimen sepakat sokong usul kecam Israel

12/01/2009 9:35pm

KUALA LUMPUR 12 Jan. — Anggota Parlimen Barisan Nasional (BN) dan pembangkang hari ini mengetepikan agenda politik masing-masing bagi menyokong usul mengecam serangan Israel terhadap rakyat Palestin di Gaza.

Ketika membahas usul tergempar mengecam pencerobohan dan serangan Israel terhadap Palestin di Dewan Rakyat, Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mencadangkan supaya kerajaan bertindak lebih tegas menangani isu itu dengan meminta Kementerian Luar memanggil Duta Amerika Syarikat (AS) untuk menyatakan bantahan keras rakyat Malaysia terhadap sokongan negara tersebut kepada tindakan Israel.

“Harapan Malaysia terhadap bakal presiden Amerika Syarikat Barack Obama ialah mengambil sikap yang adil kepada penduduk Palestin kerana jelas pendirian Obama terlalu keras menyokong Israel. “Seluruh rakyat Malaysia termasuk daripada semua parti di negara ini menunjukkan rasa tidak senang hati dengan pentadbiran yang memihak kepada penjenayah perang dan melihat kelesuan pemimpin negara Arab yang nampak tidak menunjukkan sikap keberanian untuk memperjuangkan nasib rakyat,” katanya semasa membahaskan usul mengecam serangan Rejim Zionis Israel di Gaza di Persidangan Dewan Rakyat di sini hari ini.

Anwar juga mencadangkan agar Malaysia mengambil inisiatif supaya bekerjasama dengan Brunei dan Indonesia mengetuai pasukan yang menunjukkan sikap dan pendirian yang membenci keganasan dan kezaliman.

“Kita boleh berunding dengan Brunei dan Indonesia untuk menunjukkan sikap tegas dan berani menentang kezaliman rejim Israel terhadap rakyat Palestin yang dibunuh kejam,” kata Anwar, yang juga penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) dan aggota Parlimen Permatang Pauh.

Bagaimanapun dalam perbahasan itu Anwar tidak mengkritik tindak tanduk AS atau keupayaan negara berkenaan untuk menyelesaikan masalah itu.

Sementara itu, Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang) mencadangkan agar Malaysia mengambil tindakan mengheret Israel ke mahkamah antarabangsa kerana mencabuli undang-undang antarabangsa.

“Ini kerana Israel telah mencabuli piagam Pertubuhan Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) dan telah menunjukkan yang ia tidak berdisiplin,” katanya.

Timbalan Setiausaha Agung DAP P. Ramasamy, yang juga anggota Parlimen Batu Kawan, berkata Israel boleh dilabel sebagai sebuah negara pengganas kerana membuat tindakan unilateral menyerang Palestin.

“Israel kini mencari jalan baru untuk mendominasikan Palestin dengan menyerang. Mereka ingin mengekalkan dominasi mereka terhadap Palestin.

“Oleh itu, kita kena adakan perbincangan dengan Kesatuan Eropah, Rusia dan semua kuasa besar untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian masalah ini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata PBB gagal mencari penyelesaian untuk masalah itu dan kini masanya telah tiba bagi semua negara bersuara mengenai permasalahan ini dan kita mesti meyokong kerajaan kita untuk menyelesaikan masalah ini.”

Naib Ketua Pemuda Umno Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) pula meyifatkan masalah di Palestin sebagai masalah sejagat yang hanya boleh diselesaikan oleh masyarakat antarabangsa.

“Dunia menjadi saksi apa yang berlaku di Palestin. Semua mesti menyokong mencari jalan penyelesaian masalah ini. Langkah pertama ialah gencatan senjata oleh kedua-dua pihak,” katanya.

Beliau juga meminta masyarakat dunia untuk menambah tekanan terhadap Israel termasuk sekatan ekonomi.

Khairy turut mencadangkan agar satu pasukan pengaman dibentuk supaya rakyat Palestin tidak diancam atau dipaksa oleh rejim Zionis Israel.

“Sistem antarabangsa kini berat sebelah, menyebelahi sesebuah pihak. Sistem politik antarabangsa yang diamalkan sekarang tidak mendengar suara masyarakat dunia.

“Kita juga perlu menyusun semula PBB dan struktur baru itu perlulah menjaga kepentingan semua, tidak kira, bangsa dan agama,” katanya.

Sementara itu Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Bebas-Pasir Mas) pula mencadangkan kakitangan kerajaan dipotong gaji sehari dan duit itu disalurkan kepada tabung Palestin.

“Biarlah derma ini disalurkan dengan betul agar ia sampai ke tangan rakyat Palestin. Lebih baik jika dihantar dalam bentuk pakaian, makanan atau peralatan bukan dalam bentuk wang ringgit,” katanya.

 BERNAMA

 

 

Israeli reservists enter war

ASHKELON, Israel – Thousands of Israeli reservists began moving into the Gaza Strip on Monday, signaling that Israel may be ready to escalate its campaign and enter a new and more punishing phase of its 2-week-old war against Palestinian militants.

The military announced earlier that it had begun sending reserve units into Gaza to assist thousands of ground forces already in the Hamas-ruled territory. The deployment of the soldiers, many in their late twenties and thirties, was the strongest sign so far that Israel was prepared to intensify its war against Hamas.

The army has called up thousands of reserves troops for its Gaza campaign, meant to halt eight years of rocket fire on southern Israel.

“Israel is a small country and (in) all of our battles and all the wars we’ve had in the past reserve soldiers are called up,” Capt. Doron Spilmann, a spokesman for the Israeli military, told Associated Press Television News. “It’s standard that they then begin to work hand in hand along with our permanent standing force in the air, on the ground and at sea.”

Defense officials say about 5,000 reservists entered Gaza and thousands of others have been drafted.

Reservists in Gaza have been taking over areas cleared out by the regular troops, allowing those forces to push forward toward new targets, defense officials said on condition of anonymity because they were discussing classified operational strategy.

Israeli President Shimon Peres met with hundreds of reservists at a staging area in southern Israel as they prepared to enter Gaza.

“I don’t think that Israel has ever had an army better trained, organized and sophisticated than you,” he said. “I came in the name of the nation to say to you a deep thank you for your achievements so far and to wish you luck during battle.”

The group he met with were a mixed bunch, some apparently in their early 30s, at least one with a gray ponytail and beard. They were wearing crisp olive battledress, obviously freshly issued, and had M-16 assault rifles slung across their shoulders.

Asked if they knew what they were getting into and the possible price some might have to pay, one soldier one said he lost a good friend in combat during his compulsory military service 18 years ago and named his son after him.

“I know exactly what the price may be. I left three children at home, one a month-old baby girl, and I came here fully motivated to do whatever needs to be done, with full knowledge of the cost,” he said. The reservist was not identified in line with military guidelines.

Reservists interviewed said they were concerned over the rate of Palestinian civilian casualties. About half of the roughly 910 Palestinians killed since Israel launched its offensive on Dec. 27 are thought to be civilians.

A soldier who identified himself only as being from the town of Sderot, the militants’ favorite target, said the Gazans were his neighbors.

“We’ve been living with them for a long time and in my opinion 80 percent of the residents there don’t want these things,” he said. “The problem is the 20 percent in Hamas who control them.”

 

In Remembrance of Tom Hurndall

If Tom still with us today, he will be very sad on what had happenned to the Palestinian for the past 17th day.  Tom, you’ve made your parent proud.

Shahrul Peshawar, Alor Setar

Israel pounds new Hamas targets, enlists reserves

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israeli warplanes pounded the homes of Hamas leaders and ground troops edged closer to the Gaza Strip’s densely populated urban center Monday, as Israel weighed a decision to escalate its devastating offensive.

Despite the tightening Israeli cordon, militants managed to fire off at least four rockets Monday morning. There were no reports of injuries, though one rocket hit a house in the southern city of Ashkelon.

Black smoke rose over Gaza City’s suburbs, where the two sides skirmished throughout the night. At least six Palestinians died in the new airstrikes or of wounds on Monday, Gaza health officials said. One of the dead was a militant killed in a northern Gaza battle.

The army announced Sunday that it was sending reserve units into Gaza to assist thousands of ground forces already in the territory. The use of reserves is a strong signal that Israel is planning to move the offensive, which Gaza officials say has killed some 870 Palestinians, into a new, more punishing phase.

Israel launched the offensive on Dec. 27, bombarding Gaza with dozens of airstrikes before sending in ground forces a week later. The operation is meant to halt years of Palestinian rocket attacks on southern Israel. Fighting has persisted despite international calls for a cease-fire. Thirteen Israelis, including 10 soldiers, have died.

Egypt, which often serves as a mediator between Israel and Hamas, has been playing a key role in trying to forge a cease-fire. In Cairo, Egypt’s state-owned news agency reported progress in truce talks with Hamas but provided no specifics.

International Mideast envoy Tony Blair was in Cairo on Monday, meeting with President Hosni Mubarak following talks with Israeli leaders on Sunday. Egypt has put forward a three-stage proposal to end the fighting.

“I think the elements of an agreement for the immediate cease-fire are there,” Blair said, adding that, while more work needed to be done, he hoped to see a cease-fire “in the coming days.”

Israel’s representative to the talks, Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad, was in close contact with Egypt. But in a sign that more work is needed, he postponed a trip to Cairo, officials said.

With Israeli troops surrounding Gaza’s main population centers, Israeli leaders have given mixed signals on how much further the army is ready to push, saying the operation is close to achieving its goals but vowing to press forward with overwhelming force.

“Israel is a country that reacts vigorously when its citizens are fired upon, which is a good thing,” Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told Israel Radio on Monday. “That is something that Hamas now understands and that is how we are going to react in the future, if they so much as dare fire one missile at Israel.”

Israeli security officials say they have killed hundreds of Hamas fighters, including top commanders. However, there has been no way to confirm the claims, and Hamas officials say the group is determined to keep fighting.

The army also says Hamas has been avoiding pitched battles against the advancing Israelis, resorting instead to guerrilla tactics as its fighters melt into crowded residential areas.

In Monday’s fighting, the army said it carried out more than 25 airstrikes, hitting squads of gunmen, mortar launchers and two vehicles carrying Hamas militants.

It also said ground troops came under fire from militants holed up inside a mosque. An Israeli aircraft attacked the squad, and Israeli troops then took over the mosque, confiscating rockets and mortar shells.

Israeli leaders are expected to decide in the next day or two on whether to push the offensive into a third phase — in which the army takes over larger areas of Gaza. This move would require the use of thousands of reserve units massed on the border with Gaza.

A push into densely crowded urban areas would threaten the lives of many more civilians. More than 20,000 Palestinians have already fled Gaza’s rural border areas and crowded into nearby towns, staying with relatives and at U.N. schools turned into makeshift shelters.

International aid groups have repeatedly said Israel must do more to protect Palestinian civilians, who are believed to make up about half of the dead.

Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of firing artillery shells packed with the incendiary agent white phosphorus over populated areas of Gaza. The chemical, used for creating smoke screens and for illuminating battlefields at night, ignites when it comes in contact with oxygen and can cause serious burns and spark fires as it drifts to the ground in long trails of smoke.

Marc Garlasco, a military analyst working for the rights organization, said he witnessed such shelling from the Gaza-Israel border last weekend. He reviewed AP Television News footage on Monday of similar midair fire that he said was white phosphorus.

“You basically have what looks like the head of a jellyfish and the tentacles coming down on fire,” he said. “It’ll burn for approximately five to 10 minutes, depending on atmospheric conditions and this causes extreme fire and the potential for civilian harm.”

The Israeli army refuses to say whether it’s using phosphorus, saying only it is “using its munitions in accordance with international law.”

White phosphorus is not illegal. Under customary laws of war, however, Israel would be expected to take all feasible precautions to minimize the impact on civilians, Human Rights Watch said.

As soldiers geared up for battle, Israeli President Shimon Peres visited hundreds of reservists at a base in southern Israel on Monday.

“I don’t think Israel has ever had an army better trained, organized and sophisticated than you,” he told them, according to a statement released by his office.

For the time being, the reserve units have been taking over areas cleared out by the regular troops, allowing those forces to push forward toward new targets. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing classified operational strategy.

In addition to Egypt, European envoys have been pressing efforts to negotiate an end to the war even though Israel and Hamas have ignored a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and durable cease-fire.

Israel is demanding an end to years of rocket attacks, as well as international guarantees to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons into Gaza through the porous Egyptian border. This complex goal would require Egyptian or international help in shutting off the smuggling routes.

Israel has been bombing tunnels that run under the Egypt-Gaza border.

In an e-mail message early Monday, Hamas leader Ismail Radwan said his group would not consider a cease-fire before Israel stops its attacks and pulls back from Gaza. He also demanded opening of all border crossings, emphasizing the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

That would relieve economic pressure on the destitute territory but also strengthen Hamas control of Gaza, which Israelis fear will allow the group to re-arm.

In Paris, the French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, said Monday that European military observers should be sent to Gaza to monitor any eventual cease-fire.

Germany’s foreign minister suggested Sunday that Egypt and Israel were favorable to having international experts deployed at the Gaza-Egyptian frontier to stop arms smuggling. Kouchner, however, said Monday that “neither the Egyptians nor the Israelis want international observers on their territory for the moment.”

___

Barzak reported from Gaza City and Federman from Jerusalem.

Situation Report on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip No.8

Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Date: 11 Jan 2009

10 – 11 January 2009

The following information is based on reports from member states, the UN Country Team for the occupied Palestinian territory, humanitarian partners and authorities involved in the humanitarian response.1. General Overview

1. As the Israeli military operation in Gaza entered its third week, the ICRC described the situation of Palestinian civilians as, “increasingly precarious”.

2. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH), the number of Palestinian casualties has increased to 884 fatalities, including a high number of civilians (at least 93 women, 275 children and 12 medical personnel). At least 3,860 Palestinians have been injured (413 are considered critically injured), including at least 1,333 children and 597 women as of 11 January.

3. The Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) reported that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have been making limited incursions of heavy armour approximately one kilometre deep into Gaza, near densely populated areas. Following media reports in recent days, the Palestinian Red Cross (PRCS) updated on 10 January that it, “is deeply concerned over the use of the Israeli army of certain weapons that [have] not been used before in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)”. Israeli authorities have denied the use of any phosphorous ammunition.

4. On 9 January, Magen David Adom reported that a “barrage” of rockets struck Israel from Palestine in the afternoon. It was noted that the, “rockets are hitting areas where ten percent of Israel’s people live,” and that for the “first time since fighting began in the Gaza Strip 13 days ago, rockets also hit northern Israel.” As at 1500 hrs (1300 hrs GMT) on 11 January, UNSCO reported that 31 rockets had been fired from Palestine into Israel between 10-11 January. On 11 January, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that since 27 December there have been over four Israeli fatalities and over 220 injured.

5. Following “credible assurances that the security of UN personnel, installations and humanitarian operations would be fully respected”, including undertakings of improved liaison and more effective internal coordination within the Israeli armed forces, UNRWA announced on 10 January that it would lift restrictions on staff movements (which had been announced on 8 January due to lack of security). The truck company responsible for transferring goods from crossing points in Gaza has also resumed work after one staff was killed and two injured by gunfire.

6. On 11 January, the Israeli Prime Minister said that Israel is, “getting close to achieving the goals it set for itself…” Following a meeting between the Palestinian and Egyptian Presidents in Cairo on 10 January, the Palestinian President noted that the Egyptian ceasefire initiative would be an “implementation mechanism for [Security Council] resolution 1860 and the goal remains an immediate ceasefire”.

7. During the week of 12 January, the UN Secretary General will travel to the Middle East region and meet with leaders in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Jordan to discuss the situation in the oPt and to advocate for the expedited implementation of Security Council Resolution 1860, which calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian access in Gaza.

8. On 10 January, the Heads of FAO, WFP and representative of other UN Agencies met with the First Lady of Egypt in her capacity as the President of the Egyptian Red Crescent Society. Participants expressed their grave concerned over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the oPt and, “condemned the grave and systematic human rights violations and the indiscriminate use of force against the Palestinian civilian population…” Participants also called for the prompt and full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1860.

2.1 Coordination and Humanitarian Response

Gaza Crossings

9. Kerem Shalom crossing was open on 11 January, a total of 93.5 truckloads, including 55.5 for humanitarian aid agencies (including food, medical supplies and shelter materials), were allowed entry into Gaza. Palestinian truck-drivers who had threatened to strike after one was killed and two injured by gunfire at Kerem Shalom have resumed operations. New procedures have been established at the crossing as of 11 January, which prevent trucks from crossing into Gaza unless Palestinian trucks are available and ready to load cargo at the Palestinian side of the crossing. On 10 January, crossings were closed for the Jewish Sabbath.

10. Rafah crossing was open on 11 January: 18 medical cases were evacuated and nine trucks with medical and food supplies crossed into Gaza. According to the WHO, since 27 December, 189 patients have been transferred through Rafah crossing as of 10 January.

11. The Nahal Oz fuel pipeline was closed 11 January.

2.1. Protection

12. On 10 January, there was a unilateral suspension of military activity by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) between 1300-1600 hrs (1100-1400 hrs GMT) for the fourth consecutive day. On 11 January, the lull in military activities was held between 1100-1400 hrs (0900- 1200 hrs GMT). This change in time reportedly caused some confusion among civilians and aid agencies. UNRWA was coordinating the movement of a 52-vehcile convoy for the delivery of goods to humanitarian actors on 11 January.

13. Several international NGOs have stated that the daily three-hour lull is insufficient to deliver humanitarian aid and for civilians to access necessary supplies. In particular, continued insecurity is constraining the delivery of lifesaving medical supplies and the distribution of food. Furthermore, the lull has been criticised because it does not coincide with other Israeli security controls. The Israeli army checkpoints on the two main roads running through the Gaza Strip are only open twice daily for half an hour (10-1030 hrs and 1600-1630 hrs), which does not correspond to the planned lull.

14. On 10 January, the ICRC reported that the PRCS had stated that, “rescue operations are often aborted because of the lack of access. They are also becoming more and more dangerous, and [aid workers] are getting more and more scared,” to carry out activities.

2.2. Food

15. UNRWA distributed food through distribution sites and specifically to “hardship” cases on 10 January. Seven of ten food distribution centres were also restocked. WFP also distributed food on 9 and 10 January (including 4,489 tonnes of food parcels; 3,150 kilos of bread; and 1,180 metric tonnes of high-energy biscuits) in collaboration with CHF. On 11 January, WFP launched Operation Lifeline Gaza, a global appeal to increase food distribution to Gaza.

16. WFP has food stocks sufficient to feed almost 360,000 people for the next three weeks, but the heavy fighting has limited the possibility of wide-scale distributions. Many truck drivers and fork lift truck operators have been unwilling to work due to the insecurity and the civilian population is often too frightened to go to food distribution points.

2.3. Health

17. Hospitals remain under intense pressure due to the high number of wounded in need of treatment. The PRCS reported that, “hospital operating rooms are overflowing, and running out of essential medicines. Hospitals and other medical facilities are also understaffed and [unable] to respond to the load of injuries.”

18. According to WHO and the ICRC, the main challenge in the health sector is a lack of freedom of movement: those affected by fighting cannot be accessed by medical staff; distribution of medicines and equipment to hospitals is constrained; there are restrictions on the referral of patients out of Gaza for treatment; and some medical staff cannot access to hospitals.

19. Since the outbreak of hostilities on 27 December, the regular health system has almost ceased to function. The Palestinian MoH reports that about 70 percent of chronic patients regularly attending primary health care centres have had to interrupt their treatment due to the security situation, which raises serious health concerns.

2.4. Water and Sanitation

20. According to the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU), Gaza’s water utility, approximately 500,000 people are without running water and another 500,000 people receive running water only intermittently. Water tanks, pumps and generators for repair of current infrastructure are ready for deployment but have not been accessed due to insecurity, or have not been allowed into Gaza by the Israeli authorities. Fifty UNICEF emergency family water kits (enough for 500 families) were distributed on 9 January through PRCS. On 11 January, UNICEF was also distributing bottled water to 4,000-6,000 people.

21. The CMWU issued a press release on 10 January in which it announced its inability to maintain its water and waste water services due to considerable damage caused to the networks, insecurity preventing the repair of damage and an inability to access needed spare parts. Due to damage of the waste-water treatment and sewage lines, collection ponds are at risk of breaking down, which would likely cause serious humanitarian, health and environmental consequences to people living in the area. On 10 January, UNRWA delivered 25,000 litres of fuel to the CMWU for the operation of water and waste-water facilities. An additional 4,000 litres of fuel were delivered to the Khan Yunis and Rafah municipalities for solid waste collection.

2.5. Shelter and Non-Food Items

22. According to Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, the total number of displaced persons within Gaza, including those staying with host families and those in shelters, is estimated to be 80-90,000 people, including an estimated 50,000 children.

23. As of 11 January, UNRWA was operating 31 shelters providing refuge to 25,696 people. Some shelters have become overcrowded, sheltering over 1,700 people; however, insecurity has prevented the opening of new shelters.

2.6. Infrastructure, Fuel and Electricity

24. Following repair to the damaged electrical line west of Netzarim as well as parts of the local network, the Gaza Power Plant resumed partial functionality on 10 January, producing 30MW out of a total capacity of 80MW. Gaza City is now receiving 55MW (12 hours a day); however, because of localized damage, only 30 percent of Gaza City is receiving electricity.

3.0 International Assistance and Priority needs

3.1. Funding

25. The Humanitarian Country Team has re-visited projects proposed for the 2009 CAP (which appealed for over USD 462 million) to ensure that the projects, activities and priorities remained relevant to the ongoing emergency. At this stage, the budget of the CAP has been increased by over USD 67 million for a total appeal of over USD 529 million, and is subject to further changes. This includes the UNRWA Flash appeal for over USD 34 million (for additional food, cash assistance, shelter and fuel); an increase in the capacity of the Humanitarian Emergency Response Fund (HRF) (to quickly fund unpredicted emergency responses), and funding for WFP (for additional food and to cover costs of the newly-established logistics cluster which it is leading).

26. There is an immediate need for USD 95.6 million to respond to the current needs in Gaza. Priority sectors include: protection; shelter; food aid and food security; water and sanitation; agriculture; cash for work/assistance; education; health; and coordination and support services.

27. In total, as of 11 January, donors have already committed or pledged approximately USD 48 million (in funding or in-kind contributions) for projects in the Consolidated Appeal and approximately USD 41 million to projects outside of the appeal (http://ocha.unog.ch/fts/pageloader.aspx?page=emerg-emergencyDetails&appealID=834). This information was compiled by OCHA, based on the information provided by donors and appealing organisations.

3.2. Priority Needs

28. Protection: Compliance with international humanitarian law is essential to enhance security for civilians within Gaza, allow civilians freedom of movement to reach lifesaving services, and for humanitarian actors to distribute assistance.

29. Access: A sustained re-opening of all crossings into Gaza is required to meet assistance needs. Improved humanitarian access to Gaza is also required for humanitarian staff, particularly for NGO staff. Increased security and improved access within Gaza is essential for civilians to reach lifesaving services, and for humanitarian actors to distribute assistance.

30. Electricity & Fuel: Much of the population of Gaza continues to live without electricity. Hospitals require fuel to run generators on which they rely; water and sanitation facilities require fuel to operate; and households and bakeries require cooking gas.

31. Wheat grain: Wheat grain is urgently needed for local bakeries and for humanitarian food distributions. The Karni Crossing conveyor belt is the only mechanism which can facilitate the import of the amount of grain required in the Strip at this time, and is currently closed.

32. Cash: Cash has still not entered the Gaza Strip and is urgently needed, including for the Palestinian authority to pay civil servants, for the UNRWA cash distribution program to some 94,000 dependent beneficiaries, as well as its “cash for work” program, salaries for staff and payments to suppliers. The Palestinian Monetary Authority requested approval from Israel for a cash transfer of NIS 243 million (USD 62.9 million) and USD 16 million from Palestinian banks in the West Bank to their branches in Gaza.

33. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet website at http://reliefweb.int. A copy of the Field Update from the Humanitarian Coordinator for the oPt can be found at:

http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_gaza_humanitarian_situation_report_2009_01_08_english.pdf

4.0 Contacts

OCHA Geneva – Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Mr. Peter Neussl, Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 1511, Email: neussl@un.org

OCHA New York – Desk Officer
Mr. Aurelien Buffler, Tel: +1 347 515 4801, Email: buffler@un.org

OCHA Geneva – Press Contact
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 2653, Email: byrs@un.org

OCHA New York – Press Contact
Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel: +1 917 367 2549, Email: bunker@un.org

OCHA Office in the occupied Palestinian territory
Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, Tel: +972-2-582-996/ 5853, Email: Lazzarini@un.org
Ms. Allegra Pacheco, Tel: +972-2-582-996/ 5853, Email: Pacheco6@un.org

Aid agencies call for better access to Gaza.

 

“The people of Gaza have reached breaking point and it’s hard to describe in words how desperate people are. We believe 70 percent of the population are without water and electricity and food is running out. Our aid efforts have been severely restricted due to the level of violence ” IR’s Hatem Shurrab.

Aid agencies are finding it increasingly difficult to distribute urgent emergency relief as the military attacks intensify in the densely populated Gaza Strip home to 1.5 million Palestinians.

Thirteen days into the Gaza conflict aid agencies Islamic Relief and CAFOD are warning that the humanitarian crisis is deepening hour by hour.

Geoff O’Donoghue, CAFOD’s Director of International Division, says a three-hour occasional halt to military activities is insufficient to allow meaningful movements of aid to reach those in need.

“Time is of the essence. It is imperative that a secure humanitarian corridor is established within the next 24 to 48 hours to allow immediate delivery of essential supplies and skilled personnel to help deal with this humanitarian crisis.”

“While this would allow some short-term relief, it is no substitute for a permanent ceasefire, an end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza and rocket attacks into Israel,” he said.

According to reports from aid workers in Gaza 70 percent of people no longer have running water in their homes. This is as a result of electricity shortages and the damage caused to the water systems. There are also severe food shortages with people risking their lives to queue for up to ten hours on the streets for bread.

Mr O’Donoghue also warned of impending health issues.

“As essential food, water, health and sanitation services collapse or are destroyed it is inevitable that disease will add to the mounting list of civilian casualties caused by the military action,” he said.

Hospitals are now entirely reliant on generators dependent on scarce fuel supplies, and with no fuel entering Gaza many life-saving machines are unable to run.

Hatem Shurrab an aid worker with IR said, “The people of Gaza have reached breaking point and it’s hard to describe in words how desperate people are. We believe 70 percent of the population are without water and electricity and food is running out. Our aid efforts have been severely restricted due to the level of violence.”

IR’s aid team on the ground report that hospitals are running out of supplies of medication. Hospitals are also facing shortages of beds and medical equipment and staff report that some operations have had to take place without the use of anaesthetic. Only one quarter of health staff are working because of restrictions on movement. Vaccination programmes have stopped, heightening the risk of disease, especially amongst children.

Palestinian medical sources say that over 680 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict started, many of them women and children and many thousands injured. Aid workers say that around 30 percent of those who have been killed or injured are children.

“People in Gaza are exhausted and traumatised, and are in desperate need for an end to this nightmare. We need the bombs to stop so we can get aid out to the most vulnerable people whose suffering is increasing day by day’’ said Shurrab.

For more information please contact:

Helen Mould (Islamic Relief) on (00 44) 121 622 0719 or mobile: (00 44) 7855 499 645

Nana Anto-Awuakye (CAFOD) on (00 44) 207 095-5560 or mobile: (00 44)7799 477 541