Hamas prepares to open international port with backing from Turkey, Qatar, Greece, EU

[Jefferson23]

GAZA CITY — Hamas is set to challenge Israel and open the Gaza Strip’s port to international traffic.

Palestinian sources said Hamas was refurbishing the port south of Gaza City to receive foreign ships for passenger and trade. They said the port would be launched by May 2015 regardless of Israeli approval.

“Hamas has decided that it will challenge Israel with considerable support from the international community,” a source close to Hamas said.

The sources said the Gaza port would be portrayed as an effort by Hamas to break the Israeli and Egyptian siege of the strip. They said Hamas has been recruiting promises of support, including Greece, Qatar, Republic of Cyprus and Turkey.

Hamas has been refurbishing the port to include a departure and arrivals lounge. The sources said the project was expected to be aided by European Union members, including France and the Netherlands.

“The confrontation will come when the first ships come to Gaza,” the source said

http://www.worldtribune.com/2015/02/06/hamas-prepares-open-international-port-backing-turkey-qatar-greece-eu/

[bravenak]

1. This seems like progress.

I have long wondered why no international port? Most places on the water should have a way to bring in things from all over the world. An increase of trade would be beneficial to the people there, increase wealth and provide more stability.

[Jefferson23]

2. Israel says no..you know, the security answer. This is a smart move going forward, true. yet you can

guess what will be done to it.

[bravenak]

3. Not fair!!

It would give Gaza something to focus on and want to protect. Making Israel safer. They should think about things like that. Who wants to fire rockets when the people are healthy and wealthy? They would not be trying to ruin their nice stuff that they built with their own hands. Thats crazy.
I think a content Palestine = a safe Israel.

[Jefferson23]

4. You'll get no argument from me.

[hack89]

6. The short answer is Hamas habit of arms smuggling

that is why there are UN bodies that have declared Israel's blockade legal. If Hamas allows all ship to be inspected there should be no problem with a port.

[bravenak]

7. This is good!! We agree!! They won't even want Hamas.

That's just my opinion. I would personally tell people 'screw Hamas! Go get a good paying job at the port. Maybe even union wages.' Can't eat rockets.

[Jefferson23]

9. U.N. experts reverse decision, say Israel's blockade of Gaza illegal

Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip violates international law, a panel of human rights experts reporting to a U.N. body said on Tuesday, disputing a conclusion reached by a separate U.N. probe into Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship.

The so-called Palmer Report on the Israeli raid of May 2010 that killed nine Turkish activists said earlier this month that Israel had used unreasonable force in last year's raid, but its naval blockade of the Hamas-ruled strip was legal.

A panel of five independent U.N. rights experts reporting to the U.N. Human Rights Council rejected that conclusion, saying the blockade had subjected Gazans to collective punishment in "flagrant contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law."
The four-year blockade deprived 1.6 million Palestinians living in the enclave of fundamental rights, they said.

"In pronouncing itself on the legality of the naval blockade, the Palmer Report does not recognize the naval blockade as an integral part of Israel's closure policy toward Gaza which has a disproportionate impact on the human rights of civilians," they said in a joint statement.

An earlier fact-finding mission named by the same U.N. forum to investigate the flotilla incident also found in a report last September that the blockade violated international law. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says the blockade violates the Geneva Conventions.

Israel says its Gaza blockade is a precaution against arms reaching Hamas and other Palestinian guerrillas by sea.

Read more at http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=8e0_1317075970#bVL2WcVUrudU6cIp.99

[hack89]

11. Did you bother to read your own link?

the decision was not reversed. It was disputed. What you have is dueling UN bodies.

[Jefferson23]

12. I offered it to you and it is not dueling, unless one is unable to decifer the

flimsy and useless Palmer report. Widely discredited, btw.

[hack89]

13. Right. Got it. Nt

[Jefferson23]

14. You're most welcome. n/t

[hack89]

5. A handful of mines will close it pretty fast

no need for a confrontation just a press release.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

8. "A handful of mines will close it pretty fast"

and the first EU ship that is destroyed by an Israeli mine will have disastrous consequences.

At least Israel will have something in common with the Persians then.

[hack89]

10. Lloyds will cancel their insurance well before they got to Gaza.

Let's not forget that the UN has called Israel's blockade legal.