Israeli Occupation Forces Paralyze Lives of Civilians in the Gaza

[Tom Joad]

PCHR views with gravity the collective punishment currently being imposed by IOF on the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. This punishment is being inflicted through the complete land and sea closure of the Gaza Strip, including the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point on the border with Egypt, prevention of fishermen from going out to sea and constant aerial surveillance. In addition, PCHR is apprehensive over the consequences of the current situation, following the military operation near Kerem Shalom checkpoint on Sunday 25 June 2006, and the possibility of a wide scale ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. The operation resulted in the death of two Palestinians from the group that conducted the operation and two IOF soldiers. Another IOF soldier was taken prisoner during the operation.

According to field information, Rafah International Crossing Point was closed on 21 June 2006, due to the absence of the European monitors. The spokesperson for the monitors indicated that they did not come to the crossing due to an Israeli security alert regarding an impending attack on Kerem Shalom checkpoint. The crossing has been completely closed since Sunday, 25 June 2006, following the military operation at Kerem Shalom. Hundreds of Palestinian travelers are stuck on the Egyptian side of the border. Among these travelers are women, children, elderly and ill persons returning after medical treatment in Egypt. They are enduring inadequate living and health conditions while waiting to enter Gaza.

Furthermore, IOF have closed the other crossings into the Gaza Strip: El-Muntar (Karni) Commercial Crossing; Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing - designated for workers, humanitarian cases and international workers; Sofa Crossing - designated for construction material; and Kerem Shalom Crossing - used for food and medical humanitarian assistance.
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http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4854.shtml

[DELUSIONAL]

1. Sounds like a prison -- or a reservation circa 1880

-- interesting -- Israel demands recognition -- and yet the dogmatic Israeli leaders (and many dogmatic Israel supporter here in the US) refuse to recognize the Palestinians right to their own sovereignty.

This will go on and on and on. Violence will not bring about peace-- and learning to live together.

A response on this level is irrational -- somewhat akin to the reaction of the US military to the contractors who were killed in Fallujah -- extreme aggression was focused on the whole population of the city of 400,000. At the time of the US rage in Fallujah I was driving through St. Louis -- a population of about 400,000 -- which at rush hours means bumper to bumper slow moving cars. I tried to imagine 400,000 people being ordered by the US Military to leave --with many exits blocked.

And I've just realized that WAR is an irrational response . . . Israel is being damned stupid -- and the US is damned stupid for funding this war.

War is de-evolution of the human species.