UN: Israel cooperating in efforts to improve Gaza humanitarian situation

[oberliner]

A United Nations official said on Friday Israel was cooperating in efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza but that far more had to be done to help the Palestinian territory recover after Israel's offensive.

John Holmes, the UN's Humanitarian Affairs chief, said Israel was allowing in more food and medicine into Gaza than it did before December 27, when it launched the offensive against Hamas with the stated goal of stopping cross-border rocket attacks.

"I've detected a spirit of good will on the Israeli side to help do that," Holmes said, referring to efforts by aid organizations to transfer medical, food and other urgent supplies to Gaza through border crossings controlled by Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1058216.html

[T Wolf]

1. How noble of them. Create the humanitarian disaster, and then claim credit for fixing it.

When did Israel stop beating it's wife? Never.

[BeFree]

3. Right out of the Bush bible

Create the disaster and then take credit for fixing it.

Or did Bush take it from the Israeli bible?

Anyway, methinks Israel is ashamed of itself.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Now there's the ticket. KUDOS! The only way is give the folks in Gaza "something to lose."

Forgive my simplicity - but it's apt to quote the great social scientist crooner, Janis Joplin, "When you ain't got nothing, you've got nothing to lose."

Give the people hope for the future with "a little something" to lose and they will NOT be motivated to support those who choose violence.

[Scurrilous]

4. Guns silent as Gaza edges back to normalcy

<snip>

"Gazans filled mosques for Friday prayers without fear of Israeli strikes for the first time since the war against Hamas ended, feeling a mixture of grief, shock and relief.

Israeli naval guns were largely silent after weeks of nonstop fire along the Palestinian territory's coast, as the cease-fire declared by both sides last weekend held.

Near two destroyed Gaza City mosques, men spread carpets on sandy ground to prepare for open-air prayers. In the main market of the Jebaliya refugee camp, large crowds shopped ahead of prayers and restaurants fired up huge vats with meat, cooking on wood fires because of a shortage of gas.

Fruit merchants boasted shipments of apples and bananas from Israel. One owner said it was the first time in five months he had been able to sell fresh apples.

The three-week Israeli air and ground offensive that began on Dec. 27 killed 1,285 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. Thirteen Israelis were also killed during the fighting, aimed at stopping militant rocket fire from Gaza across the border into southern Israel.

Israel opened its passenger crossing into Gaza, allowing free access for international reporters and humanitarian workers for the first time since before the offensive began. The restrictions on journalists had been condemned as a serious infringement on press freedom.

Michael Bailey of Oxfam International, one of the aid groups allowed through the Erez crossing on Friday, called the Israeli move "long overdue."

more


Physicians for Human Rights reps enter Gaza

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3660855,00.html

Aid workers say 'we are here to help the locals and relieve the humanitarian crisis,' claim 'many families were simply wiped out during IDF offensive'

<snip>

"Twelve representatives of the Physicians for Human Rights-Israel organization entered Gaza Friday morning through the Erez crossing to provide medical assistance to locals who were injured during the IDF's three-week offensive.

This was the first time members of the group, including Jewish and Arab doctors, were allowed into the Hamas-controlled territory since the offensive was launched.

"We are here to help the residents of Gaza and relieve the humanitarian crisis," said Cassandra Nelson, an aid worker with The Mercy Corps. "We want to bring in experts to rebuild the demolished homes and have psychologists treat the children who suffered from shock during the war."

Some of the human rights activists were permitted to enter the Strip after a one-hour wait, while others were left behind.

The Physicians for Human Rights-Israel delegation consists of surgeons, emergency care specialists and psychologists. Some of them are colleagues of Dr. Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish, the Palestinian gynecologist who lost three of his eight children when his home was hit by an IDF tank shell."