Ordinary Gazans, Not Hamas, Hurt Most by 3-Year Blockade

[EFerrari]

Published on Friday, June 11, 2010 by Associated Press
Ordinary Gazans, Not Hamas, Hurt Most by 3-Year Blockade

by Karin Laub and Diaa Hadid

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Three out of four factories in Gaza have closed because they can't import or export. Legitimate businesses have been replaced by a Hamas-controlled black market economy. Millions of gallons of sewage are pumped into the sea every day because a lack of spare parts holds up infrastructure repairs.

Three years after Israel and Egypt sealed Gaza in hopes of squeezing the territory's Islamic militant Hamas rulers, those suffering most are ordinary Gazans.

They include tens of thousands who lost their jobs, among them 49-year-old Mohammed Maadi, whose family of 15 scrapes by on U.N. rations and whose teenage sons risked their lives digging smuggling tunnels to help put food on the table.

Even if the blockade were to be lifted soon — as many demanded after last week's deadly Israeli raid on a blockade-busting flotilla — recovery could take years. Production lines have fallen into disrepair. Entrepreneurs have moved investments abroad. Men forced into idleness have lost their place in society.

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/06/11-6

[azurnoir]

1. True enough but what is most perfidious about Israel's "reasoning"

is that the people of Gaza would "overthrow" Hamas, think about that one so if the people of Gaza engage in what would surely be a bloodbath to get rid of Hamas then Israel would consider lifting the blockade?
It is on this that the "ProIsrael" claims of everything aiding Hamas are based

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. An alternative would be the upcoiming Palestinian election that Hamas has refused to

participate in or allow to be held in Gaza.

[azurnoir]

7. The PA called those off earlier this week

eta are we supposed to forget that the land blockade in its present form has been going on for 3 years?

[EFerrari]

9. Abbas seems to have postponed that election.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100610/wl_nm/us_palestinians_elections_1

[EFerrari]

22. It's not really an election if you are punished for voting for your choice.

The idea that an election in Gaza is an alternative has been shown to be spurious.

[Dick Dastardly]

27. The blockade came after almost 2 years of massive increases in rocket attacks since

disengagement in sept 2005 and not when Hamas was elected in Jan 2006 but only after they siezed power in Gaza June 2007.



In any case just because someone elects somone it does not mean you have to like it or deal with them. Choices have consequenses and elections are choices and have consequenses not punishment. No one is required to trade with or aid someone they dont like and just because you dont it does not invalidate an election as you say. Please explain how you are required to do so and if you dont the election is invalid ?

[EFerrari]

30. The fix was in as soon as the results were in, period.

And not trading with someone is not the same as the collective punishment of an electorate, is it?

My family is from Latin America, I know exactly how this works.

[Dick Dastardly]

32. What fix are you talking about???

You are correct that not trading with someone is not the same as the collective punishment of an electorate which is what I said above, and what Israel is doing is not collective punishment either.

[Chulanowa]

38. But to not deal with someone, and then complain when they won't deal with you?

Israel: "FUCKING HAMAS! WE WILL NEVER SPEAK TO THEM! NEVER! I SWEAR THIS ON THE BONES MY MY DEAD MOTHER! THEY ARE ROACHES! VERMIN! WE WILL NEVER DEAL WITH SCUM LIKE THAT! PTUI! PTUI!"

Israel, five minutes later: "FUCKING HAMAS WILL NOT RECOGNIZE US AND IS NOT WILLING TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THEIR SURRENDER! THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! HOW DARE THEY NOT RECOGNIZE US OR DEAL WITH US?! THIS IS NOT CIVILIZED!"

[EFerrari]

20. Who is making money off of this blockade?

I've never looked into it but isn't Gaza now a captive market for Israeli made goods?

Someone is raking it in. The whole "so they'll overthrow Hamas" bs never made a lick of sense.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Hamas has been taking excellent care of their own and allowing the rest of Gaza to hurt even more

[shira]

5. True enough. Fatah loyalists are on their own as Hamas refuses to help them.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x320871

Hamas has therefore been carrying out a 'siege' against Fatah loyalists for years.

Handwringing and outrage against Hamas coming from the usual pro-Palestinian suspects in 3, 2, 1.....

:eyes:

[shira]

4. The blockade is over. Egypt opened the border indefinitely.

[azurnoir]

6. Not the air and water blockade n/t

[shira]

8. How will lifting the air and water blockade help suffering Fatah loyalists in Gaza?

[azurnoir]

10. It will help the people of Gaza period but I am so touched

by your concern for Fatah

[shira]

11. How do you know? Hamas doesn't want to help Fatah loyalists - not that you care

Hamas has been sticking it to Fatah for years....and I'd say I'm touched by your concern, but I haven't noted any concern from you. Kinda tough to pretend being an advocate for Gazans when you never speak up for Fatah against Hamas cruelty in Gaza.

[azurnoir]

12. and Fatah has been doing the same to Hamas in the West Bank

with IDF's assistance

[shira]

15. Really? They've been targeting Hamas militants, not just any Hamas loyalist. But I'm touched...

...by your sudden concern for victims of Fatah or victims of Hamas.

[azurnoir]

18. is that really true I suggest you read Maan more often n/t

[azurnoir]

14. Are you attempting to imply that I support Hamas? Actually I do not

I am pointing out facts

[shira]

16. No, just that you could care less about the victims unless their oppressor is Israel

[azurnoir]

17. Aha LOL n/t

[whosinpower]

23. Disengenuous

Asd long as the two factions are fighting with each other - Israel could care less, as long as it is not victimized.

Israel supported Hamas when it was fighting Fatah...until it gained power politically....and now Israel sides with Fatah when it is fighting Hamas....

[Chulanowa]

37. Israel, for all intents and purposes, created Hamas

Hamas started out as nothing more than a grassroots student organization, dedicated to charitable work. Israel saw someone it could work with to undermine the PLO, and funded Hamas (rather, what would become Hamas) starting in the 80's. Through Israeli money, Hamas was able to rapidly expand its services and influence through both the West Bank and Gaza. This continued (presumably) up until the formation of Hamas' military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, began launching attacks in the 1990's in an attempt to sabotage the Oslo Accords.

In other words, the power and influence Hamas holds? Bought with Israeli taxpayer money for the years between 1981 and 1992.

[shira]

39. What's disigenuous is those most outraged could care less about Palestinians

...when Palestinians are the victims of others besides Israelis. Examples being:

a) Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and elsewhere living in more miserable conditions than the Palestinian territories
b) Hamas or PLO abuse of Palestinians

It's disingenuous for anyone to portray themselves as "pro-Palestinian" when that fake advocacy is used only as a stick to bash Israel.

[whosinpower]

42. Deflecting

Deflecting criticism of Israel's actions on the face of abysmal leadership in regards to Hamas, the PLO, Fatah, etc.

When you criticize Israel's wisdom by supporting Fatah now, or Hamas in the past - your sincere concern of the well being of Palistinian refugees might gain credibility. I will say it again - Israel is quite happy as long as Fatah and Hamas are fighting amongst themselves and not uniting to work towards a peace settlement.

[EFerrari]

13. Any measure that opens access to the rest of the world

begins to limit the influence of Hamas -- which is why this siege was a monumental stupidity from "go".

[shira]

19. Iran has open access to the world and that hasn't limited the influence of Iran's leadership

Neither will it work in Gaza.

Hamas will only continue to govern by theocratic, anti-humanitarian rule. But so long as they have control over their own land that's okay with you....

[EFerrari]

21. That Iran's leadership has maintained a grip on power

doesn't mean they have a monopoly on the populace, which iirc, had massive demonstrations after their last election. Maybe you missed that.

And don't try to read my mind, shira. You can barely manage your own.

[shira]

24. And those demonstrations in Iran were smashed, world was silent. What makes you think

...things will be different in Gaza?

[LeftishBrit]

36. The world was not silent. Ineffective perhaps, but not silent.

[shira]

40. And what would lead one to believe "the world" will be any more effective WRT Gaza?

Gaza with Hamas in charge will be just another theocratic hellhole similar to Afghanistan under Taliban rule or Iran under its Ayatollahs.

It's sad that the Palestinians most vocal 'defenders' can't be bothered to advocate or do anything about that. So long as Palestinians get their land....or Hamas gets the land and Palestinians serve as their slaves, all will be well, problem solved.

:eyes:

[OllieLotte]

25. Hmm...sounds like voting Hamas to run things isn't working in Gaza.

That is very surprising. I would have expected Hamas to have won the war by now.

[EFerrari]

26. Disgusting. n/t

[azurnoir]

29. Hmmm sounds like you need to educate yourself n/t

[LeftishBrit]

28. Of course Hamas aren't suffering; the leaders are probably delighted

Helps to keep them in power by rallying the people (or some of them) against an enemy.

So both the Israeli Right and Palestinian Right are brutal to their opponents, and the ordinary Palestinians end up suffering the most. Hamas' behaviour toward Fatah is no excuse for the Israeli blockade of a territory that is still technically under their jurisdiction; and Israel's behaviour toward Gaza also isn't an excuse for all the crap that Hamas does.

[EFerrari]

31. Right wing @ssholes seem to be having a fine time for now, that's for sure.

It's like a global plague right now.

[shira]

41. Some "right wing" Leftists are getting their jollies too

Like the hateful warmongers from the flotilla who exploit Palestinians in order to physically attack, vilify or dehumanize Jews. This being part of an overall effort to deligitimize and ultimately destroy Israel. Some are useful idiots of Iran or Hamas. Those who defend, are indifferent to, or just simply willfully blind to this are enablers of these haters and warmongers who are more pro-Hamas than pro-Palestinian (which is really what being anti-Israel is all about).

So it's not just the extreme Rightwing but also the "Rightwing" Leftists. Maybe call them the Stalinist Left?

They both suck.

[Fozzledick]

33. Ordinary Gazans, Not Israel, Hurt Most by Hamas' 11-Year War

[Crunchy Frog]

34. The people who defend this are the ones who scream most loudly

over any suggestion of a boycott of Israel.

Don't the Israelis deserve such for voting for a nut like Netenyahoo?

[Chulanowa]

35. Whaaaaaat?!

You mean just like China, just like Cuba, just like Iran, just like Iraq, just like every fucking country in the history of mankind that has been subjected to this?

You're kidding, right? I so thought it would go differently this time!