6 Comments so far

1. Gaza’s Symbolic Darkness is Now a Reality on January 20, 2008 6:30 pm

   […] Gaza’s Symbolic Darkness is Now a Reality Gaza City was plunged into darkness Sunday after Israel blocked the shipment of fuel that powers its only electrical plant in retaliation for persistent rocket attacks by Gaza militants. The power cut sent already beleaguered Gazans to stock up on food and batteries in anticipation of dark, cold days ahead. Gaza officials warned the move would cause a health catastrophe while a U.N. agency and human rights groups condemned Israel. “We have the choice to either cut electricity on babies in […]

2. Andy on January 21, 2008 10:09 am

   Sunday, Jan. 20, 59 seriously ill Palestinians were transferred from Gaza through Erez to Israeli hospitals. Another 16 were transferred Monday.

   The same day, Hamas shut down the power stations supplying Gaza City and darkened the town accusing Israel of throwing the territory into a humanitarian crisis by halting fuel supplies. In fact, Gaza gets 75 percent of its electricity directly from Israel and 5 percent from Egypt. Only a small proportion is locally supplied. Israeli and Egyptian military sources suspect that Hamas drummed up an international outcry to justify its impending operation to smash through the Rafah border crossing from Gaza to Egyptian Sinai and seize control of the border, thus terminating the international blockade of the terrorist-rule Gaza Strip.

   Israel’s electricity corporation workers keep Gaza supplied with power often themselves under the Palestinian missile fire on Israeli civilian locations.

   No independent organizations confirm the Hamas claim of a humanitarian crisis and hospital deaths for lack of electricity. Gaza also has adequate stocks of basic foods, medicines and fuels, although there are some shortages. Israel will therefore not reopen the border crossings for the time being. The plight of Gaza’s 1.5 million inhabitants has not reached crisis point – unlike the dwindling Israeli communities living under constant Palestinian missile fire.
   http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=4955

3. moi on January 21, 2008 6:57 pm

   Andy– If this whole situation was concocted by Hamas, why is it then that Olmert today agreed to allow fuel and medicine into Gaza? If this was all imaginary, why would the EU call it collective punishment of the Palestinians by the Israeli government?
   And let me add that if this was a “ploy” by Hamas to attract attention to the miserable humanitarian crisis among their people, then by all means, I support it because obviously the world doesn’t feel the need to react until they see the whole Strip plunged into darkness and desperation. Even though, I don’t buy that claim.

4. Global Voices Online » Pitch Black Gaza: Jordanian Bloggers React! on January 22, 2008 8:27 am

   […] from Arab leaders? Tallouza puts the looming humanitarian crisis into perspective, while Moi of My Occupied Territory aims her frustration over the situation at the lack of reaction, especially from Arab leaders: […]

5. Pitch Black Gaza: Jordanian Bloggers React! : 7iber Dot Com on January 22, 2008 8:36 am

   […] from Arab leaders? Tallouza puts the looming humanitarian crisis into perspective, while Moi of My Occupied Territory aims her frustration over the situation at the lack of reaction, especially from Arab leaders: […]

6. Andy on January 22, 2008 1:25 pm

   “why is it then that Olmert today agreed to allow fuel and medicine into Gaza?” Oh, that’s simple - he is a miserable gutless leader, ready to bow to even a slight pressure, no matter justified or not. Winograd report will (I hope) topple him politically, and that’s what for now concernes him most. He is equally bad for Israelis and for our Arab neighbours.
   And yes, it is a collective punishment. As well as indiscriminate rocket shelling of Sderot and Ashkelon. Specialists call it “low intensity warfire”. Unfortunately it makes good PR for the politicans on the both sides of Gaza fence.