Is it time for an international (armed) aid operation to Gaza?

[muriel_volestrangler]

Israel controls most of the borders, and patrols the sea; Egypt controls one border. Together, they imprison Gaza, literally put it on a restricted diet, and intermittently bombard it, acting as terrorists (using violent methods to induce terror in inhabitants).

Should we send in aid flotillas - protected by navies, since the Israelis have attacked unarmed ones in the past? There is a humanitarian crisis, and you cannot depend on the people who are causing it - the Israeli government - to cooperate with an international effort to end the crisis. So, send in aid by ship, tell Israel that any action by them against the aid will be taken as an act of war, and continue to do so. Even if Israel temporarily gives up the bombardment, as it often does, then continue doing it this way. Make their blockade of the border with Israel meaningless. Keep Israeli ships out of the area immediately to the west of the Gaza strip, and if they fire so much as a bullet in international waters beyond that, treat it as an act of piracy.

There is a port: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Gaza . Assuming Israel hasn't mined it yet, then it's a starting point for where to do this. Tell Israel that any injuries or deaths of aid workers in Gaza will be regarded as war crimes.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. Tastes like

chickenhawk

[CJCRANE]

2. Like the Berlin airlift?

It's a good idea but unlikely to happen as Palestine is just a geopolitical football for the big powers and their allies.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Yes, that's the general idea

Given the European politicians starting to say that the attack on Gaza is now unacceptable, I think it might have a chance of success.

[CJCRANE]

5. Has the West actually helped any country rebuild in this century?

The Marshall Plan worked in the 20th century, but so far in this century neocons and neolibs have had little success, in fact the opposite.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Kosovo (nt)

[CJCRANE]

12. Wasn't that in the 90s?

I can't think of anything we've touched Post-9/11 that's worked out.

I don't disagree with you. I just don't think enough of today's world leaders are acting in good faith.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. Started in 1999; UN and EU have had a presence there since then

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosovo_%28UNMIK%29
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Rule_of_Law_Mission_in_Kosovo

[duhneece]

30. I want a Peacekeeping plan, action, something

I want to go, like Rachel Corrie, even if I die there. I'm 63. Fellowship of Reconciliation has been on this for a long time:
http://forusa.org/blogs/for/support-for-members-gaza-freedom-flotilla/8810

I have this friggin health problem, but I'm seriously considering it.

[jwirr]

35. That is because they do not want to rebuild. They do not care about the mess they have made of the

ME.

[malaise]

9. Good idea and it looks like the world is finally waking up

By the way can you explain the silence of the pope?

[mazzarro]

20. Hmmm, a very interesting question to contemplate! - n/t

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

50. Looked it up and found this from July 28th

a plea for both sides to stop the fighting:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/israelgaza-conflict-pope-francis-issues-desperate-plea-to-fighters-i-ask-you-with-all-my-heart-stop-please-30463528.html

[B Calm]

4. Maybe if we gave Gaza a missile defense system too.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. it's not very likely to happen... but...

[JVS]

7. When does Egypt bombard Gaza?

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. They shut one border

and they are generally complicit with the Israelis.

[mazzarro]

24. Mostly for the aid US gives Egypt to maintain its peace treaty with Israel - n/t

[HooptieWagon]

8. Israel likely to use "Samson option"...

... on any countries that aid Gaza militarily, thus starting WW3. However, an arms and economic boycott would isolate Israel. And they already are a pariah state, having ignored more UN resolutions than any other country. If the US would stop allowing Israel to hide behind our skirts in the UN, they would be isolated politically as well. We have long passed the point of having to put up with a spoiled petulant child. Time to cut them loose, where their actions have consequences.

[hack89]

14. The world, especially the Arab world, hates Hamas more

That is why nothing will happen. The world is not as united as you fantasize about.

[HooptieWagon]

15. Almost all of South America has withdrawn diplomats.

That is not because they support Hamas, but because of Israels wanton destructure of Gaza infrastructure and slaughter of civilians with no connection to Hamas. Israel has bought off US polititians, so I don't expect any US response other than "strongly written letters", accompanied by additional arms shipments. But a sizeable number of US people have turned against Israel, in part because of their outrageous lies and propaganda used to justify genocide. Israel is a rougue apartheid state, and the time will come soon when they are reined in by economic sanctions.

[former9thward]

18. No surprise there.

South American countries harbored Nazis after WW II. Four countries in S. America is not "the world."

[hack89]

23. We are talking about countries with global power

Not the peanut gallery but countries that actually can influence world events. The most violent part of the world (one third of the world's murders happen in South and Central America) is not in a position to point fingers at Israel. As the refugee of choice for Nazis after WWII their moral standing is also somewhat suspect.

[sabrina 1]

22. Hamas isn't the issue, and by the end of this, as happened with Lebanon, Hamas is

likely to be more popular than the Israeli government. Because while people might have viewed them as terrorists in the past, watching this is causing people to begin to think that the Palestinians with no army of their own, NEED Hamas.

Sometimes I wonder if Netanyahu is trying to destroy Israel, because he's doing a pretty good job of turning the world against it.

[hack89]

26. Look at the slaughter in the ME beyond Gaza

And you will understand what Arab governments truly fear. They see Hamas in the same light as ISIS.

[sabrina 1]

28. We caused a lot of that over decades of supporting Dictators.

Our latest ventures there supposedly creating 'democracies' created the current situation with Isis, installing and supporting Maliki whose idea of democracy was to shoot and kill peaceful protesters who BELIEVED the 'democracy' fairy tale. And torturing, as reported by Chelsea Manning, peaceful protesters holding SIGNS.

So I would agree that we are not the ones who can do anything to fix what we were so much a part of creating.

I don't know what the solution to the chaos the Western Colonial powers have caused, but it isn't US going back to try and fix it. And the Saudis should fear a total uprising against their own dictatorship and collaboration with the Western Powers' brutal invasions over the decades.

[Jefferson23]

33. You need to seperate the leadership from the citizens, if you have not, you're

very much mistaken.

[hack89]

37. Arab leaders are either kings or despots

If they cared about what their people really wanted you might have a point. They view themselves in a fight for their very survival.

[Jefferson23]

38. No, what I am trying to tell you is the leadership does not represent their citizens views

on the resistance on behalf of Palestinians. Of course they don't care, especially Saudi Arabia and Egypt..they don't
give a damn about their own people and will crack down on any resistance, period.

[hack89]

45. No shit

But since they don't care, what their people care is irrelevant to how any solution to Gaza plays out. I also think the typical Arab also despises Hamas - they have been watching Muslim extremist kill fellow Muslims for a decade. They know that groups like Hamas represent a greater threat to their well being than Israel.

[Jefferson23]

49. Well, that was not reflective in your comment I responded to, you seem to have been under the

impression their leaders speak for them..they don't. The people world wide who support
the Palestinians do not see Hamas as the greater threat, that is unfounded and quite
absurd. They see their own shit leaders and our foreign policies in the ME as the greater threat.

[hack89]

53. The Palestinians pay a high price for their choices

Last edited Sun Aug 3, 2014, 12:43 PM - Edit history (1)

I have no idea how to change that.

[Jefferson23]

54. Hamas's Choices:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113475233

[oberliner]

64. They could completely renounce violence and recognize Israel

That would be an "out of the box" move for them.

[7962]

34. The fact that no one wants to see. They're tired of Hamas and despise Iran.

[ladjf]

16. Realistically speaking, I believe that the Israel's military exploitations

could be quickly squelched, perhaps without firing a shot. The simplest would be for the U.S. to withdraw their support. Beyond that, several EU Countries would have to commit to a military strategy designed to thwart Israel's actions.

The Israeli's are smart. In the face of any real military opposition, they would call for a immediate cease fire.

Is any of that likely to happen? I doubt it.

[Rhinodawg]

17. Yes , they need MORE rockets...firing 2600 isn't enough.

We have to give Hamas NUKES....BIG NUKES...HUNDREDS OF NUKES.

[muriel_volestrangler]

39. Did you read my post, or only the title, which you then misinterpreted?

I'm not saying 'arm Hamas'; I'm saying send in water, food, medical, and construction aid - and, since Israel attacked the aid flotilla that was tried a few years ago, give it an armed escort. And then continue doing this, even if Israel stops attacking Gaza, so that Israel doesn't have a veto on all the material going into Gaza. The 'Berlin airlift' metaphor someone used above is appropriate.

[JCMach1]

19. Not going to happen... the Saudis want Hamas finished off...

This is part of the extended proxy war in the Middle-East.

[sabrina 1]

25. That was the case, but there is a shift in the attitude of the US this time. And in

the Corporate Media. Maybe they've had enough of allowing a small foreign nation order the US Govt around. It was inevitable, the US as we have been told many times, doesn't 'have friends, they have allies when their interests require it'. But see what happened to many of our other former 'allies' when we didn't need them any more, or felt they were getting a little arrogant.

Nothing is going to make the American people more angry than having their supposedly powerful government pushed around, as has been happening this week, by a small, foreign nation that receives billions of our tax dollars.

[L0oniX]

31. Enjoy your stay.

[IronGate]

58. I wish I could count how many times that was told to me

and yet, I'm still here.
Did you, as a newbie, get told that also?
Did you find it offensive?

[L0oniX]

60. Enjoy your stay.

[IronGate]

62. Just about as I figured.

Enjoy your's also.

[oberliner]

27. Maybe start with a donation to Oxfam?

They have teams working in Gaza to help provide clean drinking water.

If you are talking about humanitarian items there are many different international groups who are providing Gaza with those types of goods. They would certainly appreciate your financial support.

[muriel_volestrangler]

40. Money doesn't stop Israel from controlling the aid sent

The point is to take Israel out of the process. They currently get to intercept any aid (such as what they think is too much food) going in to Gaza.

Israel said the blockade was necessary to weaken Hamas. But critics say the blockade constituted collective punishment against Gaza's population of more than 1.5 million.

A US diplomatic cable revealed by WikiLeaks last year quoted Israeli diplomats as saying they wanted to "keep Gaza's economy on the brink of collapse".

Gisha said: "The official goal of the policy was to wage 'economic warfare' which would paralyse Gaza's economy and, according to the defence ministry, create pressure on the Hamas government."

[oberliner]

41. With the current emergency situation going on in Gaza

I think the best way to get help to the people there would be with donations to groups that are operating inside Gaza currently.

[muriel_volestrangler]

44. That has not solved the problem in the past 14 years, we need a new approach

that doesn't allow the Israeli government to control it. I'm already donating to Oxfam, but Oxfam cannot guarantee its aid will get past the Israelis. They murdered some Turks who tried going direct before.

[oberliner]

47. Not sure the new approach should be an "international armed aid operation"

It seems like there has to be a better way to help the people in Gaza.

[muriel_volestrangler]

48. Someone has to stand up to the arms that Israel uses

As I said, look what they did to the Turks before - they killed them. You can't ask people to get killed by the Israelis again without some protection.

There would be other alternatives that involve the Israeli government recovering its sense of humanity, but I see that as unrealistic.

[oberliner]

51. Who would distribute the aid on the Gaza side?

That is - to whom, specifically is this aid being delivered and who would coordinate getting it to the people in need?

If it is the UNWRA or a similar international organization, it would probably be more effective to donate money to them. That way, they have the funds immediately (as I said, the situation is very much an emergency one - time being of the essence) and they can use the funds in the most effective way possible.

Also, there would not be additional people being placed at risk of getting killed like the Turks that you mentioned.

[muriel_volestrangler]

52. UNRWA needs a way of getting everything in without the Israelis controlling it

People can't live on money. The problem is that the Israeli government controls what goes into Gaza - like the food. There's a shortage of fuel (because Israel destroyed existing stocks), and Israel doesn't allow all goods unrestricted into Gaza. Money in an UNRWA bank account can't magically make fuel appear in Gaza, and we can't march into Israel or Egypt, commandeer their fuel tankers (and medical supplies, food, water etc.) and drive them into Gaza unopposed. So we have to do it via sea, where an armed escort can come in without being on Israeli or Egyptian territory.

[oberliner]

59. "People can't live on money"

Certainly wasn't suggesting that. But if you ask most charities, say a food bank, they generally say they would prefer to receive money to goods - that way the charity can direct those funds effectively.

Again, I would urge you (and others) to consider making a donation here:

https://www.unrwausa.org/donate

The notion of boats with "armed escorts" seems a recipe for disaster, whereas donating funds to the UNRWA right now will have an immediate and positive impact on the essential work being done right now to help the Palestinians suffering in Gaza.

[IronGate]

55. Hey, you're free to go join the terror org Hamas,

but be advised, from someone who's has actually experience combat and death, you may not have the stomach for the consequences of your calls, or, are you just another keyboard Kommando who would prefer others to do the dirty work?

[muriel_volestrangler]

56. I'm glad to know you're no longer armed

because your judgement is obviously crap. You would have been a danger to the world.

"Hey, you're free to go join the terror org Hamas" - it's impossible to read that without hearing a whiny self-righteous tone from someone who doesn't actually bother to read what other people say. This is about providing humanitarian aid, but you seem not to know what that is. The consequences of my calls would be lives saved. You're the one beating his chest about 'combat and death'.

[IronGate]

57. Oh, I'm still armed, privately and with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

My judgement is sound, I've dedicated my life to saving lives, but if called upon again by my Nation, I would answer the call, can the same be said about you?
BTW, are you willing to join in an armed response against Israel? Or are you just another chickenhawk Keyboard Kommando in the mold of poopy pants Teddy Nugent who advocates armed insurrection, but want's others to do the dirty work?

[madokie]

29. Past time

Yes by all means lets take our might, if we must or have to, to stop this slaughter. The borders between Israel and the Palestinian people needs to be moved back where the Palestinian people have a place to live and prosper, grow their own food, have their own industry, their own means of survival. There needs to be some give on the Israeli side and not only from the Palestinians as has been the case for decades now. Nuttyahoo needs to be in the Dock at the Hague for crimes against humanity and war crimes just as sure as the dick and w's and their whole cabal do.
Not only for the Palestinian people but for the people of Lebanon as well

[philly_bob]

32. You ask for armed intervention against Israel.

Risks regional war. Too risky.

[muriel_volestrangler]

43. No, this would be delivery of humanitarian aid direct to Gaza

All we have to do is tell Israel to not attack the aid ships.

[WinkyDink]

36. Flotillas would be crazy. Moreover, remember the humanitarian crisis WE CAUSED IN IRAQ??

IT WAS CALLED "SHOCK AND AWE." Maybe we should keep our noses in our own trough this time.

[muriel_volestrangler]

42. It wouldn't have to be the US doing it. Turkey looks likely to try, already

http://www.ibtimes.com/turkey-organizing-freedom-flotilla-ii-get-additional-aid-gaza-strip-1640322

But just because Bush and Blair screwed up Iraq, that shouldn't stop other countries - or even the US and UK, since they've both had changes of government, trying a completely different thing. You act as if Iraq showed there should never be any international action ever.

[WinkyDink]

75. No, just that we have no moral high ground. But rest assured: Israel remembers Masada.

[Half-Century Man]

46. It could be done without open conflict.

UN security escort of UN relief flotilla. Loaded with full manifest transparency ; food, water, desalinization trailers, mobile power stations, Medical equipment, etc. Distributed by UN personnel. Due to medical crisis, MASH units included (the USA, the British and the Japanese have good ones).
Israeli inspectors welcome, Knesset inspectors, the Israeli press.
Security Escort something like 6 vessels (1 each from 6 countries with limited financial investment in the conflict). X amount of freighters (simply unknown level of needs right now, assessments need to be made). A USMC Troop Carrier; for the lifting capabilities of their air crews.
If this was put together very publicly and with UN insistence of Israeli participation in working out the exact equipment, it would have a better chance than a some sort of relief assault landing. The public exposure and encouraged Israeli participation removes a lot of the possible Israeli counterpoints to doing it.


As far as threatening any other country with war crimes accusations; we (the USA) need to attend to our own house first. Our moral high ground for that is currently located in Death Valley.

Why this sort of forced relief effort was never proposed for Syria, Botswana, Iraq, the Ukraine, Rwanda, et nauseum is both curious and understandable.

[oberliner]

63. You see this happening with Israel's cooperation?

Doesn't that sort of beg the question in the first place?

[Half-Century Man]

66. Not so much cooperation as dragging them into the party.

Sort of a, we are going to help the collateral damage victims, we want Israel to be reassured that non-military aid is being given so come watch, meme.
By taking exaggerated and very public steps to circumvent the Likud talking point of responding to rockets, we sway public opinion, globally, domestically (US Gov), and in Israel itself. Or try to at least.

[oberliner]

67. Several hundred truckloads of aid cross into Gaza every day

In spite of the fighting, humanitarian aid has been coming into Gaza via Israel with regularity.

[Half-Century Man]

68. Then why the suggestion for armed international flotillas to go to Gaza?

Ohhhhhhh.

[oberliner]

69. Not sure

I think it maybe stems from a misunderstanding of the situation on the ground. I assert that the best way to get humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians in Gaza would be to donate money to one of the many organizations who are doing just that.

[Half-Century Man]

70. The difference between what is being done vs what it might be time for is.

Bring guns. Or so it seems to me.

Whatever the underlying cause for a suggestion might be, respond to an over reach by an over reach seems counter productive.

[oberliner]

73. I can't tell if we are agreeing or disagreeing

Maybe I need to go back and re-read the exchange.

[Half-Century Man]

74. To me it seemed, the OP assumed relief supplies were not being given to or not reaching Gaza

The OP implied, at the very least, that the Israeli navy was actively denying those supplies from reaching Gaza, suggesting that the Port of Gaza had been or was likely to soon be mined.
There was an observation that perhaps it was time for a multinational naval force to occupy the waters off of Gaza and respond with force to the slightest provocation from the Israelis.

Keep Israeli ships out of the area immediately to the west of the Gaza strip, and if they fire so much as a bullet in international waters beyond that, treat it as an act of piracy.

I responded to the OP's face value argument with a counter argument that force might not be needed. If the Likud led Israeli government could be included in the execution of a relief effort, that any potential argument against said relief effort, would be rendered moot.

I was unaware this entire thread was moot.

Relief supplies were pouring in, through Israel itself (the totalitarian monster bent on genocide), sans international threat of nautical force.



The Democratic Underground has been a good place for me. I have found a large eclectic collection of kindred souls here. I value the opinion of nearly everyone here (99.4%), even when we are on different sides.
However, lately there has been a vicious response to actions taken by a specific right wing group(Likud) currently in charge of a country claiming a religious identity (one the majority of us use to link us to this specific area of the world through history, not to imply all members of Israel must be Jewish). Israel has, over the years, built up a following in the government and population of the United States.
Some favor Israel for religious reason outside of Judaism. Some favor Israel for reasons of governmental style/method. Some favor Israel because Jews leave here to go there. Some favor Israel for reasons of the physical appearance of the what is perceived as the resident population. Some favor Israel over some sense of guilt. Some favor Israel as a customer for weapons. Because this following has existed in the United States for many years it is perceived as a traditional/conservative value. (Anyone here remember the suspicion the conservatives in America had because of the socialistic Kibbutz (nearly communistic) and Moshav systems?) Here at DU, that which is perceived as conservative is idea non grata.

Instead of blaming the few responsible for the issue (on both sides), broad generalizations have been used. Flinging blame in all directions. Flinging bile in all directions, Flinging total amnesty for the favored side of the poster, in all directions.
So, rather than blame the guilty party within a group, the majority of posts here have attacked a group as a whole. And called for group punishments. Going as far as to compare some groups to their greatest abusers; or asking if a group should even (be allowed to?) exist. Is this who we are, or rather is this who we want to be?

For what it's worth: The word Israel has a slightly different meaning for Jews and non-jews. Israel is the entire lot of us. One of the ways we traditionally classify ourselves is with Cohen, Levi, And Israel. In it's simplest form, the Cohen were a tribe of Israel assigned the duties of Priests, the Levi were assigned the role of Temple attendants, Israel is all the rest of us (technically speaking, because Cohen and Levi are tribes of, all the Jews in the world are Israel). Every time someone claims Israel has lost it's right to exist because of over reaching attacks on Gaza; they are saying to us because of the actions of a specific limited number of persons within your group, the entire population has lost their right to exist. We understand what was meant, but it still is disconcerting.

Sorry to pontificate about Judaism. I too, get caught up in this tragic unproductive cycle of verbal one-up-men-ship.

[muriel_volestrangler]

80. Supplies do not 'pour in' to Gaza, ever

Israel carefully controls them. I have given a link, in this thread (reply #40), of how they carefully restrict the total amount of calories allowed for the inhabitants, and the type of food, and that US diplomats said they keep the economy "on the brink of collapse". Ironically, that is the literal physical 'group punishment' that you say you abhor. And that's what the rest of the world needs to stop.

[oberliner]

82. Your link is outdated

It is over two years old.

With respect to aid entering Gaza via Israel:

Due to the scale of displacement, UNRWA staff continued to work to respond to the emergency, despite yesterday being one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar. UNRWA shelters continued to receive more internally displaced people (IDPs) and food and water were delivered to shelters to meet urgent humanitarian needs. A number of Health Centers stayed open for emergencies and solid waste removal continued on reduced capacity. In an extraordinary move in coordination with Palestinian and Israeli authorities, Kerem Shalom crossing was open for the Eid holiday to allow for the crossing of truckloads of humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

Since the start of the current conflict, a staggering 375 truckloads of goods have been coordinated to cross Kerem Shalom crossing in to Gaza to provide humanitarian goods for the emergency response by UNRWA. Just in the past one week, UNRWA delivered 166 truckloads of NFIs, 414 truckloads of food and 470,000 lt. of non- potable water to IDPs taking refuge in UNRWA shelters. This massive logistical exercise has involved the coordination of trucks through crossings in the West Bank, and through Jordan and Israel. This effort would not have been possible without the efforts of UNRWA staff and partners in Jordan, West Bank and Gaza. Deliveries of this much needed humanitarian assistance to IDPs would also not have been possible without the generous support from international and local donors.

http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/emergency-reports/gaza-situation-report-21

[muriel_volestrangler]

87. Amnesty International, July 2014:

In addition to the points listed above, Israel continues to have obligations as the occupying power and as a party to the conflict during the hostilities, including ensuring the welfare of the population of the Gaza Strip and adhering to the prohibition on collective punishment. In interpreting these obligations and addressing the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza at the moment, Israeli decision-makers must take into account the fact that critical water, sanitation, and health services in the Gaza Strip were already in a dire state before the current hostilities, due largely to Israel’s seven-year military blockade. Given the precarious humanitarian situation, it is imperative that Israel allow sufficient fuel and medical and relief supplies into Gaza and facilitate the entry and safe passage of humanitarian workers. Israel and Hamas should agree periodic pauses in the fighting to allow the evacuation of the wounded and dead and urgent repairs on water and sanitation infrastructure. Egypt should also ensure that medical and relief supplies, as well as sufficient amounts of fuel, are allowed into the Gaza Strip on a continual basis.

http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE15/017/2014/en/5b79b682-8d41-4751-9cbc-a0465f6433c3/mde150172014en.html

They wouldn't dig tunnels for fuel and food if those were in plentiful supply.

[Half-Century Man]

84. I still say a peaceful way can be found.

Responding to an over reach of force with an over reach of force solves nothing, it just perpetuates the use of force.

[muriel_volestrangler]

85. It wouldn't be an 'overreach of force'

It wouldn't fire a shot, unless the Israelis did. But since the Israelis did kill people trying to bring in supplies a few years ago, the armed escort would be necessary.

[Enrique]

61. Sure, if someone feels like declaring war on the U.S.

which is what that would amount to.

[oberliner]

65. For what it's worth...

186 truckloads of supplies were sent to Gaza today through the Kerem Shalom Crossing. The trucks carried food, water, medicine, blood, power generators, and clothing.

[cornball 24]

79. And you know this to be

accurate from what source?

[oberliner]

81. How about the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East?

Due to the scale of displacement, UNRWA staff continued to work to respond to the emergency, despite yesterday being one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar. UNRWA shelters continued to receive more internally displaced people (IDPs) and food and water were delivered to shelters to meet urgent humanitarian needs. A number of Health Centers stayed open for emergencies and solid waste removal continued on reduced capacity. In an extraordinary move in coordination with Palestinian and Israeli authorities, Kerem Shalom crossing was open for the Eid holiday to allow for the crossing of truckloads of humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

Since the start of the current conflict, a staggering 375 truckloads of goods have been coordinated to cross Kerem Shalom crossing in to Gaza to provide humanitarian goods for the emergency response by UNRWA. Just in the past one week, UNRWA delivered 166 truckloads of NFIs, 414 truckloads of food and 470,000 lt. of non- potable water to IDPs taking refuge in UNRWA shelters. This massive logistical exercise has involved the coordination of trucks through crossings in the West Bank, and through Jordan and Israel. This effort would not have been possible without the efforts of UNRWA staff and partners in Jordan, West Bank and Gaza. Deliveries of this much needed humanitarian assistance to IDPs would also not have been possible without the generous support from international and local donors.

http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/emergency-reports/gaza-situation-report-21

[cornball 24]

86. Thank you.

[hack89]

72. Israel is concerned with weapons and the diversion of construction materials.

if there was an inspect regime in place to ensure Hamas cannot rearm or rebuild their military infrastructure I don't think Israel can really complain.

[brooklynite]

76. So, intervention in Gaza: GOOD. Intervention in Syria: BAD.

Playing favorites?

[muriel_volestrangler]

77. Intervention in Gaza is possible; part of it already happens

The UN is already there, but its supplies have to be allowed in by Israel. You cannot set up a similar UN operation in Syria (you can, of course, support the refugee camps on its borders, but they don't have a belligerent controlling access to them).

[pampango]

78. Russia vetoes UN intervention in Syria. The US will veto any UN intervention in Gaza.

Intervening to protect civilians is a good thing when it can be done effectively and there is not other option. However, big-power politics in the UN often cancels out protecting civilians.

[2pooped2pop]

83. yes, it's always time for war