Hopeless in Gaza, John Keane, 2002
Despite the early optimism of UK Foreign Minister, David Miliband, who greeted last night’s UN Security Council Resolution for an immediate ceasefire as ‘the world speaking with one voice,’ the problem was – it wasn’t. Although the vote was carried 14-0, the US, as predicted (Thus passim) abstained. Israel, which doesn’t care much for the UN anyway (Thus passim) resumed its bombing this morning with a vengeance, carrying out at least 50 air strikes into Gaza. Outrageously, Hamas also rejected the ceasefire resolution. According to the BBC: Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said: “even though we are the main actors on the ground in Gaza, we were not consulted about this resolution and they have not taken into account our vision and the interests of our people.” Run that one by me again, Ayman. What part of ‘immediate ceasefire to avoid humanitarian tragedy’ don’t you understand? The term ‘criminal sociopaths’ (Thus passim) springs to mind, this time appended by ‘idiot’.
Meanwhile, witnesses told the UN that about 30 Palestinians died earlier this week as Israeli forces shelled a house in Gaza City into which Israeli soldiers had previously moved more than 100 people, half of them children. According to the BBC, Israel said the allegations, reported by Allegra Pacheco of UNHCR, into the shelling of the house in the Zeitoun district were being investigated (but reject the claims). International Red Cross (ICRC) witnesses say they were denied ambulance access to the incident by Israeli soldiers. The UNHCR state )the obvious) that, if true, this incident is a war crime. The UNHCR have also accused Hamas of atrocities – using civilians as human shields – and repeated the calls for journalists, NGOs and independent observers to be allowed access. Israel has rejected this call, claiming that there are plenty of journalists in Gaza and citing the Orwellian reason that the closure of the crossings from Israel to Gaza makes it problematic to allow access.
Since the current conflict began on 27 December, it is estimated that 770 Palestinians and 14 Israelis have been killed (seven by ‘friendly fire.’) Over 250 civilian deaths have been of children and teenagers. When the Israelis implement ‘Phase 3′ of this action, sending in 7000 reservists on the ground, it is likely that deaths and injuries will at least double (history indicates the probability of more ‘friendly fire’ and random massacres when the trigger-happy territorials get pushed into combat. Given that Israel and Hamas have ignored the authority of the UN, and opinion polls in Israel and the US are reacting favourably to the massacre, this seems likely. Good morning, Vietnam.
John J Kelly
