Image Credit: Mohammed Omer, Rafah Today 2007-09-22.
Gaza: Hostile Territory, Israel Vows to Choke Electricity and Fuel Supplies
BBSNews 2007-09-22 -- By Mohammed Omer. All over the Gaza Strip, months-long Israeli military attacks from every direction, from air, land, and sea, continued yet even Thursday. The latest IOF (Israeli Occupation Forces) assault comes just one day after Israel declared all of the Gaza Strip, including residential areas for the 1.4 million civilians, "hostile territory." The declaration opens the way for yet further restrictions on the supply of vital goods, like electricity and gasoline, which come through the Israeli controlled crossings. Israel is already severely restricting movement across the Gaza crossings, allowing only the bare minimum of aid to enter, excluding vital building materials.
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Palestinian woman collecting the remains of her demolished house after Israeli bulldozers destroyed it.
Image Credit: Mohammed Omer, Rafah Today 2007-09-22. |
Israel has stated that its intention in cutting off vital supplies is to hold Hamas "responsible and accountable" for any further launching of Qassam rockets from Gaza resistance factions. But the reality for impoverished and starved Gazan civilians is that the act is none other than a collective punishment and gross violation of international human rights obligations, to which Israel is party. This is a perspective which was echoed by the European Union, European Commission, and the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, Thursday, in their call on Israel to reconsider its vow and to not commit further appalling violations of Gazans' human rights.
The Hamas perspective differs from that of Gazan civilians: Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, cites the Israeli decision as "a declaration of war against the Palestinian people, an attempt to target resistance forces and to undermine Hamas politically."
The Israeli cabinet statement said: "additional sanctions will be placed on the Hamas regime in order to restrict the passage of various goods to the Gaza Strip and reduce the supply of fuel and electricity," as well as further restricting the movement of people in and out of Gaza. Abu Zuhri also pointed out that Israel as an occupier must supply humanitarian needs, and that such a decision to further cut off civilians' basic needs shows that Israel is not ready for political compromise with the Palestinians.
Worth noting, Israel declared its intent some hours after Gaza-based Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh met with Islamic Jihad leaders asking them to stop firing rockets in order to broker a ceasefire with Israel. Given the onslaught of IOF attacks and now this latest declaration by Israel, many Palestinians believe that such step is not being honored by the Israeli government.
Abbas, normally in opposition to the democratically-elected Hamas government, has condemned Israel's decision. Yet, the decision has been already been put into motion, with Israel imposing further restrictions on Gazans. Particularly affected are people who scheduled to leave Gaza for medicine urgent operations in Israeli hospitals, with financial aid from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The restrictions on exiting Gaza apply even to the thousands of students enrolled to study abroad. Despite having attained clearance to leave, at least 600 still wait to be allowed to leave the Strip and begin their studies.
While attention remains focused on Israel's declaration and decision to increase tension and hardship in Gaza, IOF attacks continue throughout the Strip, killing four on Thursday, and injuring many more. A 17 year old boy was driven over and crushed by an IOF military bulldozer near central Gaza's Al Buriej refugee camp. Another of the deceased was a Hamas member, shot and killed during fighting with the invading IOF. The other two camp residents were killed by military fire during the IOF invasion. Many others were injured as an estimated 30 tanks and bulldozers ravaged the area, firing shells and live ammunition indiscriminately, destroying many acres of agriculture land in the process. As of Thursday evening, the Israel forces' attack was still under way.
Adding to the devastation and chaos, unknown militants attacked Al Watan Press Office, breaking down the door. The director of the office, journalist Imad Al Ifranji, considers this as a way to shut down the freedom of press.
Mohammed Omer is a young journalist/photographer in the Gaza Strip. He and his family have a very rough time in living day to day and they have lost much. In October of 2003, one of Mohammed's younger bothers, Issam, was injured and had to have a leg amputated. Later in the same month another younger brother, Hussam Al-Mouhagir, was killed in his home; shot to death by the Israeli Army that occupies and regularly devastates Palestine. These stories are written by Mohammed who knows no peace, only the continued devastation forced upon civilians who have little voice in the world. Mohammed has covered the Occupied Territories for several years. In 2006 Mohammed won the New American Media National Ethnic Media Award for best Youth Voice. On May 18th, 2007, Mohammed was shot at by unknown militants in Gaza yet he continues to report. Visit Mohammed's Web site, or write to him to get a more complete picture of what is really happening that main-stream news sources rarely brings to its audience. We are proud to feature articles from Mohammed Omer here at BBSNews, his reporting is some of the only original, on the ground reporting available from the Israeli Occupied Territories.
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