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Last update - 00:57 14/11/2008
UN: Israel's border closures leave us with no food for Gaza
By Amira Hass, Haaretz Correspondent, Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Gaza, Food Aid, Israel News 

The United Nations on Thursday warned its stocks had run so low that it would not be able to make its next delivery of food to 750,000 needy Gazans on Saturday.

"We've been working here from hand to mouth for quite a long time, so these interruptions on the crossing points affect us immediately," said John Ging, director of UN Relief and Works Agency operations in Gaza.

The Defense Ministry had said it would allow 30 truckloads of humanitarian supplies into Gaza on Thursday. But the crossings were kept shut because militants fired fire rockets and mortars into Israel earlier in the day, security officials said.
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Later in the day, Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the army to keep the crossings shut after receiving an intelligence warning of a plan by Palestinian militants to attack the Kerem Shalom border terminal.

Gaza City was dark Thursday evening after a day of violence and retribution, raising the grim prospect of an end to a truce that has stopped most Israeli-Palestinian violence in and around the seaside territory for five months.

Gaza officials shut down their only power plant, cutting off electricity to much of the city of 300,000, after Israel canceled plans to ship in some diesel fuel for the plant as well as 30 trucks full of humanitarian supplies. The Israeli move came after Gaza militants fired at least eight rockets and some mortar shells at Israel on Thursday, according to the Israeli military.

Rocket fire has resumed over the past week after an armed clash in Gaza, and Israel has clamped a tight blockade on the impoverished seaside territory.

Though no one was hurt in the rocket attacks on Israel Thursday, Israel scrapped plans to allow small amounts of fuel and supplies into Gaza. Kamal Obeid, a Hamas official at of the power plant, said fuel was running out and the facility would be shut down completely later Thursday.

Israelis counter that the plant provides less than a quarter of Gaza's electricity, and most of the rest flows in unimpeded on power lines from Israel.

Speaking in Brussels, Belgium, UNRWA head Karen AbuZayd said it was unusual for Israel not to let basic food and medicines in.

"This has alarmed us more than usual because it's never been quite so long and so bad, and there has never been so much negative response on what we need," she said.

"We have hundreds of containers waiting in Ashdod port, holding such simple things such as the wool and the yarn for vocational training centers or centers for the visually impaired to make some money," she said. "We were told these are not humanitarian supplies."

Israel has not allow the UN and other agencies to bring supplies into the Gaza Strip since Nov. 4, when its troops raided the territory to destroy what the army described as a tunnel built by militants.

Six Hamas gunmen were killed in the operations. Gaza militants responded to the incursion with rocket salvoes at southern Israel.

The ceasefire, which began in June, calls on both sides to stop cross-border violence and on Israel to ease the Gaza blockade it tightened after Hamas Islamists seized the territory more than a year ago.

Israel: Truce only to resume when Hamas keeps its commitments

Senior Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad on Thursday said Israel's truce with Hamas in Gaza, ruptured by a flare-up in cross-border fighting, will resume only when the Palestinian militant group keeps its commitments.

"The lull will return only when we are convinced that Hamas has gone back to its commitment to keep the lull, because it decides when [militants] shoot and when they don't," said Gilad, speaking on Israel Radio.

Gilad defended Israel's closing of the border crossings against claims that it would prevent Gazans from meeting their most basic needs.

"Israel is working to prevent the occurrence of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but will not endanger its soldiers by continuing to supply produce - because Hamas even attacks the crossings' terminals," he told Israel Radio.

"The murderous attacks must end. We are sensitive to the humanitarian situation but there is a serious concern that murderous and terrorist acts will take place."

Israel also held up shipments of European Union-funded fuel to the territory's sole power plant. Palestinian officials said the facility would be shut down later in the day.

Israel blocks entry of 20 EU diplomats into Gaza

Also Thursday, Israel prevented 20 European Union consul generals from entering Gaza on Thursday after a recent upsurge in clashes between the Israel Defense Forces and Gaza militants.

The consuls had planned to meet with businesspeople and human rights activists in the Hamas-ruled coastal territory in order to learn about the humanitarian situation.

Early in the day, Palestinian mortar and rocket gunners bombarding southern Israel after the IDF killed four Hamas gunmen in the Strip on Wednesday.

A senior official at the French Consulate, which had arranged the trip, said he could not remember another time when Israel had prevented diplomats from entering Gaza over reasons that were not security-related.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Peter Lerner told Haaretz that Israel had informed the diplomats on Wednesday of its intention to prevent their entry, and yet they still attempted to cross into Gaza.

"The reason their entry was prevented was because it was not humanitarian. The policy today is only to allow the most essential entry... I hope [Gaza militants] will stop shooting missiles and then we can return to the previous situation," he said.


Related articles:
  • Barak orders Gaza crossings kept shut despite fuel shortage
  • Quiet resumes on Gaza border, despite unrest 'under surface'
  • Military sources: IDF to redeploy troops from Gaza if truce holds
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      1.   Sure not easy, but... 15:46  |  Protected civilian 13/11/08
      2.   Starving people brings peace 16:17  |  Kim 13/11/08
      3.   WHY BEST FOR OTHERS TO KEEP OUT 16:27  |  Barry S. Roffman 13/11/08
      4.   Kim: you seem to have all the answers 16:55  |  Richard S 13/11/08
      5.   KIM - FREEING SHALIT BRINGS FOOD 17:01  |  Barry S. Roffman 13/11/08
      6.   #1 Kim 17:05  |  Bart 13/11/08
      7.   Upon being prevented to enter Gaza 17:06  |  Fish 13/11/08
      8.   #1 Kim 17:09  |  JonathanInTelAviv 13/11/08
      9.   Kim 1 - one thing has been proved tho 17:22  |  ChanahS 13/11/08
      10.   what is barak up to? first breaks the truce, attacks, 17:24  |  attacks, closes 13/11/08
      11.   Kim, my Kim #1: GAZANS had opportunity to live in peace. They.... 17:33  |  Vitttorio 13/11/08
      12.   only a third of electricity comes from this fuel station 17:42  |  Craig 13/11/08
      13.   Close off all aid 17:49  |  Gee 13/11/08
      14.   Kim, you have it backwards 18:01  |  Mark 13/11/08
      15.   Collective Punishment For Those Who Pose No Threat 18:07  |  chet 13/11/08
      16.   Terror Warning.Attacking the cross points. 18:10  |  Stephen. 13/11/08
      17.   EU members are running all over the place, kick them out 18:14  |  Zion 13/11/08
      18.   #1-The logic is much more simple 18:22  |  "War Criminal" 13/11/08
      19.   Politicians Want End of Truce 18:38  |  Mark of Lewiston 13/11/08
      20.   Another 20 EU Diplomats? 18:40  |  Jeff Northridge 13/11/08
      21.   UN & EuroTrash can enter through Egypt. Why Israel? 19:14  |  Disgusted American 13/11/08
      22.   shet: Let 99% of peaceful GAZANS to restrain 1% of terrorists. 19:29  |  Vittorio 13/11/08
      23.   We can take them in by boat 19:31  |  mariapalestina 13/11/08
      24.   #4, Gee 19:31  |  Maria 13/11/08
      25.   #6 chet of Canada 19:40  |  Gee 13/11/08
      26.   The true irony. Israeli truckers bring the supplies 19:47  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 13/11/08
      27.   This is now a war zone..pal refugees leave into Egypt... 19:51  |  Jack 13/11/08
      28.   #8 Zion 19:54  |  Chris Linthwaite 13/11/08
      29.   shameful 20:10  |  a jew 13/11/08
      30.   chet # 6 Collective Punishment 20:17  |  Jeff Northridge 13/11/08
      31.   Arrogance 20:26  |  Anthony 13/11/08
      32.   Chet 6 20:28  |  Anthony 13/11/08
      33.   Send UN Aid to the Gaza Port 20:31  |  Reader 13/11/08
      34.   For Zikron Yaakov # 4 20:48  |  Clickfool 13/11/08
      35.   Israel`s border closures leave us with no food 21:08  |  Ralph 13/11/08
      36.   Who`s for them to say? 21:09  |  Lobo 13/11/08
      37.   Let them come thru Egypt 21:15  |  Herbert Kaine 13/11/08
      38.   democracy 21:15  |  Gregor 13/11/08
      39.   And yet, you still find a way to smuggle plenty of weapons 21:48  |  Mark 13/11/08
      40.   #7 Stephen, who prevents people from reaching the Gaza Strip? 21:55  |  Ben Alofs 13/11/08
      41.   How can supplies get so low, there has been continuous mountains 21:59  |  Craig 13/11/08
      42.   Why doesn`t Egypt open up? 22:31  |  Palestinian Brit 13/11/08
      43.   #6 is completely wrong 22:39  |  Chaim 13/11/08
      44.   no food, fuel, visits until shalit also visited. 22:48  |  ralph 13/11/08
      45.   Kim 22:53  |  Brad 13/11/08
      46.   Chet 22:57  |  Brad 13/11/08
      47.   #8 Zion 23:01  |  Boycott 13/11/08
      48.   Supplying one`s enemy in time of war is treason. 23:13  |  Joseph.E 13/11/08
      49.   chet:They get what they voted for 23:47  |  Daniel 13/11/08
      50.   Smuggling 23:51  |  IsraFan 13/11/08
      51.   UN DUPLICITY 00:00  |  Brant 14/11/08
      52.   #5, Mark, you`re so wrong... 00:14  |  Silvienne 14/11/08
      53.   Kim, My dear, belly full Arbs have more energy to launch rockets 00:29  |  Genuine Tosefta 14/11/08
      54.   CHET Qassems are collective punishment What threat is a kindy in 00:53  |  PETER SM 14/11/08
      55.   #2, BARRY, really, keep out? 00:57  |  VIPER 14/11/08
      56.   Hamas got what it wanted for propaganda, a dark Gaza! 01:03  |  Emanuel 14/11/08
      57.   Hamas got what it wanted for propaganda, a dark Gaza! 01:03  |  Emanuel 14/11/08
      58.   #8 Zion. Typical of political zion... 01:04  |  Maureen Ann 14/11/08
      59.   #6 Chet 01:05  |  Jasper 14/11/08
      60.   It`s the old story: Hamas wants it both ways 01:17  |  Conroy 14/11/08
      61.   UN: Israel`s border closures leave us with no food for Gaza 01:28  |  Jeffrey Hirschhorn 14/11/08
      62.   Supply your enemy! 01:51  |  Brandur 14/11/08
      63.   #1 Kim 02:16  |  John Allen 14/11/08
      64.   #27 Whatever 02:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 14/11/08
      65.   Gazans Killing Israelis? Really? Think You Have That Backwards. 02:48  |  Reader 14/11/08
      66.   NATO bombed the Serbs for less 02:51  |  a jew 14/11/08
      67.   UN Food and Medical Aid Through Gaza City Port 02:54  |  Reader 14/11/08
      68.   Release Shalit, then receive supplies 02:59  |  Free Gilad Shalit 14/11/08
      69.   To Lobo 03:05  |  AA 14/11/08
      70.   Aid could be brought in through Egypt, or NOT 03:20  |  Great White North 14/11/08
      71.   Joe E, Gaza Is Under Blockade. This is Israel`s Responsibility 03:23  |  Reader 14/11/08
      72.   I Wonder What The Settlers Are Doing Today? 03:33  |  Reader 14/11/08
      73.   Linthwaite in the Islamic UK Republic - check your numbers! 03:45  |  Arie 14/11/08
      74.   Jasper, according to the reports we get... 03:50  |  Reader 14/11/08
      75.   READER Gaza border with Egypt is under Hamas/Egyptian controll 03:51  |  PETER SM. 14/11/08
      76.   Ben Alofs #30 05:21  |  Jasper 14/11/08
      77.   UUMM do research first 05:54  |  Laura 14/11/08
      78.   your answer 05:57  |  Laura 14/11/08
      79.   Release the Palestinians 06:00  |  Laura 14/11/08
      80.   Laura the bleeding heart from Boca Raton 09:18  |  a promise 14/11/08
      81.   no collective punishment 12:49  |  tristan 14/11/08
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