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Last update - 16:35 22/01/2008 Gaza blockade creates new hurdles for gravediggers By Reuters Tags: Gaza Strip Even dying in Gaza is more complicated these days. With no cement in stock due to Israel's border blockade, some gravediggers in Gaza have been chipping off pieces of marble staircases and ripping up parts of the sidewalk to buttress burial sites and keep animals out. Israel largely closed Gaza's borders to all but humanitarian aid in June after Hamas Islamists seized control of the coastal strip. On Friday it tightened the blockade in a move it said was meant to stop militants firing rockets onto its towns. Advertisement On Monday, a spokesman said Defense Minister Ehud Barak had agreed to allow fuel for the Gaza Strip's power plant as well as medical supplies into the territory starting on Tuesday. But virtually no cement has been allowed in since June. One 110-pound sack costs as much as a whole ton would have fetched before the blockade. "We are buying bricks and marble stairs to prepare the graves - you cannot leave a grave open, people want to give their dead a respected burial," said 19-year-old undertaker Salem Abu Ghadayeen. Since Israel stepped up a military offensive against militants who fire rockets into border towns, Gaza's gravediggers have been busy. Abu Ghadayeen and his older brothers bury the dead at one of Gaza City's main cemeteries, which serves most of the city's 600,000 people. Sometimes they buy bricks or pieces of marble staircases from Gaza residents keen to make extra cash. Sometimes they yank up parts of the sidewalk, or nail down wooden and metal boards as a stop-gap measure until cement supplies start flowing. The price of a decent grave has shot up to NIS 700, from NIS 400 before June. Mourners are resorting to wrapping corpses in shrouds made of polyester instead of cotton, which is in short supply due to restrictions on imports. The move contravenes Islamic law, which says corpses must be wrapped in cotton because it disintegrates along with the body, but one Muslim cleric in Gaza said exceptions were being made. "In Gaza we are living an exceptional situation. The religion allows people to do what is necessary when what is religiously demanded is unavailable," said Hassan al-Jojo, a senior Gaza judge told Reuters. At one entrance to the cemetery a sign pasted by the ministry of religious affairs reads: "The cemetery is full, please do not bury the dead here." It goes largely unheeded, since Gaza's other main cemetery lies in an area sometimes hit by Israel-Palestinian border violence. "There are more deaths because of Israeli strikes. This cemetery will not be able to cope for very long," Abu Ghadayeen said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Message from space A newly-launched Israeli spy satellite sends Iran a very clear message. Gravediggers' plight Even getting buried in the Gaza Strip has gotten more complicated these days.

Today Online Gaza power restored after Israel delivers fuel, gas to the Strip Responses: 72 U.S. immigrant beaten up in 'pogrom' by ultra-Orthodox gang Responses: 99 Palestinian officials: 40% of Gazans lack running water Responses: 46 Israel fears int'l push to hand over Gaza borders to PA control Responses: 49 Can the blockade of the Gaza Strip stop the Qassam rocket fire? Responses: 7 Rosner's Domain The Bible not written to be amended. The Constitution was (WTR) Domain's Guest: "all Jews are responsible for one another" Rosner's Mailbox: Huckabee the candidate who would not sell Israel out Why Republican candidate Mike Huckabee worries Jewish voters Meadow Soprano is more proud of Israel than the US (WTR) More Headlines 16:15 U.S. pressure thwarts UN censure of Gaza blockade 16:20 Gaza power restored after Israel delivers fuel, gas shipment to Strip 14:56 UN: Despite Israel's promises, West Bank barriers have increased 14:52 Abbas: Talks with Israel must continue, despite Gaza crisis 13:40 Virtual trees: JNF takes planting online for Tu B'Shvat in shmita 16:12 Justice Min. asked to pardon ex-Gaza settlers who defied IDF decree 11:48 China: Nuclear standoff with Iran is at a 'critical' stage 08:41 Palestinian water authority: 40% of Gazans lack running water 11:56 Tel Aviv Stock Exchange partially recoups early losses Previous Editions Select Day 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan

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