Gaza aid

Gaza aid has increased substantially since the December 2009 Gaza War when the Israeli army invaded the Hamas-run territory in an attempt to put an end to the torrent of rocket attacks on its cities and civilians. The coastal enclave has been under siege since the Hamas militant organization was elected into power in 2007, making it difficult to transfer aid into the coastal territory. Israel has enforced a blockade, preventing the import of basic necessities and Gaza aid from European and international aid agencies with the fear that Gaza aid money will be used by Hamas to increase its terrorist activities against Israeli civilians.

After the end of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, Arab states organized a donors’ conference in Egypt in order to raise funds for Gaza aid. Gaza’s infrastructure suffered terrible destruction during Operation Cast Lead, and the Gaza aid is meant to help the people of Gaza rebuild after the devastating conflict; however, Israel and the United States expressed reservations that any Gaza aid much be handed to nongovernmental organizations and the Palestinian Authority and must not reach the hands of Hamas.

In addition, there have been attempts by pro-Palestinian Gaza aid groups from Europe and North America to break through Israel’s blockade of the strip. These attempts to bring in Gaza aid have been unsuccessful and only resulted in occasional confrontations between activists and Israeli authorities and their deportation, such as the deadly attack on the Turkish-flagged Gaza aid ship Mavi Marmara in May 2010, in which 9 Islamic activists were killed after the ship refused to adhere to Israel Defense Forces instructions.

Latest Stories on Gaza aid

Gaza-bound vessels Nov. 4, 2011 (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Israel Navy intercepts Gaza-bound aid vessels; no injuries reported

Naval forces board two Gaza-bound ships after they failed to heed orders to turn around or dock in Egypt or Israel; ships being led to port of Ashdod.

by Anshel Pfeffer, Jack Khoury and News Agencies 129 comments

Humanitarian aid in Gaza - AP - June 6, 2010

U.S. resumes operations of its aid organizations in Gaza

Move comes after Hamas retracted its demand to audit the books of U.S.-funded charities in Gaza.

by Reuters 3 comments

'Hamas, U.S. reach agreement on Gaza humanitarian aid'

AFP quotes Hamas official as saying deal has been agreed upon to permit for continuation of USAID activities in Gaza; on Friday, U.S. official said operations had been suspended.

by Haaretz and News Agencies 10 comments

Dignite-Al Karama, flotilla, Greece - 15.7.11

Gaza-bound ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists sets sail from Greece

Ten activists head to Gaza aboard the French Dignite-Al Karama ship, regarding themselves as representatives of the entire abortive flotilla.

by Amira Hass 141 comments

View All Latest Opinion on Gaza aid

Israel must end the Gaza blockade

The blockade of Gaza and the boycott of Hamas, have not led to quiet for the inhabitants of the south. At the same time, the isolation of Gaza has augmented the international isolation of Israel and has contributed to a crisis in relations with Turkey.

Haaretz Editorial 21 comments

Let the flotilla go

It appears that even though a year has passed since the first flotilla fiasco, Israel is showing that it has learned just one lesson: the military lesson.

Haaretz Editorial 42 comments

Pictures of Gaza aid