Report: Israel opens Gaza crossings, lets in aid

So why is this big news?

David...assuming your numbers are correct...105,600,128 liters of fuel equates to 74 liters per person PER YEAR for the 1,500,000 residents of Gaza. What, Sir, would your quality of life be if a similar restriction were placed upon the residents of Geneva?

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Well I thought that(reading some Right Wing Talkbacks) that GAZA is independent, and doing what a normal country can Do? The truth is that Israel is still the OPCCUPIER yes?

1) Egypt is not my country, though i live in Cairo 2) The wall being built is a disgrace 3) Controlling a territory's borders is considered a form of OCCUPATION under the 4th Geneva convention(check it out) 4) i agree with Mark about Israel not having an "exit strategy"...its because they never intended on exiting...they are building facts on the ground (settlements) to make it impossible for a Palestinian state to exist...there actions speaks much louder than words!

But recently loads of pro-Hamas helpers, including the British MP Galloway, entered the Gaza Strip via Egypt. Your legalistic arguments sounds fine, but it doesn't hold water.

"THey can enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt, but they don`t. They are clearly not at all interested in taking part in any aid programme." - David Plane The Egyptians may only open the border crossing with permission of Israel. At the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs site you can read the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Guide+to+the+Peace+Process/Israel-Egypt+Peace+Treaty.htm "Article II: The permanent boundary between Egypt and Israel in the recognized international boundary between Egypt and the former mandated territory of Palestine, as shown on the map at Annex II, without prejudice to the issue of the status of the Gaza Strip. The Parties recognize this boundary as inviolable. Each will respect the territorial integrity of the other, including their territorial waters and airspace."

No way you could squeeze a drilling rig through a smuggling tunnel Mark of Lewiston.

No, its not a one-off thing. Since the end of the IDF operation in Gaza (18 Jan 2009), 703,224 tons of aid and 105,600,128 liters of fuel have been delivered to the Gaza Strip. And even during the Gaza operation last year Israel delivered more than 37,000 tons of humanitarian aid on 1503 trucks, and 1,535,750 liters of heavy duty diesel for the Gaza power station.

Haaretz Service quote " any aide would fall into the hands of militants (the Islamist movement ), rather than being distributed among Gaza`s needy."

THey can enter the Gaza Strip from Egypt, but they don't. They are clearly not at all interested in taking part in any aid programme.

...so what gives the right for Israel to deny the visits of the ministers to Gaza? Even if Israel thinks that those visits could somehow strenghten the Hamas (which surely is not the intention of the European ministers). Why should they when EU has labeled The Hamas as an terrorist organisation. Somebody could give the official explanation?

Whatever, the claim often seen in this talkback that the Gazans get sufficient supplies regularly must be questioned. Otherwise why report this event at all?

Haaretz Service quote " any aide would fall into the hands of militants (the Islamist movement ), rather than being distributed among Gaza's needy." Abbas warned EU against easing the boycott against Hamas . Even Dahlan feared to attend his mother funeral in Gaza . Why would they choose to enter Gaza thru Israel when "Officials can enter Gaza from Egypt". Same as Goldstone commission did . is this called blockade , siege , sealed-off ? How can they talk about private individuals , groups , activists , NGOs , Amnesty International Humanitarian crisis when as the Headline say , Israel lets in aid to Gaza ? I guess anti - zionism propaganda is a matter of belief disregarding Int'l Law , overlooking fact , evidence, proof . Alas , code red on code pink .

activlely working to drum up support from other "GOI" (Government of Ireland) and EU ministers/officials to strengthen resolve to force Israel to come to heel or face sanctions---beginning with cancellation of the special trade agreement. Efforts are afoot to boycott any Isreali products that are not correctly labelled in terms of their point of origin. Displeasure for Israel and it,s nose thumbing is growing. It cannot end positively . Ireland was the first EU country to introduce the smoking ban---Michael martin(Present Irish FM) was the minister who introduced that policy and pushed it through the Dail (parliament) to conclusion. he is a very persuasive,tenacious and determined fellow. He now has another FM with whom he has common ground. I would love to be a fly on the wall when that conversation takes place. Remember --from little acorns do great Oak trees grow. Good old Israel---world champion in shooting their own foot.

forbidden for the ministers? Is there any change, that those ministers could "soften" the Hamas more than make it more dangerous? Israel cannot support any kind contacts with Hamas and wants itself 110% support: More the Hamas will be isolated more it will come "crazy". Like an animal pushed to the corner it will attack surely some day.

There would be retribution for not allowing a minister to enter Gaza, which of course it is free and not occupied, isn't it?

The Palestinians still haven't humbled themselves to realize that the best practical help they can get to actually build and move into their long-awaited State are from their multi-talented Israeli neighbors. Not only are macho, rapid response Israeli types ready and willing but you can even count on grandmothers from Hadassah who know how to organize and get things done. When the Palestinians meet their maker they will ask Him why He didn't hear their cry for help and He will point to the help He did extend to them but which they ungratefully, and unfortunately turned away.

Handala, you certainly know what it is as Egypt is blocking Palestinians in Gaza and does not let them enter freely into your country. I cannot imagine that you are demanding the State of Israel to do something that you are refusing to do....right ? Military occupation ? There is not ONE Jew left in Gaza, nor one soldier....which occupation are you talking about ? The Egyptian one ? Building a wall ?

Hi Andala from Cairo. A) Marie antoinette did not say "let them eat croissants". What she did say was "let them have Petit Fours". They taste better and are less fattening. B) no clue on what's going on in palestine ? no one else does,since there isn't and never was one by that name. C) current military occupation means; armed thugs tat occupy gaza. Hope all is clear now.

The Palestinians still haven't humbled themselves to realize that the best practical help they can get to actually build and move into their long-awaited State are from their multi-talented Israeli neighbors. Not only are macho, rapid response Israeli types ready and willing but you can even count on grandmothers from Hadassah who know how to organize and get things done. When the Palestinians meet their maker they will ask Him why He didn't hear their cry for help and He will point to the help He did extend to them but which they ungratefully turned away.

The US is starting to finish up an 8 year occupation of Iraq. There are things the occupier can and cannot deal with. And Israel doesn't do counterinsurgency so it does not have the information base it could have. Yes they are smuggling food. But they are also smuggling other stuff. And that wall your government is building is a barrier will not stop the smuggling, just slow it down. The Israeli government has no interest in bring down Hamas. Hamas is the driver of their electoral power base. Hamas is the de facto government. It should act like one. What I proposed was within the means of the Iraqis under US occupation. The Israelis may have more experience as occupiers than the USA. But they are no more competent as occupiers, probably less so. They have no exit strategy other than hoping the Palestinians magically disappear.

Mark, your comment reminded me of Marie Antoinette during the French revolution when the population was starving and revolting in the streets asking for bread. Her response was: "if there's no bread, let them have croissants" i.e. you have no clue what's going on in Palestine nor what a military OCCUPATION means!

They'd be smuggling in drilling equipment and drilling for the gas just off the coast. Diagonal drilling is used lots of places. And they'd be tunneling for an underground gas pipeline to make their power plant independent of Israel. But then they're communin' with the flowers.