Rights groups: World has betrayed the citizens of Gaza

I don't know much about Australia, but assume if an interlocutor writes as fact things he knows nothing about, he is considered either a liar, or intellectually dishonest. You may have the benefit of the doubt: you chose. Some Gazans have been able to enter Israel for medical treatment. But Human rights orgs say dozens have died in last 18 months waiting for permits to enter Israel. You have no idea what Hamas does with delivered goods. There is no research data available on the subject. Water and sewage pipes cannot be used to make Qassam rockets. That is a lie. The rest is nonsense. Israel forbids entry of building materials, medical equipment, medicines, electrical appliances,spare parts for cars and machines, fabrics,threads, needles, candles, matches, mattresses, sheets, blankets, cutlery, crockery, cups, glasses, musical instruments, books, tea, coffee, sausages,and shoes. Israel allows only 30 to 40 commercial items to enter Gaza compared to 4,000 approved prior to 2006.

Themselves, they can cry, protest, file false legal papers in all of europe or anywhere else but the fact remains they the pals elected this terrorist organization to represent them to the world. You made your bed now sleep in it. You and the iranians, lebanese people should take back your countries, have some self respect and dignity towards humanity and topple your troubles, for you where and will be pawns to shia islam fact, fact, fact !!!

"Civilized people don`t treat their neighbors like this" ..your words dutch, and they are exactly right as they pertain to the scum called hamas. not to sure how you can call yourself honest& say you are not a classic jew hater when you support a group like hamas..there are NO civilians in gaza...hamas hides among the consenting population in regular clothes, uses mosques to store weapons(ya, they really care about mohamed), use ambulances to run weapons and terrorists, uses children placed on roofs to shelter the homes below which have fighters and weapons hidden in them, they vow publicly to wipe israel off the map, they indoctrinate 3 yr olds to hate jews and kill jews, they were given gaza back and rather than cultivate food in greenhouses left to them, they destroyed them, impoverished their OWN people in order to make more weapons..how can you justfiy this UNLESS of course, you just blindly hate jews and cant stand that israel is moral and strong. you my friend are pathetic

In case you did not notice. Israel is getting stronger and technologically more developed then most of the countries in just 60 miserly years.Just imagine Israel 200 years from now!!As for your love for culture of death that was created by the palest. leadership you are right-justice is taking its own course. Shalom!

Aussies who are pro-Israel suffer from the same media manipulation as many other western countries. How fortunate for Israel that Jews have largely monopolized the control of MSM.

Why should the Egyptians let the Israelis off the hook? Let the world see they arethe meanies and no partners for peace in the Middle East with their Jim Crow democracy... Just saying "no" to them is the most honorable exercise one could perform in my book as it reveals their falsehoods--even to their own. Dutch P.S. I admire your clarity and directness also. It's the only way to go..... P.P.S. I have found the truth has a sobering and a transforming value about it. It speaks for itself and it's not anti anything or "self hating" Such foolishness from the apologists. (I would love to know the fine institutions of higher learning they came out of...What BS! )

Civilized people don't treat their neighbors like this. This is the low life in the Israeli establishment at work. I am convinced of this. Is it any wonder the troops are on the Pale-stinian side today? What a disgraceful lot! They shame their own today....Dutch

What spineless world leaders have failed to do for Gazans will be doubled, if not tripled or quadruppled by people around the world in their upcoming marches and protests to mark Israel's vicious airstrikes on Gaza and to call world attention to its criminal blockade on the Gaza Strip and this as another ugly Israeli war crime against the defendless population of Gaza. Thus the human rights groups should take heart--the people will deliver. Dutch

Gaza got what it wanted and deserves. Kate Allen, Hobbs, Amnesty, Oxfam, the do-gooders, the buffoons of the modern world; Imbeciles?,NO. They are the real criminals for keeping in 'Bondage' their "beloved brothers". Let's face it, if it wasn't for THEIR gaza, THEY would have to find jobs and actually WORK, and let the gazans decide for themselves. Regarding the reconstruction, recovery, etc.; gaza is getting $ billions but, they buy steel pipes for rockets, beams for tunnels, chemicals for explosives. Being concerned that the Maldives, Andorra, or Monaco will attack, they must build a strong army,military schools, classroom and a media for brainwashing their 'subjects'. Last but not least, a few "extra bucks" to be stashed away for "rainy days" are ' de rigueur ' for dictators.

Betrayal is predicated on initial support. The world at large, specifically the governments of the West have never really supported the Palestinians. Other than the United States, they have given only lip service to the support of Israel. European leaders have by and large daintily lifted their skirts as they sidled past the debris and waste of Arab and Jewish lives. It is long past time, given the decades of Palestinian-Israeli inability to make peace, to join President Obama in an imposed peace on our tiny section of the Middle-East. The ligaments of that peace are fairly clear to anyone, all that is lacking is their implementation.

While Israeli officials are engaged in commit-ting atrocious war crimes against Gazans daily people around the world are doubling their efforts, if not triple or indeed duadruppling them to rein in the Israeli war criminals. There are protests & marches planned in cities and capitals all over the world to mark their criminal assault on Gaza and the ongoing cruel and criminal blockade of the Gaza Strip. And there is more talk of boycotting Israeli officials and goods and of course stepping up divestments programs. So in a round about way the inactions of spine-less leaders will do more to rein in the per-petrators in Israel when all is said and done. How ironic! Justice is taking its own course. Dutch

the Gaza crossing, they'd be breaking that treaty and the 21005 agreement. Your ignorance is astounding.

There is nothing more that I would like then a viable Pal state. This can be achieved only through negotiations. Yes they are treacheries and difficult for both sides. But, they are the only way. However, when the Pals elect a terrorist organization that has another idea of how to achieve their independence (destroy Israel), then I can only conclude that the Pals shot themselves in foot. They have only themselves to blame. In Sweden, like in Israel, if I have a dispute with someone, I go to courts or mediation. Yes, it may be slow and unfair at times, but it is the only way. I don`t take a gun and shoot the other party.

This has been Arab policy since 1948. Nice of you to admit it.

goods go and got through,including dual use goods like fuel. Gazans were being allowed through for medical treatement in Israel as Gazans were bombing Israel. Hamas has a long history of abuse of delivered goods including water piping which is returned to Israel as qassams. Would you like more fertiliser sir? Maybe blood thinners to put on the shrappnel in a suicide pouch sir? Who you kidding its all on record.

Oxfam is not a human rights organization, and they may very well concern themselves with Palestinians in Arab countries. Oxfam International is a confederation of 14 organizations working with over 3,000 partners in 100 countries to find solutions to poverty and injustice. But they will have a particular interest in Palestinians in Gaza, because nowhere else in the world is a population of 1.4 million people being treated as inhumanly as the Gazan population. Israel claims it allows 80 trucks of aid daily to enter Gaza. The UN World Food Program claims a population of 1.4 million requires 400 trucks a day of just food to meet basic nutritional needs. More than 30% of Gazans are without clean water. More than 80% of the population depends on meager trickle of international aid that Israel permits to enter Gaza. Medical supplies are almost non-existent: Nurses are forced to use plastic bottles to transfer blood to IV bags.

Of course Egypt must open its borders.Hundreds of human righs activists from aroung the world are gathering at the border crossing in a peaceful march to finally break the siege. Decent people of the world, unite!

Reading the selfish, hate-filled, oh-poor-victim-Jews-are responses here really makes me hope some country has the gall to bomb you guys into oblivion. Zionists and your holocaust-guilt story is the reason why you are hated. Grow up and get with the real world...the next generation weren't around for the Holocaust and are sick of hearing it be used to justify every barbaric action against the native and innocent Palestinians by you guys, especially when your actions mirror those whom tried to annihiliate you. Hitler must have been onto something that is for sure.

of Palestine? While you flew F-16, phosphorous bombs, daisy cutters, bunker busting, etc since 1947 ? not to mention before... I suppose they have no right to complain?

"What of the rights of the Jews who were ethnically cleansed from their homes in Gaza, what of their rights???" That would have been real terrible if Jews were ethnically cleansed from living there with Palestinan papers, most countries wont allow illegal aliens to live within their borders including Israel .So Chaim what is the problem? Do you not understand Illegal occupation.Obviously not looking back on your posts

Your views on the definition of, and legality of a blockade, may be interesting to some, but they are not relevant to the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Historically, international law has determined a blockade's only legitimate objective is to weaken military forces of the enemy. In this context, Gaza is not a fortified city, fort nor castle. The Israeli blockade does not target armed forces but an entire population. That's a violation of international law. Throughout the history of siege warfare, there were never a UN and international laws protecting innocent civilians. There are now. Israel is in violation of article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention. Article 33 forbids collective punishment of a civilian population. Violation of the article is considered a war crime.

...countless activists have noticed the collective punishment. Jeez, how much longer do ya think this will be allowed to go on?

In 2005 Israels military occupation of Gaza ended so Israel is not responsible for the well being of the Gazans and even if it were Hamas wouldn't let Israel do anything. Also considering the siege is also being carried out by Egypt who have sealed off Raffah why are they not held responsible for any of this. If Israel closes the front door but it didn't have access to the back door then wouldn't the country that controled the back door be equally as responsible? Israel can say its not going to allow a load of concrete into Gaza through Israel but Egypt can still say they will let it in through their territory but they don't. This siege is about keeping weapons out of Gaza which are used to terrorize the population of Sderot. Hamas, the self declared government of Gaza if they ended the rocket attacks then Israel would end the siege knowing that things like construction materials would be used for construction not smuggling tunnels. The ball is in Hamas court.

Where have you been? Can't you read? Israel controls sea and air space and ALL points of entry and egress to Gaza. Israel claims it permits an average of 80 truckloads a day of international aid to enter gaza. That in itself is almost an admission of genocide. According to the UN World Food Program, Gaza with a population of 1.4 million requires daily 400 trucks of just food to meet basic nutritional needs. Israel also forbids entry of building materials, electrical appliances,spare parts for cars and machines, fabrics,threads, needles, candles, matches, mattresses, sheets, blankets, cutlery, crockery, cups, glasses, musical instruments, books, tea, coffee, sausages,and shoes. UN relief agencies report that 80% of Gazans depend on meager trickle of Intl aid that Israel permits to enter; 450,000 (30%) of Gazans are without clean water; patients are in dire need of medical care. WHO reports not enough IVs. Nurses are forced to put blood into plastic bottles to transfer to IV bags.

To those of of you who believe that Gazan civilians who have nothing to do with Hamas deserve this: Did you feel the same about the German Jews that got slaughtered during the Holocaust? They were after all German citizens and living in the biggest threat to civilization in our history. Or is it easier to tell the difference between innocent and guilty when the object we're speaking of is not an Arab speaking Muslim? To those of you who believe Gazans deserve this because they elected Hamas: The election was not any more democratic than the election prior to Hitler's reign in Germany. People were threatened and beaten by these thugs to vote for Hamas. Collective punishment is never the answer.

All anti-semites every last one of them. Obviously.

Welfare issues from the super wealth living off the nation to the poverty stricken in rebuild.In a case I know of a woman used her childs USA social security number(lets name her Monica)to gain access to credit cards and get welfare resource and child support while the child lived with her mother the whole time.Also the grandmother was getting social welfare from the USA and getting free education scholarships and food stamps.Both cashed in on wealth while another single mother who only made 8.00 an hour got nothing and couldnt afford wealthy items.Let's rethink our wealth status in our nation not just state.How do we realign and how do we give truly to the needy and not take from the poor.Can we stop the one who is stealing from stealing money from Gaza reconstruction and Israel creatively for our children.We are a nation of truth not theft.We are a nation of life not death. We are a nation of deliverance before God and Allah as Moses was a refugee who are we now?Rankoo-Karoon

"The only mistake the Israelis made is not making the blockade total until the rocket attacks stop completely and the prisoner held by Hamas is released." Please explain. Do you mean, that Isreal should simply starve to death 1.5 million human beings?

When Hamas recognizes the three conditions of the International Quartet that life will improve considerably for those who elected Islamic terrorists as their voice to the international community.

The strange anomaly there the upstarts in Israel are railroading Palestinian rights. That's the despicable injustice there and they must be booted out or bombed out of the territories today. There is no middle ground there anymore. The law is the law. Dutch

we warm ourselves by the camp fire and in the dark the enemy closes in.harzion Boo.

Moderator...you are an idiot too!!!!!!!!!!!!

The same people who say let them rot in their own self imposed hell probably never went hungry or without shelter and probably never seen a missile in their life. That is how it always goes. They don't see any advantage in correcting a hell hole the breeds more terrorism. The world knows when enough is too much. But, because the other side has a bad resume nothing will happen. Both sides just sink lower.

israel has no real allies.our biggest problem is oil.the west needs it and the arabs have it.we have to get through the years.decades? until the world no longer needs arab oil. meanwhile we have enemies all around us.we warm ourselves by the camp fire and in the dark the enemy closes in.we have to look to ourselves to keep the enemy at bay.

The world has not betrayed citizens of Gaza, It's the people they voted in that had betrayed them..

what occupation are you going on about cummings?

is because "of israel's misdeeds in the strip". better make clear what you mean r cummings.earlier you said we occupied gaza and now it is our "misdeeds" that forces us to help the gazans.so which is it? cummings i am all for charity but it would be s stretch to say i wish to help those who send rockets to kill my brethren.

Founded in the 1030's it was actualy anti British and Nazi Sympathisers and had cells all over the M. "International Jews" ??Arabs were killing local Jews long before the Zionist excuse I know its hard to accept but Jews are native to the land.

show me the documentation that says this is so. before you jump on the occupation canard.i had better give you some news.there are no israelis in gaza.none.zilch.not one.

r cummings you do not make yourself clear.why is israel responsible for gaza?state your case clearly. we say egypt its arab neighbour is responsible because of the racial and cultural affinity. is there a treaty i have not heard of?one that says israel is responsible for providing welfare for gaza? israel has left to united nations demarcated borders and egypt has a massive border with gaza.well?

but denying the blockaded civilians food, water, medical assistance, materials and exit is not, it's both a humanitarian and a war crime. Go read your Geneva Conventions again, it's all spelled out very clearly.

Blockade is a legitimate act of war and a nation receiving rocket and mortar attacks, which no matter if they are effetive or not, is at war and a blockade is a legitimate response. The only mistake the Israelis made is not making the blockade total until the rocket attacks stop completely and the prisoner held by Hamas is released.

Jeremy Hobbs words sound very true. He clearly cares about people. High time the Israeli government (and states of the world) starts to care too.

R cummings: 'Israel`s moral double standards when it comes to Arabs are shocking.' nobody expects that egiptions would DO anything to help their pal brothers, but why do they keep them under the inhuman blokade? and why do you blame israel for keeping their border closed? if anybpdy shows double standard here, that would be r cummings....

If eygpt opens it boaders with Gaza, normalcy will return. Everyone will forget about the refugees. They are refugees, where did they come from ? certeinly not from eygpt. Why should eygpt shoulder resposibility when the refugees in gaza still have their homes under occupation ?. This new wall the egypians are building will help highlight the problem again. The refugees will starve then measures will be taken. Very calculated move.

Hamas's number one demand, above all other exports, is concrete and construction material - even before Cast Lead. They use it to build tunnels, barracks, and fortifications. Look at the tonnage of building materials received in Gaza and the results. Look at the monies received to build up infrastructure before Cast Lead and at the results.

"What were they thinking when they elected Hamas?" They did and that is a fact. Why they did it is for you to figure out. Are you empathic enough to manage that?

"The blockade is the RESPONSE to kidnapping Shalit and what you call "harmless bottle rockets" LIE !! blockade started way before Shalit and the rockets. Get informed !!

You are starting the chicken and the egg debate here. So if i can chip in here : Israeli wannabe terror was there long before Israel was and way long before Hamas was even cretaed as a direct result of Israeli terror..... History has shown that international jews committed terrorism to get the state of Israel created so Hamas are merely taking a page from their books. I don't really agree with it but i can see why they're doing it.

Simple - because they are under Israeli military occupation. Israel is legally responsible under Geneva Convention 4 for the feeding, medical care, supplies, housing and welfare of the civil population it has placed under siege. The fact that it is manifestly failing to carry out its duty of care is the reason it is rightly under fire from the responsible humanitarian organisations. Egypt does not have Gaza under military siege and is not responsible for the population there. Why should it pick up the tab for Israel's cruel misdeeds or malign maladministration? Israel's moral double standards when it comes to Arabs are shocking.

I grant you that, generally speaking, there is a collective punishment of Gaza, but there is nothing unique or surprising about that. The relations between peoples has and will always depend on the relationship between its leaders. The leadership of Gaza presently wants an active war with Israel, and cannot seem to stop using deadly force on an almost daily basis. How would you suggest Israel go about rewarding Hamas for this behavior, without encouraging more of the same?

In the 70s Israel proposed a plan whereby it would build infastructure for modern arab settlements & it would contribute to the cost of building homes. In exchange any family who CHOSE to move they would pay the rest of the cost of building their new home which would also be registerd as belonging to them with the Israel Land Authority. In exchange the government would demolish their home in the refugee camp. The more homes in the camps destroyed the more settlements built A real alternative Israel started the plan but it never took off and there were 2 groups to blame PLO who said they would execute anybody who took up the offer UNRWA who condemned the plan & the UN General Asembly passed a resoltion ordering Israel to stop the plan and to rebuild homes in the camps and anybody who had moved to be returned to the camps. Gaza was Egyptian territory before 1967 it didn't belong to palestinans & pre 1967 conditions were worse than today but when Israel offers a solution its condemned

The blockade is the RESPONSE to kidnapping Shalit and what you call "harmless bottle rockets". It was not all that long ago that Gazans by the thousands went to jobs each day in Israel. It would be nice if you kept up with events rather than inventing them.

The blockade on gaza is enforced to prevent the smuggling of missiles and other weapons sent by Iran? And that's why the blockade includes such items as pasta and toilet paper? Even a dedicated zionist like you must have had trouble saying that.

The world has betrayed the Palestians in Gaza? For 60+ years the world has "betrayed" the Palestinians confined to refugee camps in Lebanon and Syria; the treatment of Palestinians in their brother Arab countries is much much worse then their treatment under Israeli administration. So why haven't Oxfam and all of the other international human rights organizations concerned themselves with the treatment of Palestinians in Arab countries?

...so is the firing of a kassam rocket against a civilian population, or the bombing of a bus, a discoteque, a Passover seder, or a university cafeteria, to which the attacked have a legitimate right of response.

...the children of Gaza has no right to feel safe (they surely have suffered also the traumas of the war), to have home, to have the proper possibilities to go to school, to have.... What is easier for these children in the future? To support Hamas or try to be friends with the Israeli children (who also - among the "theory" of those who do not see anything wrong with the collective punishment -are responsible ot theirs politicians'decicisions.)

:to which the victims of a blockade have a legitimate right of restistance." The last blockade that was placed on Israel by Egypt was considered an act of war by Israel, I guess the saying holds true, "Those with power do as they want and those without do as they can" holds true. They then shed crocodile tears when plots to attack Israeli interests abroad are revealed. Duh. Why is it ok and civil to puunish innocent civilians of another people and religion but when their friends attempt to mete out punishment to Israeli businesses its a terrorist act? Dont expect good things to happen when you do bad deeds.

Isn't it rather their own leaders who have betrayed the citizens of Gaza? Shouldn't their leaders' priority be the well being of their own citizens?

and they've made it their own personal hell by their politics and terror. Enjoy! The land didn't make them any better, it made the problem worse. They cannot govern themselves to begin w/, how can they have a real 'state'? Hamas rules them w/ an iron fist. You voted for it, you got it. Hooray! Iran and Gaza two mutual hell holes and the mutual defintions of failure.

Maybe the world should stop treating the Palestinians like poor little children and let them take some responsibility for their own lives...! They could declare an end to Jihad, recognize Israel's rights, be willing to compromise. They should be ready for their own independent state and declare an end to the conflict. But they prefer to accuse Israel for everything, and to fight each other over who is more fanatical and unflexible. For them it's always either all or nothing.

Hamas is not like Iran. You can't use sanctions or freeze their assets because they are just a terror organization and the only way to deal with them is using physical action. Construction material gets appropriated by Hamas and used for either tunnels or other non essential building projects. It happens all the time its not just a theory of something that might happen so naturally its going to be hard to give them the facilities to rebuild. Limiting access to certain materials weakens Hamas. It might be collective punishment but what about the rockets fired at towns like Sderot isn't that a form of collective punishement? Also rockets are designed to kill people the seige is designed to stop Hamas getting weapons. Now if Oxfam want to bring their own people with their own tools and material which they take away with them to make essential repairs or fix up a few houses then they are welcome but all Oxfam are doing right now is condemning whats going on without offering a solution

Whether or not the Israeli government's blocking the borders is reasonable or not is obviously open to argument, as the Talkbacks amply demonstrate. But, the fact is that collective punishment has been visited all to often on Jews for the last couple of millennium; you might think that we would have learned something about the cost of such actions on a largely helpless peoples; if we have not, we are on the downward slope. You know that you are paranoid when nothing is your fault.

and they don't do it. Moreover what they are doing now is cementing the siege. If they would feel anything for the palestinians they would rip out all agreements with the United States and Israel and open the gates. Hammas has been saying for years that they have nothing against Egypt and still Egypt continues the siege. World Humanitarian organizations instead keep blaming Israel. It is a ritual, so who cares.

There was Hamas terror long before the blockade. There was Pal terror long before the occupation excuse.

What a nice story? So you suggest Israel to shoot small rockets at them? That will kill more civilians. Pals do not want peace and we all know it. Whoever signed peace accord with Israel got land in return. Pals are the only ones that do not want to accept their original countries. Gaza and West Bank were captured by from Egypt and Jordan not Palestine. So Gazan should really complain to Egypt not Israel. But no one wants to talk about that.

zionst forever - "If OXFAM wants to become directly involved in terrorism then it should be outlawed in the USA" Indeed. However, from what exactly do you conclude that they are involved in terrorism ?

a very strange anomaly?? they have never been guilty of that representation ???

to which the victims of a blockade have a legitimate right of restistance.

The cynical contempt for human rights groups by respondents to this article is very sad. The seemingly de-humanization of Gazan people by the Israeli public seems akin to what happened in other periods of history...

one of my friends was 'cleansed' from Gaza, he got $450,000 and a piece of land in Israel, the poor thing...

..to operate, but it wanted to split the Palestinian people, well done, it worked! divide and conquer, and now ALL of the people in Gaza are being punished for voting for the alternative to the corrupt Fatah, 700,000 children do not have a right to vote! and only 43% of adults voted for Hamas, so this IS COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT, a crime in the eyes of most of the world. And I am NOT a Hamas supporter, they have tried to kill me and my family...

Where were the rights groups while the innoccent Jews of Europe were being murdered.Shame on them they participated in the anihilation of Europes Jews and did nothing.

Gaza is betraying itself.

"Those who want Gaza to have free access to the world should first and foremost endeavor to stop the Hamas rule of terror, so that crossings to Israel and to Egypt can be operated without fear." To me it seems he's contradicting himself. Israel's over-the-top blockade of Gaza is speedily reducing the level of education and impoverishing the people. I'm sure the Israeli government is aware of the two primary conditions fostering terrorism. Even I know that, and I'm just a regular being.

We know where these come from, come on. You know better than me that EVERY other country in the world does much worse things... Focusing on Israel immediately betrays something suspect in the organization. Ah, HR groups, taking double measures now, and forever.

hamas has only itself to blame for the situation in gaza. hamas is listed as a terror organisation by the u.s., the eu and the un. hamas has thus far refused to abide by the requirements of the quartet to recognise israel, to renounce terror and to accept previous signed agreements. hamas has preferred to engage in non-stop terror against the civilian population of the state of israel. the blockade on gaza is enforced to prevent the smuggling of missiles and other weapons sent by iran, in violation of international law. the blockade is legal under international law. it does not prevent the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilians of gaza.

Israel's credibility went down the pan long before anyone began to criticise it for its actions in Gaza.

you get to live with the consequences. End of discussion. If an NGO doesn't see the connection and expect "the people" to fight against the system, they should also be labled a group that supports terror. Stop the game.

Over half of Gaza population are refugees or their descendants that left Israel after it became a state but before 49 crease fire. Israel refused to let them return then claimed their land as abandon under a then new law. Many Jews were then kicked out of Arabs countries in reaction to this, other had lost everything to the Nazi over the decade before. Israel help create this problem but others had a large hand in this also. Most in Gaza want the refugees resettled but no one is willing to give up land for settlements, including Israel and the PA. Having lived in camp most or all their lives, the current solutions to peace do them little good and no where to go, since they are not citizens of Gaza or W. Bank and Israel will not let them return.

What of the rights of the Jews who were ethnically cleansed from their homes in Gaza, what of their rights???

blockade on Gaza? complaining? Definately the rights groups would have a legitimate gripe. Except for one little PROBLEM. There appears to be ROCKETS fired daily into Israel, from Gaza. Therefore these so called international rights groups should be thrown in prison along with the terrorist group hamas who shoot these rockets into Israel. The Israel children live in fear daily because of these rocket attacks.

When it comes to Israeli SELF DEFENSE the operative word is always DISPROPORTIONATE. Hamas fires crude, largely uneffective rockets into Israel and kills several people and does a little property damage. Israel retaliates with Apaches, F16s and heavy bombs in dense civilian areas killing hundreds....destroying infrastructure.(of course the Goldstone Report is lopsided...what do you expect when weaponry on the Israeli side is so much more effective and destructive?) A year passes and the Gazans still cannot rebuild not for lack of money but because Israel wants to stretch out the punishment and refuses basic buidling materials in. Few people in the world deny anyone or any nation the right to self defense. But what Israelis define as self defense most would call overkill and criminal, many like myself would call it INHUMANE. The world's 4th most powerful military could not find and surgically remove the rocket launchers IF they wanted to? Interesting question...no?

"World powers have ... failed and even betrayed Gaza's ordinary citizens," said Jeremy Hobbs, Oxfam International's executive director. "They have wrung hands and issued statements, but have taken little meaningful action to attempt to change the damaging policy that prevents reconstruction, personal recovery and economic recuperation." Why? Because of the awesome, unparalled, unchallenged power of the Jews, internationally. Simple ... as ... that.

then it should be outlawed in the USA. Furthermore, there should be arrests and trials of those who are associated with it. It is no joke aiding and abetting the commission of terrorism aginst civilians. No doubt OXFAM will object to calling the rocketing of Israeli civilian areas and the sending of suicide bombers into Israel as terrorism, but that is EXACYLY what it is. And, if you are involved in it, you will pay the price.

Where they were while the missiles came is an interesting question, but you avoid a more interesting one - are the charges Oxfam is now making accurate? Dealing with people suffering NOW takes precedence over what happened in the past.

What were they thinking when they elected Hamas? Armchair terrorists on this site will immediately defend Hamas as a democratic choice of the Gaza. (conveniently ignoring that no democracy in the world has a charter that calls for the destruction of a neighbour state, an army of terrorists and suicide bombers, and units who shoot missiles into a kindergartens in a neighbouring state and Farfar of course, but lets leave this aside for a second). Sure I agree. But now that you made your bed, you will have to sleep on it.

" It`s only an Arab brotherhood when it serves (their) master`s needs." Israel is their master in this instance.

They haven't killed enough.

What did they expect from Israel by electing Hamas and sending thousands of rockets? ....Roses?

Is there ANYONE that does not understand that the world is tired of hearing about Gaza, Darfur, and the price of spinach in Podunk? The world noted how brutally Gaza was treated and Israel paid an immense cost in long-term good will. But anyone who thinks that the 'world' will ever lift a finger to save Palestinians needs psychiatric treatment. This does not mean that the world will never conclude that Israel is no better than the Palestinians. The world is very close to deciding that a Jew is no better than an Arab Terrorist. Which is also a shame. Israel and the Palestinians have been on a race for the bottom. The Palestinians have won the race so far, but Israel is catching up fast. Very fast.

Such organizations as Oxfam are not charities but political organizations more intent on de-legitimizing and stigmatizing Israel than pursuing legitimate charitible goals. They lost their credibility many years ago.

It appears yet again that poor treatment of Arabs by Arabs gets a pass. Why cannot Egypt ease its blockade of Gaza? Because that would destabilize Egypt, of course. It's only an Arab brotherhood when it serves (their) master's needs.

No complaints? No "collective punishment"?

This issue will not go away. Another year or longer that the original Goldstone report and this one -- cousin of Goldstone -- will be circulating. Eventually, the Israeli Government will have to take a strong response to the bad P.R.. Their heads cannot stay buried in the sand.

for years? They kept their collective punishment slogan under wraps all that time.