We knew this already, but maybe its time for a refresher, as we await the "third Intifada", scheduled for May 15, and the latest floatilla, also scheduled for May.
From an article by Rotem Caro Weizman
Mathilde Redmatn is the deputy director of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. Redmatn has had the opportunity to see with her eyes what most of us only see on television screens...
"There is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza," she explains. "If you go to the supermarket, there are products. There are restaurants and a nice beach. The problem is mainly in maintenance of infrastructure and in access to goods, concrete for example. But above all, it is important to remember that the Israeli army has the right to protect the civilian population in its country. Israel is hurt on a daily basis by violations of international law by Hamas."
She continues:
"We will continue to ask to monitor Gilad Shalit but we do not have the capability to force anything on Hamas"
Repeated requests by the Red Cross to monitor Shalit's condition have so far been met with persistent refusal by Hamas.
"When a person's freedom is taken away, he deserves at least contact with his family," Redmatn says. "We will continue to ask but we do not have the capability to force anything on Hamas. Hamas' refusal is based on security reasons. Hamas is afraid of the IDF's advanced technological capabilities and believes that allowing contact will lead to the location of Gilad."
Redmatn called on all sides to abide by international law.
"It is important that organizations and countries respect international law," she said. "Only thus will the situation get better."
Read the full article here
2 comments:
Re : The "third intifada"- there's a local angle. Noura Khouri of the American Friends Service Ciommittee (AFSC) is in Egypt right now, trying to organize a mass march on Gaza from Egypt.
She was one of the ones who was arrested for trying to disrupt the AIPAC convention in Oakland late last year.
there is a humanitarian crisis in gaza. it's called hamas. same with libya (gaddafi, syria (assad), iran ("pres." imanutjob and the mullahs)and so on.
but you'll never hear that from greedy self righteous progressive hypocrites like arianna huffington.
she's too busy hording her money from that aol deal and making sure the people who worked under her for free for years don't see a nickle.
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