Israel will stop working with the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, a government spokesperson said yesterday, accusing the aid agency of “perpetuating conflict”, Reuters reported....

Israel will stop working with the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, a government spokesperson said yesterday, accusing the aid agency of “perpetuating conflict”, Reuters reported.

Israel has long sought to have UNRWA closed as it is the only UN agency to have a specific mandate to look after the basic needs of Palestinian refugees. If the agency no longer exists, argues Israel, then the refugee issue must no longer exist, and the legitimate right for Palestinian refugees to return to their land will be unnecessary. Israel has denied that right of return since the late 1940s, even though its own membership of the UN was made conditional upon Palestinian refugees being allowed to return to their homes and land.

  • @KeeponstalinEnglish
    3•9 months ago

    What are you talking about, Israel has controlled all imports and exports in Gaza and the West Bank since 1967.

    The 1994 Paris Protocol between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) entrenched the dependence of the Palestinian economy on Israel via a customs union that leaves no space for independent Palestinian economic policies, tying the OPT to the trade policies, tariff structure and value-added tax rate of Israel. Since 1999, Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP) in the OPT has effectively remained stagnant. The Palestinian economy suffers from numerous restrictions by Israel on trade that impact on the production of exports and importable goods. Almost all Palestinian imports and exports transit ports and crossing points controlled by Israel, where delays and security measures increase costs by an average of USD 538 per shipment, resulting in a significant and persistent trade deficit.

    In addition, Israel imposed a “dual use” policy in 2007 that restricts the entry of any goods it deems to potentially have military, as well as civilian, use, including chemicals and technology. The list of 117 liable items is vague, including categories such as “communications equipment, communication support equipment, or equipment with communication functions” that can include items that are found in everyday use, such as home appliances and medical equipment. This policy only applies to Palestinian importers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, not to their Israeli counterparts or even to Israeli settlers in the OPT. It has had a devastating impact on the economy in general, especially on the agriculture, information and communications technology (ICT) and manufacturing sectors, and has had catastrophic effects in the Gaza Strip in particular.

    Israel has let in only minimal food into Gaza leading in food insecurity for the majority of the population since before Oct 7th.

    https://www.un.org/unispal/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/OCHAGAZAAM_220223.pdf

    https://gisha.org/en/gaza-policy-forum-summary-experts-agree-that-israels-dual-use-policy-causes-acute-distress/

    • 【J】【u】【s】【t】【Z】English
      -2•9 months ago

      More things I already knew.

      I’m sure you think Israel started dual use policy out of cruelty and malice, right? You sure it has nothing to do with Gaza choosing corruption and terrorism again and again?

      Hamas had two airports. Could have done some trading, had some commerce, and had all the food they could muster right now. That requires respect for other cultures. I’m sure you’d overnight some, right now if they still had an airport. Hamas closed one after starting a war and swearing to murder all of the Jews, and then Hamas abandoned the other one and let it go to shit until it was unusable and people built over it.

      They had a water port, until they elected Hamas to power (I guess the election slogan was “more suicide bombings of Jews!” or something to thet extent (and upon taking office they promptly cancelled all future elections because they knew how best to focus Gaza’s resources on building out the tunnel system and expanding the number of rockets they could launch at the Jews)).

      Yes, Gaza has rightfully been under a blockade pending the demise of Hamas. Instead of rejecting Hamas, Gaza has further empowered and entrenched them. Apparently the people of Gaza will pay any price for the Hamas-run theocratic dictatorship they believe their God has ordained for them (once they genocide all the Jews (you just go on ahead ignoring that little detail before you start sending aid (aid is only conditional when it gets sent to Jews according to your ruleset))).

      • @KeeponstalinEnglish
        3•9 months ago

        You keep saying you know when it’s clear you don’t.

        The only real airport, Yasser Arafat International Airport, in Gaza was opened on 24 November 1998, and all passenger flights ceased in February 2001, during the Second Intifada. Israel bombed the radar station and control tower on 4 December 2001 and bulldozers cut the runway on 10 January 2002, rendering the airport inoperable. The Gush Katif Airport was home for tens of thousands of refugees from the 1948 expulsions, being only briefly operable in 2004 before Israel banned all air travel with the blockade.

        Israel has controlled all airspace and water space. Palestinians are unable to even fish beyond the 3-12 nautical mile limit enforced by Israel without getting shot, arrested, and robbed.

        Palestinians haven’t had freedom of movement since 1991.

        In January 1991, during the Gulf War, Israel changed its policy, introducing a demand that any Palestinian wishing to enter Israel or East Jerusalem, including for the purpose of travel between the West Bank and Gaza, must obtain a personal permit from Israel. This policy split the Occupied Territories into three separate areas – the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza – leaving travel between them entirely dependent on Israel’s approval.

        Restrictions on Movement - B’TSelem

        After the second intifada broke out, Israel tightened the restrictions on Palestinian travel, imposing serious restrictions on travel to and from the Gaza Strip, and cutting it off from the West Bank almost completely. Entry of Gaza residents into Israel for the purpose of family visits or reunification with a spouse was prohibited. Visits by Palestinian citizens of Israel and residents of East Jerusalem to relatives in Gaza were reduced to a minimum. In addition, Israel severely restricted the ability of the entire population of Gaza to travel abroad, with many prohibited from doing so altogether. Import and export were restricted and often halted. Israel also banned most Gaza residents from working inside Israel, taking away the source of income of tens of thousands. The restrictions Israel imposed on the movement of goods and workers caused a deep recession in Gaza, impaired its residents’ earning capacity and caused a sharp decline in living standards.

        One aspect of the blockade is the reduction of the area where fishing is allowed in Gaza. The Oslo Accords stipulate a range of 20 nautical miles (about 37 km) off the Gaza shoreline, but Israel has never allowed fishing farther than 12 nautical miles out to sea. Over the years, Israel has gradually narrowed the fishing zone, sometimes to three nautical miles only, and currently between six and nine. The Israeli military also restricts fishing in areas bordering Israel and Egypt. Soldiers fire at fishermen alleging they have sailed beyond the restricted zone, arrest them and confiscate their equipment. In this way, Israel prevents Gaza fishermen from reaching the rich fishing grounds located further out to sea, impedes the ability of thousands of fishermen and people working in related sectors to provide for themselves and their families, and denies Gaza residents an essential source of food.

        The Gaza Strip - B’TSelem

      • ???English
        1•9 months ago

        You’re like one of those Nazis who didn’t have the stomach to admit people were being gassed after it became clear to everyone else.

        People like you make me wish god existed just so there could be some kind of justice. @[email protected]