Even before Operation Protective Shield in the Summer of 2014, Israel had complete control over Gaza by land, sea and air effectively cutting it off from the outside world. Representatives of the UN and numerous charities, having seen the reality of life in Gaza assert there is a major economic and health crisis. Food, building materials, fuel and medical supplies are subject to the siege s that basic necessities had to be smuggled in through tunnels. The United Nations clearly states that Gaza like the West Bank and East Jerusalem is still Occupied Territory and that Israel therefore has a duty of care for its inhabitants according to the Fourth Geneva Convention. Fishing limits are restricted to 6 miles where water is often polluted by waste. Due to the blockade, Gaza cannot develop an effective waste disposal system, with chronic consequences for their health. Fishermen working beyond the fishing limits are often shot and their boats confiscated by the Israeli army. However, eating fish that have ingested pollutants has negative consequences for the Palestinian population. At least 60 fishing boats were destroyed by air strikes during Operation Protective Edge. Oxfam, the United States and the Red Cross explain the destruction of Gazas wells, pipelines and reservoirs by Israeli shelling led to conditions that caused deaths from typhus, cholera and other waterborne diseases. There is chronic malnutrition to the extent that Gaza is the sixth most malnourished polity in the world, all the other most malnourished polities are in Africa. In 2006, Dov Weisglass, then a senior advisor to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stipulated Israeli policy was “to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.” Operation Protective Shield worsened these already dire conditions. Oxfam reports as a result of chronic electricity shortages after the power plant was targeted half of Gazas bakeries have closed. Further, by bombing the farming land surrounding the city, the IDF employed a traditional scorched earth policy destroying agricultural land, so that the price of vegetables tripled. At least 2000 animals were killed. Tunnels into Egypt and Israel were destroyed leaving Gaza without food. Due to the Israeli blockade 95% of the water in Gaza is undrinkable. 22,000 tons of rubbish has accumulated in central residential areas of Gaza, both attracting flies, mosquitoes and rats and rotting on the streets further contaminating the water system. However, 50% of the medical clinics are not operational due electricity shortages. The top UN refugee official in Gaza, Philippe Krahenbuhl has condemned the siege as illegal under Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. He demands it must be lifted to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. Both Former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Jimmer Carter and former United Nations Commission for Human Rights Mary Robinson also demand the illegal blockade is lifted immediately.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 20:52:31 +0000