Israel’s announcement of authorization for construction materials for 1,200 homes and 18 schools in Gaza is the latest achievement by the Freedom Flotilla, scheduled to sail next week.
In the weeks leading up to the flotilla, Israel has taken a number of steps to try to address the concerns raised in the public eye by the Freedom Flotilla 2 – Stay Human initiative. However organizers say that these steps are symbolic at best, fall far short of Israel’s obligations under international law, are insufficient to meet the needs of Palestinians in Gaza, and are fundamentally designed to maintain the occupation and system of control that Israel exerts over Palestinian lives. Ultimately, these measures fall short of the greatest test – that of freedom for Palestinians.
In addition to the authorization of a limited amount of construction materials, Israel has also recently permitted 19 trucks of medicine to be delivered by Palestinian sources from the West Bank to Gaza. This was in response to an emergency announcement from health authorities in Gaza that crucial medicines had run out due to Israel's illegal blockade. Prior to that, Israel increased the number of aid trucks entering Gaza to between 210 and 220 per day. However, this still falls 35% short of what is required by Gaza Strip residents.
The pattern developing shows that as the sailing date of the Flotilla nears, Israel is increasing efforts to allow humanitarian goods into Gaza, including previously banned reconstruction materials. This proves three important things: (1) the Flotilla is effective in generating changes, even if they are insufficient, on the ground; (2) the ‘normal channels’ for delivering aid exist, but are useless without pressure on Israel to allow them to function; and (3) Israel’s standard excuse for preventing reconstruction material into Gaza is rendered baseless, given the approval to allow 1,200 homes and 18 schools to be constructed.
Even as the Freedom Flotilla welcomes this latest achievement and proof of the necessity and effectiveness of the Flotilla tactic, we also reiterate that our effort is not simply about delivering humanitarian aid. The goal of the Flotilla is not aid; it is freedom for Palestinians in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories. As such, there are no ‘established channels’ for freedom – there is only one - an end to the Israeli occupation.
Flotilla preparations continue apace, buoyed by the support of people around the world. Next week Freedom Flotilla 2: Stay Human sails for Gaza; our destination is freedom.
Learn more about The Free Gaza Movement here.
freedom = an end to the israeli occupation?
and freedom flotilla 2: stay human?
& the walls come tumbling down
I was thinking the same thing earlier. “Opening” the Rafha crossing and allowing construction and required materials into Gaza is a direct result of the Flotilla. Similarly, in the aftermath of last year’s Flotilla disaster, Israel “eased” restrictions going into Gaza.
The symbolic gestures at Rafah are not good enough though since the blockade still continues. Despite the warnings and media attention, I have a feeling IDF will be wearing their kid gloves this year. Israel is not in a a good international position right now. The last thing they want is the sheepel of their ‘best beds’ the USA to find out that they slaughtered their own in international waters (even though they murdered Furkan Dogan last year and others like Rachel Corrie in the past). The lobby would have a hard time stopping the critics. It could hurt the aid they get from us and I really don’t believe they’d threaten their enemies with nukes like some say.
Even if the ‘Samson Option’ is the root of our ‘special’ relationship, I have a feeling that Israel are just really good poker players. Arrogant and proud nationalists for sure, but we’re all human beings and we all know the consequences of nuclear war.
It’s not the Rafah crossing, that’s still limited to people only, and then only those on Israel’s “population registry” can leave Gaza. Bet you the moon and stars as soon as the flotilla’s over any delivery of construction goods slows to an impossible trickle despite the authorization to rebuild.
I had the very same thought when I read that…
Do not underestimate the power of religious/nationalistic inspired insanity.
samson option = masada 2?
which begets doomsday?
the answer being?
a just and free palestine
based on?
equality
and then what sort of world?
won’t it be up to each and every one of us*?
*us, as in you are i, i am you, we are one
The way that the Israeli occupation will end is through the two-state approach, with the prerequisite of Hamas acceptance of PA authority.
Fayyad accomplished wonderful development, but Hamas wanted a power share arrangement rather than a Palestinian success arrangement.
Hamas needs to be the target of civil disobedience if you want progress to occur.
Well, gee, Witty… we could boycott Hamas…. except your “precious jewel” makes that impossible with the siege — boycott requires an active choice, and people like you take that out of the hands of the rest of the world.
Ironic, isn’t it? The very thing you want the rest of us to do, you yourself actively thwart!
The two state approach will not work unless the US involvement in the peace process is limited to sitting on the same side of the negotiation table as Israel, with the Palestinian side partnered by a UN coalition or rep. The point, Witty, is that nobody in the world thinks the US has been or will be an honest broker. Some peace processing configuration must be accepted by all, one which notes the US is a biased player in any peace process involving Israel.
progress is doing very well for itself
people paying more attention to the mddle east
the word getting out
“the truth is the opposite of what we’re being told”
peace on earth?
impossible so long as the zionist entity israel* is still around
justice for palestine?
retaking the dawn
by popular consent
*the entity, not its people
You’re BS is months out fo date Witty. Hamas and Fatah (aka the PA) have formed a unity government.
BS. Fayyad got on his hands and needs and kissed Israel’s ass and came bck with nothing, so Hamas won the elections. A Palestinian success arrangement would have been for Fatah to accept the outcomes of those elections.
Would you expect them to shoot civlians, a la IDF style, in response?
BS. Fayyad got on his hands and needs and kissed Israel’s ass and came bck with nothing, so Hamas won the elections.
In 2005 the President was Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah) and the Prime Minister and Head of the National Security Council was Ahmed Qureia (Fatah). <—Hamas beat the Fatah party.
Mr. Fayyad was the Finance Minister (Third Way). He is the rainmaker who gets PNA funding from the foreign donors by keeping Fatah and Hamas's hands off of the cookie jar.
so your solution is to force the palestinians to accept a foreign puppet as their ruler?
so your solution is to force the palestinians to accept a foreign puppet as their ruler?
Fayyad has been taking part in demonstrations for years now. He and the non-violent Third-Way party may actually be a lot more popular with ordinary Palestinians than the folks in Hamas or Fatah right at the moment. link to mondoweiss.net
Hamas needs to be part of any successful Palestinian arrangement, particularly as they are democratically-elected leaders of Gaza.
You need to spend more time researching Hamas(and Palestinian politics in general) Witty. You clearly don’t have a clue, based on those comments…
One thing yo’ll quickly grow to realise Stevie, is that:
a)Witty doesn’t do research
b) Witty’s idea of reading a report means reading the headline only
c) he doesn’t have a clue and even if he did, he’d lie regardless if the truth wasn’t on Israel’s side (meaning all of the time)
YOu guys are sadly naive about the reality of the politics in the region, and about my understanding of them.
Hamas is barely in a unity agreement at this point. They’ve insisted on a Lebanese style shared government power structure, rather than accept Fayyad.
They are more concerned with adherence to doctine than to practicality, and it will kill relations to its neighbors (Israel primarily), and relations to the EU.
Hamas controls a lot these days. They have an effective veto on any Palestinian progress. They can either exercise that veto for their own vanity, or actually participate in the formation of a viable Palestine.
That Turkey is spending a great deal of attention reconciling with Israel these days, indicates very clearly to me that the concerns of doctrine are NOT the most important ones for any of the parties involved.
Turkey reconciling with Israel throws a monkey wrench in my thesis that the Netanyahu policies and practices are isolating Israel diplomatically. In this two-week news cycle, the opposite seems to be occurring.
Politics are always a dilemma. I want Netanyahu to be discredited so that Israel will elect a less isolationist adminstration. But, Turkey is pragmatic. I’m sure that the US has attempted to persuade Turkey that a peaceful middle east is far far more just and prosperous than an agitated one.
A practical peace solution would start by all parties recognizing the reality that the US is not an honest broker. If the US is involved it should be sitting next to Israel on that side of the peace table. A UN pick or European group rep could sit on the Palestinian side of the table. How’s that Dick?
Where did to get the idea that you, the man who cannot produce links to support his lies,knows anything about reality?
Why should they accept Fayyad the last time an election was held,Fayyad lost. His term expired in 2009.
He’s a politician, not a king.
Anyone else eyerolling in anticipation of another reality-denying screed by GuiltyFeat as soon as the ex-Brit sees this article?
Israel is like the bad guy in a “wrestling” match. Dealing low blows when the ref isn’t looking and playing the innocent when caught.