Israeli blockade of the Gaza strip - any illumination?

[Pan]

I've not been able to access much information on this from the usual news agencies, but came across a reporter on R4 who outlined what living conditions are like now that the airport is bombed and the sea ports are out of use. All the essential items that make a civilised and in anyway comfortable existence possible are now either gone or in scarce supply, as all 'import/export' has to go through Israeli checkpoints and they are using this to 'blockade' the entire area of a means of survival.
Is there a short-term goal to this, other than the 'trying to prevent terrorism' one, or should the UN be actively intervening. And can anyone describe why the news blackout is being so well sustained?
Appreciate totally this could be controversial, but illumination on these issues would be good. Anyone?

the other curious thing is that when there is a bombing on eitehr side, or an airstrike, we get it in full gorefest, but not this story of survival??
and yet we holiday in Cyprus/Jordan/Egypt happily with little perspective on what is happening in the region.

oooh. MN news blackout as well, then???

i have no illumination on the subject I'm afraid. I have been involved in discussuions on MN about Israel's actions and behaviour in the region before - and it almost always turns bad, a very sensitive topic. I despair at the West's continued abandonment of the issue.

Did you hear Desmond Tutu's remarks on the situation? Here

like tutu says it is an abomination. I have talked to jewish friends about this and they see a horrendous link between the holocaust, and it's dehumanisation of jews and the dehumanisation of palestinians by israelis. the persecuted becomes the persecutor.

it is tragic.

very important to remember that not all israelis support their governments stance.

the news blackout is sinister in the extremem imo.

yes, it was Tutu's comments that made me look up.

yes, if the thread develops at all, I for one would wish for it to not get out of hand.
I aknowledge it isn't a total blanket void of news, but the scale of the thing compared to coverage is almost newsworthy itself.

This lack of reproting, or at least lack of prioritising in the news has been going on for years though.

I think the void in the news now is maybe just a jaded view that this is 'still going on' and is not seen as new or headline news.

Tutu's comments should help to focus the interbational press on this, but it won't, Mandela has spoken out previously and compared Gaza to apartheid in South africa, and the UN is frequntly issueing statemnts about the humanitarian situation and Isreal's ignoring of their mandates.

But still no international outcry. Why?

It needs world opinion to recognise what is happening as persecution and rally behind the Palestinians, like happened in south africa in the 80's. but this hasn't happened and I won't I imagine. Again, why??

Have you looked at the reports on the EAPPI website?

Thanks for this thread, Pan.
Shame it won't go anywhere.
Shame that nobody talks about Gaza or even the Westbank anymore.
Shame on all of us.

I was watching this despatches programme the other day and
it reminded me of this thread about good people standing idly by
while other human beings are put through unimaginable suffering.

Nobody can say they didn't know but I am sure everyone will have their excuses handy. Again.

i'm glad to see this thread. the situation is rarely discussed and i know too little about it.

i was supposed to travel to tel aviv in september with a friend. she is friends with a local. it now looks like the trip will not go ahead for a variety of reasons.

my aunt expressed shock when i mentioned it, and so i began to research a bit. what a terrible situation.

i too hope this thread does not end up in arguments. it would be good to just acknowledge it and maybe i, and others, could learn some more.

my sentiment too mama. The situation perhaps appears so intractable that indeed as DaddyJ says we become feeling helpless and a bit numbed by it. But the slow squeezing of a decent existence surely needs attention.
I was 'informed' of the whole story by a Jordanian woman in Egypt years ago, who was admirably balanced about the situation. No, not all Palastinians wish to do the things that the hard core wish to do. And neither are all Israelis closed to the right of a credible nation-state for Palastinians.
But it is despairing that in 21st Century a 'blockade' is accepted as a legitimate tool of "negotiation", if that is what it is.

i agree, it seems to be stifling, overwhelming trap. i would also like to know why there is such silence in the media.

i will lurk on this thread. it would be extremely interesting to hear from people who may be on mn and come from the surrounding areas or have personal insight.

It's not in the news becuse no one is really interested.

The response, or lack of, to this thread, deomstrates that.

A feeling of 'it's all been said before', and 'nothing ever changes' produces inertia.

I agree the whole situation should bring deep shame to the western world, as we stand by conveniently ignoring it.

For yesrs I was very passionate and active on this subject, but even I have lost some of this and succomed to the feelings of 'what can you do?'

My anger is still there though.

I was born in thr middle east and my family had friends who were Palestnians. Moderate educted people. Theses are now becoming rare, as the injustice and oppressin of decades has radicalised a whole generation.

iswym lbdd. christ it must be hard for you having a personal connection.

slightly off the point but what part of the middle east do you mind me asking? just found out that i have a teeny tiny blood connection to that part of the world.

i'd love to visit some day.

Gaza has been turned into an open-air prison. It is an abomination, collective punishment and against international law. But Israel is very good at ignoring UN resolutions on the matter.

I can only begin to imagine how children growing up in this situation feel. Israel is doing fine job of creating the next generation of suicide bombers.

it is indeed an abomination but as Mumsnet appears to be a microcosm of the wider community you will get very few people daring to condemn Israel because the Israelis always claim anti semitism as their defence.It allows them - apparently - to get away with anything and everything. Even high ranking UN officials have called the Israeli government the new Nazis. There was a report on the BBC website from a few weeks back where a high ranking UN official said precisely that. What a bitter irony.

I agree with what other posters have said here but if you search on old threads pertaining to this topic you will see as ruty observed that they always get very very bitter.

Israel has been breaking the law for years though, even its own. The illegal settlements are a contravention of Israeli law - go figure.

I would be interested to know if Olmert will resign, stewed in corruption as he is. Somehow I doubt it.

If you have Sky, the Islam Channel news often carries reports about the Palestinian situation. Not exactly blanket coverage, I grant you, but FYI.