Posted on August 1, 2014 by WashingtonsBlog
NOWHERE TO GO
The New York Times reports:
As
civilian casualties mounted on Monday in the Israeli ground invasion of the
Gaza Strip, Israel’s military reminded the world that it had warned people
living in targeted areas to leave. The response from Palestinians here was
unanimous: Where should we go?
United
Nations shelters are already brimming, and some Palestinians fear they are not
safe; one shelter was bombed by Israel in a previous conflict. [And Israel has
also repeatedly bombed UN shelters for civilians - killing
scores of women and children - in this conflict.]
***
Prime
Minister David Cameron of Britain in 2010 called Gaza “an open-air prison,”
drawing criticism from Israel. But in reality, the vast majority of Gazans
are effectively trapped, unable to seek refugee status across an international
border. (Most are already refugees, those who fled from what is now Israel
and their descendants.)
***
One of the
most densely populated places in the world, Gaza is surrounded by concrete
walls and fences along its northern and eastern boundaries with Israel and its
southern border with Egypt. Even in what pass for ordinary times here, Israel
permits very few Gazans to enter its territory, citing security concerns ….
Egypt has
also severely curtailed Gazans’ ability to travel, opening its border crossing
with the territory for only 17 days this year. During the current fighting
between Israel and the Hamasmilitants who control Gaza, only those with
Egyptian or foreign passports or special permission were allowed to exit.
Even the
Mediterranean Sea to the west provides no escape. Israel restricts boats from GAZA
to three nautical miles offshore. And Gaza, its airspace controlled by Israel,
has no airport.
During the current conflict, Israel
has also taken away 44% of of Gaza land – and herded Gazans into the
remaining area
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