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Articles and Resources about the Current Situation in Gaza

05/24/2018 03:53:13 PM

May24

Rabbi Biatch

Recent media have promulgated conflicting accounts of the situation in Gaza. For more rational and, perhaps, objective coverage, see these resources:

“13 Inconvenient Truths About What Has Been Happening in Gaza” at http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-news-and-politics/262329/gaza-media-explainer

Two weeks ago, Hamas urged thousands of worshipers at Friday prayers to join the protests. According to the New York Times, Hamas leaders falsely claimed that the fence had already been breached, and declared that Palestinians were flooding into Israel, which they were not. Refer to  https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/14/world/middleeast/gaza-israel-deadly-protest-scene.html.

A report in the Washington Post noted that “At a gathering point east of Gaza City, organizers urged protesters over loudspeakers to burst through the fence, telling them Israeli soldiers were fleeing their positions, even as [the Israelis] were reinforcing them. See this article at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/gaza-protests-take-off-ahead-of-new-us-embassy-inauguration-in-jerusalem/2018/05/14/eb6396ae-56e4-11e8-9889-07bcc1327f4b_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3a9ecbe50915

A senior Hamas official boasted about the military and intelligence involvement in the Gaza protests, comparing his militant approach to the ineffective (in his view) non-violent protests of the Palestinian Authority. He said: “So when we talk about 'peaceful resistance,' we are deceiving the public. This is a peaceful resistance bolstered by a military force and by security agencies, and enjoying tremendous popular support. As for (Fatah's) 'peaceful resistance,' it consists of rallies, demonstrations, protests, pleas, and requests, to improve the terms of the negotiations, or to enable talks with the Israeli enemy. This deception does not fool the Palestinian public.” See https://www.memri.org/tv/hamas-politburo-member-bardawil-fifty-martyrs-were-hamas-members/transcript.

When Israel tries to offer appropriate help, it is thwarted. Israel's Keren Shalom border crossing station, near the Egyptian border in southern Gaza, was damaged by fire the week before the May 15 protests. This border crossing has been the main artery into Gaza for medical supplies and food. After Israel repaired the crossing station, Israel re-opened the border station, but trucks filled with food and diapers were turned back. Only medical supplies were allowed to cross over into Gaza. See https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-reopens-gaza-crossing-but-palestinians-turn-back-some-trucks/.

March 28, 2024 18 Adar II 5784