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UN says Gaza children being held hostage by blockade
Afghanistan News.Net
Wednesday 19th November, 2008
The Gaza Strip is being choked and its 1.5 million population is being held hostage as collective punishment, a UN official says.
56% of Gaza's people are children.
Access to Gaza has been blocked by the Israeli army which has prevented the delivery of fuel, food, and humanitarian aid. All border crossings are now closed and sealed, and have been for more than two weeks, but for a brief respite on Monday when 33 trucks carrying aid were allowed through.
United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes told journalists in Geneva that the blockade was seen as collective punishment. "Half the population of Gaza is under 15 and are being held hostage by the situation," he said.
The situation he said was “desperate” and “unacceptable.”
"UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon telephoned Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Tuesday to urge him to facilitate the freer movement of urgently needed humanitarian supplies and of UN personnel into Gaza," the UN said in a statement. "Mr. Olmert denounced the continuing rocket fire into Israel from Gaza, although he agreed to look seriously into the urgent matter," the statement said.
Within hours however Ban had his answer. His request was rejected. The crossings would remain closed.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak who ordered the closures said the border crossings would remain shut until calm was restored. Responding to the question, on the Israei army radio channel, of whether he would accede to Mr Ban's request he replied, "No. There needs to be calm in order for the crossings to be opened."
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Comments on this story
Anonymous
11-19-08, 05:29 PM |
UN says Gaza children being held hostage by blockade
Yes they will all be calm once you have starved them to death.. Can not wait for your to face the justice of God.. yes we all die, even you mr Barak.. do you believe in God? or the Gun? which is more powerful?
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crack/head
11-20-08, 12:16 PM |
Janet the prick sucker!
Who’s Mohammed did you get attached to you slippery snake. Perahps we can attach you to one of their belts so you could really get the best bang for your buck!
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DLR
11-19-08, 06:08 PM |
Sderot Children Are Held Hostage Too
It’s bizzare that the UN is so concerned about children in Gaza, but no one is bothered by the fact that children in Sderot and the Western Negev are bombed daily! When will the world wake up and worry about their plight?
If Sderot and other areas in Israel would not be bombarded daily, then Israel would no have to respond by closing off Gaza!
What also puzzles me.... is that the arabs wanted to be INDEPENDANT of Israel, but now they are begging Israel for food, electricity and an open border. Maybe the arabs were better off before the disengagement?
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Janet P
11-20-08, 12:03 AM |
As the world stands by
Are we so afraid of Jewish money and power we have lost our voice?
What if we were to turn the tables and cage 1.5 million Jews like the
animals they seem to be? Would the world cry foul?
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Anonymous
11-20-08, 09:43 AM |
No one is as blind as one who chooses not to see
Janet P;114832:
Are we so afraid of Jewish money and power we have lost our voice?
What if we were to turn the tables and cage 1.5 million Jews like the
animals they seem to be? Would the world cry foul?
How about Hamas and Hezzbollah setup a mortar and start shelling the city you live in what would you do?
It’s always the children do it for the children and yet UN troops are always caught raping children and extorting the people they are tasked with protecting.
The UN is a broken yapping dog that needs to be put out of it’s misery.
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