Gaza Again Plunged into Darkness, Hunger as Israel Blocks Fuel, Food to Suffering Population
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has worsened in the aftermath of Israel’s latest blockade of fuel and food. We speak to Diana Buttu, a former lawyer for the Palestinian Authority, and Reverend Edwin “Eddie” Makue of the South African Council of Churches, a veteran of South Africa’s apartheid struggle. They are on an “anti-apartheid” speaking tour across the US for the next two weeks. [includes rush transcript] -
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/12/ ... ess_hunger
The United Nations refugee agency which distributes food to half of Gaza’s 1.5 million people has warned that it will run out of food in a day if Israel’s blockade of the Gaza strip does not stop. It called the blockade “a physical as well as a mental punishment."
Israel is now allowing limited amounts of fuel after Gaza’s sole power plant came to a halt Monday, plunging the area into darkness. But Israel is still blocking food deliveries and aid agencies estimate the new supply of fuel will run out within a day-and-a-half.
An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that began in June has been disrupted following the imposition of the blockade and Israel’s foreign ministry has accused Hamas of exploiting the situation for political gain. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that a violent confrontation with Hamas was inevitable.
