Friday, June 04, 2010

Hamas Says: No, Thanks!

There is an urgent humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Everybody knows it; that’s why the “Free Gaza” flotilla attempted to breach the blockade. If those evil Zionists hadn’t slaughtered the aid workers and impounded their ships, the children of Gaza wouldn’t be going hungry tonight.

Notwithstanding the fact that the people of Gaza are among the most obese in the world. Never mind those market shelves filled with fresh produce and appetizing goodies. Forget about the “Cactus Roots” gourmet dining club.

There’s a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Got it?

The people there are suffering from a disastrous shortage of arms and ammunition… uh… I mean, food and medicine. So Hamas will be delighted to take delivery of the supplies brought by the flotilla, right?

Wrong! According to Hürriyet:

Hamas Refuses Israel’s Delivery of Flotilla Supplies

Hamas refused Thursday to accept an Israeli delivery of at least 20 truckloads of humanitarian aid from the flotilla of ships that commandos intercepted in a raid that left nine people dead.

The group said it was waiting for instructions from the Turkish government on whether to accept the supplies.

By the way, just as a matter of interest — Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists that Hamas is not a terrorist organization. Just in case you were wondering.

The article continues:
- - - - - - - - -
Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s Defense Ministry said Thursday the cargo, including medical supplies, clothing, blankets and toys, was held up at the Kerem Shalom crossing after being brought 38 kilometers south from the port in Ashdod.

Hamas said it would not take the aid because Israel confiscated some of the supplies and was still holding some of the more than 700 passengers involved in the May 31 attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

Israel said last night it had expelled all foreigners from the ships except for seven who are hospitalized. It is also detaining an Israeli Arab religious leader who may be prosecuted.

Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and the European Union.

“The government decided not to receive any aid until the occupation releases all those who are held,” Ahmed al-Kurd, the Hamas minister for social welfare, said in a telephone interview from his office in Gaza City. “We will accept all of the aid or none of it.”

Do they need all those crowbars and knives? Is that what’s missing?

The Israeli Defense Ministry unit that coordinates civilian issues with the Palestinian Authority said it had checked the flotilla cargo for weapons and other prohibited materials before delivering it to Gaza.

Israel is “acting in coordination with international aid organizations operating in the Gaza Strip which are waiting for the transfer of the cargo on the other side of the border,” the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said in a statement posted on the Defense Forces website.

Al-Kurd said Hamas was waiting for instructions from the Turkish government on whether to accept the supplies. “We will wait for a Turkish green light to receive the aid because this flotilla was flying the Turkish flag,” he said. “Once it decides we should take the aid, we will take it.”

Hurry up, Turkey! Don’t you know that children are starving in Gaza?


Hat tips: C. Cantoni and Insubria.

3 comments:

Zenster said...

“We will accept all of the aid or none of it.”

Whenever idiots try to turn events into a binary situation, make sure the alternative they end up with is the wrong one for them.

Given this ridiculous ultimatum, the Israelis should have promptly shipped off all of the goods to Darfur.

Remember, it's time to start taking Muslims at their word. "None of it!", you say? Fine, none it shall be!

Anonymous said...

To be honest, I don't even get why my country still has diplomatic relations with Palestine. We should do what we do to Kosovo. Not recognize it as a country and leave.

Anonymous said...

I believe that some people in Gaza may be suffering from shortages - Fatah supporters who are apparently left out when Hamas distributes aid.
Islamization Watch

I have read that when Egypt opened the Gaza border as a result of all the uproar over the flotilla, many people came across to escape from Gaza - Fatah supporters maybe?