Gaza - Hope not hatred
By John Holmes
Published in Al-Ahram
I was recently in Gaza, one of the world's most densely packed
places and today, a firmly sealed human pressure cooker. The
deepening distress of the people I saw there illustrated only too
clearly the growing disconnect between the aims and hopes of the
resuscitated Middle East peace process and the harsh realities of
the deteriorating situation on the ground. This disconnect may prove
fatal to peace efforts, and profoundly damaging to one of the
world's oldest and largest refugee populations, if urgent action is
not taken to address it.
The 1.5 million people of Gaza – more than half of whom are under
the age of 18 – are struggling under severe movement restrictions
further tightened by Israel following the Hamas takeover in June
2007. In September, the Government of Israel declared Gaza 'hostile
territory,' paving the way for further tightening of the economic
noose. The population is increasingly feeling the effects of
depleting supplies and resources, particularly the most vulnerable:
children, the elderly, and the infirm.
Let me be clear. Israeli concerns about security are well
understood. Palestinian militant rocket attacks indiscriminately
fired into Israel from Gaza must cease immediately. There can be no
legitimizing such criminal acts, which I condemn unequivocally. I
saw for myself the damage and trauma inflicted on the people of
Sderot in southern Israel by the many years of rocket attacks they
have had to endure.
Nevertheless, Gaza now desperately needs more reliable food
supplies, as well as goods and spare parts of all kinds to keep its
power, water and sanitation systems from failing. It needs to import
a much wider variety of goods to prop up faltering medical and
educational infrastructure, and to restart its collapsed industry
and agriculture.
Nearly 80% of the population of Gaza now relies on food assistance
from the UN and other humanitarian partners. As many as 85% of
Gaza's industrial and manufacturing sites have closed since June
2007, swelling the ranks of unemployed to nearly fifty percent.
Electricity and fuel shortages are leading to a rapid deterioration
in the operation of water and power systems; water quality is
declining rapidly and clean water is only sporadically available for
much of the population. 40 million litres of raw sewage are
currently being released into the Mediterranean Sea everyday, with
untold ecological consequences. The threat of imminent collapse of
some of Gaza's sewage lagoons is very real.
But of all Gaza's many shortages, the scarcest of all commodities is
hope – that most essential of human needs. Providing the kind of
lasting hope needed to counter the growth of extremism is a
political task, one that requires responsible leaders – Israelis and
Palestinians alike – to take the huge risks necessary for peace.
The despair and sense of humiliation resulting from what must feel
like a giant open-air prison can only be imagined. Clearly, this is
a tinderbox waiting for a spark. But it can be in no one's interest
to see Gaza explode, least of all in Israel's security interests.
So how can we alleviate suffering and help reduce tension? First,
humanitarian organizations need immediate, unrestricted, and regular
access for all their goods and workers, rather than the grudging
minimum allowed at the moment. The UN alone has $213 million of
humanitarian and development projects that are blocked by lack of
raw materials, particularly cement. I have pressed upon Israeli
leaders the need to let supplies in so these essential projects can
restart immediately.
Second, while humanitarian relief is crucial, by itself it cannot
relieve the suffering in Gaza. The Gaza crossings need to be opened.
Without a free flow of goods and labour in and out of Gaza, the
private sector will not be able to provide the jumpstart needed to
resuscitate the moribund economy. Opening the main Karni commercial
crossing is a critical first step towards this goal. The Palestinian
Authority has made constructive proposals about how this could be
done, without jeopardizing Israel's security. I urge all sides to
consider seriously these proposals, and to agree to a solution,
including an acceptable security regime.
Third, Hamas should stop the Qassam rockets from Gaza now, and
without conditions. They are indiscriminate; they hurt and kill
civilians, and are promoting economic and military responses which
only deepen the plight of the people of Gaza.
Fourth, the response of economic strangulation of Gaza is not
compatible with Israel's obligations under international
humanitarian law. It too should stop. The majority of Gazans should
not be punished for the criminal acts of a violent and extremist
minority. Only more violence and suffering can come from the current
sowing of dragon's teeth.
Finally, let us keep our eyes on the goal of two states living
side-by-side in peace, and forging a more secure and prosperous
future for their people. It may look ambitious now, but it is the
only way forward for the longer term. Peace cannot be forged on the
anvil of anger, or created through the denial of human dignity. The
only effective way to bring all this suffering to an end is through
the rapid conclusion of a just and lasting peace settlement. This is
where all our efforts should be focused, so that hope can replace
hatred.
John Holmes is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for
Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Source:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/YSAR-7CEPUP?OpenDocument&rc=3&cc=pse
|
