quality, and conditions have only worsened since.“
The report goes on “40,000 or so newborn babies
born this year (2008) are at immediate risk of
nitrate poisoning; the incidence of “blue baby
syndrome” (methaemoglobinaemia) is exceptionally high.” Further “the General Department
of Pharmacy in Gaza reported that 104 essential
drugs-including treatments for cancer, heart conditions, kidney disease and psychiatric disorders -and
123 types of medical supplies had run out due to the
Israeli blockade and ongoing closure of the crossings.”
This represents collective punishment, prohibited
under the laws of war, of Palestinian citizens,
particularly in Gaza.
This drawing, by a Palestinian child in Occupied Palestinian Territory of Gaza, expresses a clear comprehension of the politics of the military occupation of the
Palestine.
On 30th December, 2008 of that same year, the
National Lawyers Guild (NLG) in the US issued a
statement of condemnation based in law referencing the illegal bombardment of the Gaza Strip by
Israel where they plummeted into new depths of
depravity by bombing children as they left school
premises. “The dead included, men, women and
children in school uniforms.” We find in the laws of
war the prohibition where, “collective punishment
and the targeting of a civilian population
disproportionate to military necessity.”
The WHO reported in 2011 that “deep poverty in
the Gaza strip increasing: the occupied Palestinian
territory poverty rate in 2010 was 25.7% (18.3% for
the West Bank and 38. % for the Gaza Strip), but
estimated at 42.5% without humanitarian assistance
for households. Deep poverty increased in the Gazastrip from 21.9% to 23. %.” Shocking figures!
The UNWRA Gaza Situation Report (7-14 April
2015 16 Issue no. 88) published on 16 April 2015
stated in part that “UNRWA will serve all those who
are assessed as eligible for food assistance; there is no
maximum number of food aid beneficiaries. Currently almost 868,000 Palestine refugees depend on food
aid from UNRWA – half of Gaza’s 1.76 million total
population and 65 percent of the registered refugee
population.”
Also in the same UNRWA Report, “Almost 2,700
more refugee families received support for home
repairs or rental subsidies during this week. US$
1.94 million in funding became available for UNRWA cash assistance for supporting home repairs of
minor damages or transitional rental subsidies and
will reach 2,698 families across the Gaza Strip this
week. They will access the payments through local
banks. These payments do not change the fact that
only US$ 175 million has been pledged in support
of UNRWA’s emergency shelter programme, for
which a total of US$ 720 million is required. This
leaves a current shortfall of US$ 545 million.”
Israel holds on to the belief F