Israeli assassinations in Israeli eyes

New report published by Ha'aretz, one of the biggest and widely distributed newspapers in Israel, about Israeli army assassinating operations. Report said The Israeli army has been assassinating wanted West Bank Palestinians in spite of the High Court of Justice's guidelines.High-level military officials approved assassinations in the West Bank, "even when it could have been possible to arrest the targets instead," according to the Ha'aretz report. This means of course a sort of a field and quick execution process. Army officers authorized the killings in advance; "in writing, even if innocent bystanders would be killed as well," the report goes on to say. The assassinations policy also runs contrary to what the military had been telling the High Court, "as they were subject only to minimal restrictions" prior to a court ruling that demanded otherwise. Ziad Malaisha, who was killed on 20 June 2007 near Jenin was published in the Israeli newspaper as an example of one such mission. The obtained document, which is a preliminary paper called "Operation Two Towers," details a mission planned by Israeli commander Yair Naveh. Though it insists that "the mission is arrest," the document allows for the army to kill any of three Islamic Jihad members.On 12 April, the same commander approved the killing of just one of the three, as well as "another two people at most." According to a spokesperson for the Israeli army's office, the plans to kill Islamic Jihad members would only be implemented if arrests failed, but that the "alternative is preferable."
Israeli assassination operations had been widely considered as an effective tool against Palestinian activists during second Intefada and resulting in killing big leaders of Palestinian fractions, such as Salah Shehada "former general leader of Al – Qassam brigades, armor arm of Hamas", Ahmad Yassin, Abd Al- Aziz Al – Rantesee "leaders and members of Hamas finders, Abu Ali Mustafa "leader of Al- Jabha Al- Shabyya", and others. During these opertions, many civilian Palestinians including women and children were killed.

such tool or process is usually considered by terrorists, thugs,..etc. However, it is considered by state like Israel that called itself as the only democratic state in its region. what a silly and discasting statement.

Impact of the recent crisis on us

As everyone knows, we’re lying under a very strong Israeli closure that has badly affected our life as Palestinians as well as our work here in Gaza. For nearly 20 days, nothing is allowed to enter Gaza Strip even the basic needs. Shortage has occurred in all levels and touched every single detail of our life. Main shortage is occurring in food and power supplies. Due to the absence of industrial fuel, the only power plant in Gaza is shut down since 10 days, leaving more than 50% of Gaza Strip areas without any power supply. Population in Gaza city, which is the biggest in Gaza Strip (around 550,000 capita) and the most influenced and infected population with this crisis, have electricity supply for 2-3 hours a day. Due to that condition, water supply, which is directly linked to power supply, suffer huge shortage and people in Gaza city receive water one time a week for less than 6 hours, taking into account that you may have electricity supply but at the same time have no water or the opposite. For the multi-story and high building, it is a disaster because once you don’t have electricity then for sure you have no water.
When it comes to crisis, Gaza people have good experience in facing such problems and difficulties. However, this time it seems that it is away beyond their capabilities. They have even stopped receiving any external aids from UNRWA or any other agencies due to the shortage that UNRWA and other agencies’ stocks suffer. Due to the shortage in cooking gas and flora, all bakeries in Gaza city are closed and there is no more bread available for the people to buy except those who have some flora and make it at their houses. I’m trying to draw a general image about the situation in Gaza but even from the work point of view, our work in the office had been tremendously affected by the current circumstances. We have stopped our usual habit of having breakfast together at office because of the absence of the bread as well as Falafel and other usual food stuff which we use to have. Today, one of my colleague suggested that we can eat some fruits. I went to the fruit shop and tried to buy some apples but I found out that the price has doubled and became very expensive. Our office hours had been reduced due to the shortage of electricity to reach 3-4 hours a day. Even if we’ve electricity that does not mean that we have internet connection, especially for members like me whom are using PC and not laptop. Experiencing such hard circumstances is not new for us but to be honest, this time is the hardest one.

Gaza facing hard days ever

It had been 20 days now since Israel decided to put its strong closure ever on Gaza Strip. For the first time in its history, Gaza suffers huge shortage in all basic needs. Nothing had entered Gaza Strip during this period except some few trucks once 10 days ago for UNRWA. Situation has badly developed in terms of food and other supplies. All bakeries in Gaza city are closed due to the absence of flora. Population in Gaza city (around 550,000) are the most infected and influenced population among Gaza Strip population in other areas. Population in Gaza city receives electricity 2 or 3 hours a day. Linking to the power supply, water supply, especially for multi-story and high buildings, is 4-6 hours a week. Water and sanitation facilities are badly operating and their components can suffer huge catastrophe at any moment. Hospitals and medical care centers suffer from shortage in power supply all the time. Many patients face the danger and risk of death at any moment due to their need of using relying on medical equipments, especially those in intensive care units. All international NGOs and UN are worried about the situation and have declared many times that this closure must end and they made many coordination and contact with Israel to make the Israeli re-determine and re-consider their strong and hard actions which are considered as collective punishment to the Palestinians in Gaza. However, Israel has not shown any flexibility in dealing with Gaza Strip and claims all the time that its lands and people security are threatened. Few reports did mention that Palestinian fractions had received an Egyptian offer to keep the truce and stop launching rockets on Israeli nearby cities for the price offered by Israelis to re-open trading crossing points as they were before 20 days. However, it does not seem that such offer is validated or agreed yet. The situation is badly deteriorating and its results and outcomes are unpredictable and no one knows what would be the coming scenario of the coming days.

Gaza under more stricky closure conditions

After more than 10 days of full closure of the Gaza Strip crossing points, unconfirmed reports said that nearly 33 aid trucks carrying humanitarian equipment, food and medications will be let to enter into the Gaza Strip. The mentioned trucks are all UNRWA aids. These reports were published by Israeli media outlets Monday morning despite an earlier decision by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to keep crossings closed. Barak gave the order late Sunday evening, after trucks carrying medical supplies and emergency food were turned away from Gaza crossings.
Israeli sources reported that the Defense Minister had instructed the Israeli border guards and military establishment in control of the Gaza Strip to keep the goods crossings closed on Monday.
Sunday saw a series of homemade projectile launches executed by Palestinian resistance factions towards Israeli targets, though no injuries on the Israeli side were reported. Early in the day Israeli air forces carried out an air raid killing four activists, and in the early evening explosions were heard in Gaza, though the Israeli army denied any further strikes. However, despite all the media of retaliation, says of all involved parties claimed that everyone is concern to keep the truce and not to keep going on military and violence actions.

Truce in Gaza & elections in Israel

It seems that Israeli army is on the way to breakdown the truce that was agreed with Palestinian fractions in Gaza. Early morning yesterday, Israeli forces killed four Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip near the town of Al-Qarara on Wednesday, medics on confirmed. Medics said they found the bodies of four-Hamas affiliated fighters in the area. Witnesses said Israeli warplanes fired two missiles during fighting between the armed men and Israeli tanks who had invaded. One missile was fired at a mosque, and the other exploded near a school, where the fighters were located. Other witnesses reported that three missiles landed near houses belonging to two families named Aal Muhanna and An-Naja, and another landed near the Al-Islah mosque. This operation was part of an Israeli incursion that took place on Wednesday, as Israeli tanks and armored bulldozers invaded east of Al-Qarara, sparking clashes with Palestinian fighters. Witnesses said the invading forces are approached houses approximately 300 meters away from the border line. Israeli military sources claimed that they had thwarted an attempt by Palestinians to cross the border fence near the Kisufim crossing and plant a bomb. The military also said that three mortar shells and an explosive device were fired at Israeli forces in the area.Israeli military vehicles often patrol a 150-meter "buffer zone" inside the Strip's eastern border, usually avoiding direct clashes with Palestinian fighters. Such operation will surly through the truce into question, taking into account that another operation was made few days ago and the Israeli killed 5 Hamas members during it to the east of Deir Al – Balah area. It may look like such operations are made to empower some of Israeli leaders who are willing to win the coming Israeli elections. Palestinian card is been used in every Israeli elections and this one of course is not an exception. Such operations send messages to the people of Israel that include some certain names to be chosen and voted for as the most bloody and aggressive Israeli leaders. No one knows what would be the outcome of such operations; will it be the end of the calm and truce? Or they're just minor incidences that both sides can leave behind.

Gaza in the Dark again

Gaza has gone dark yesterday evening. The crisis of the fuel shortage is repeating itself but this time is related only to the only power plant that Gaza has. For one week, only 40% of the needed industrial fuel that is needed to operate the power plant had been supplied by the Israeli side through Nahl Oz fuel transfer point. This means that power plant is running at only 40% of its regular capacity for almost a week officials warned that power outages could follow. Palestinian officials said that the electrical current is been cut off for about 30% of Gaza Strip population. According to them, within 18 hours the power plant will completely stop leaving Gaza city without any electrical supply and leaving nearly 600,000 capita with no electricity. The other main source of electricity is the Israeli electrical company that supplies nearly 70% of the Gaza Strip needs. However, transmission lines and transformers on the Gaza Strip side are suffering huge deterioration, as the shortage in spare parts is huge due to the closure circumstances. This leads to instability and non-uniform cutting of the current for long hours during the day in many areas of Gaza Strip (mainly eastern and southern parts of Gaza Strip.

When the sun set in Gaza on Sunday the Strip was plunged into darkness and no electric lights illuminated Gazan cityscapes. The sounds of small generators were heard around the city so main roads and shops could continue to function. Humanitarian impacts of such situation are huge. 90% of water supplies in Gaza Strip depend on electricity that is provided by the power plant. In addition, sewage pump stations and treatment plants are also depending on power plant supply which means big threats of collapse of the exhausted water and sanitation facilities along Gaza Strip may occur and a catastrophe is on its way to Gaza.

Another boat left Gaza

Another boat has come and gone yesterday from Gaza. Some activists including one parliment member, who is Mostafa Al - Barghouti, was among those who came to break the Gaza seige. Try after try to do so but even though, the siege is still there and the suffering has not ended yet. In addition, all tries were not arabian, even if many of the comers on the boat were arabian. The boat sailed from Europe and it is owned by European. It is a shame that arabs are not ready yet to make such move or even allow to make it from their lands. No body knows for how long they will wait; is it until certian number of people to die (they've have already exceeded 230 in numbers) or may be until the people in Gaza stop screaming or shouting and just die peacefully and quitly. What should the people in Gaza do? should they pray for more rain to fall and more flooding to come so that Gaza sink in the sea and disappear? It seems that those whom are facing very hard situation in Gaza, which is beyond their abilities as human, have nothing to do but diying or working to die so that everybody in this world feel better. Hundreds of promises were given to those poor people that no one would allow the situation in Gaza to badly developed or become a humanitarian crisis. However, it has reached the point of having not one but many crisis at the same time. The promises had been made by arabs, Europeans,..etc, but no one could keep his word and the result is nearly one year and half of such siege that could be partially broken through tunnels and smoglling of goods through them from the Egyptian side.