The prestigious International Crisis Group (ICG) has published a report entitled “Dealing with Hamas.” EI contributor Hasan Abu Nimah reviewed it hoping to find an original and independent approach to the Arab-Israeli conflict. Instead, he finds little more than repetition of clichés and shallow recommendations based on an analysis that does not scratch the surface of misguided conventional widsom. One of its flaws is evident in its title - its authors seem to accept and endorse the widely-held view that had it not been for Hamas and suicide bombings, the region would be much closer to peace and security. This assumption has the attraction of being simple, and politically uncontroversial in the west, but it is also wrong. Read more about The ICG report on Hamas: a shallow approach to a complex issue
In a situation of ongoing violence and the sharply deteriorating humanitarian situation, civilians are now paying the highest price in growing numbers because of the escalating violence in Gaza, according to aid agency Oxfam International. Oxfam believes that civilians caught up in armed conflict have every right to be protected, as enshrined in the Geneva Conventions. Oxfam’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, Adam Leach, says: “Protecting civilians should not be a by-product of a political process but intrinsic to it. Their protection could strengthen the political process, safeguard civil society and reverse the decline in the security situation.” Read more about Aid agency calls for effective international intervention in Gaza
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) today delivered food and water to half of the 600 families trapped in their homes east of Jabalyia camp by the Israeli incursion in the North of the Gaza Strip. The 600 families, approximately 3,300 persons, have been completely unable to leave their homes since the beginning of the Israeli military operation on 29 September. Most have exhausted their food supplies and many have seen their water and electricity connections to their homes cut by bulldozing operations. The delivery was facilitated by a practical dialogue between UNRWA and Israeli military liaison officers. Read more about UNRWA convoy delivers first humanitarian relief to northern Gaza
The continuing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory remained the core of the conflict and a negotiated solution was urgently needed to end the occupation, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People states in a draft report to the General Assembly approved by the Committee this morning. The Chairman of the Committee, Paul Badji (Senegal) opened the meeting and said the situation on the ground in occupied Palestinian territory remained very volatile. Read more about UN Committee repeats call for negotiated solution to end Israeli occupation
“There are all sorts of theories, which you can imagine colleagues are musing about as to why [Israel is trying to discredit UNRWA] … now or why at all. And also, why on the basis of such a flimsy story? It is not just us, even people from outside who have seen the film had absolutely no doubt the minute they saw the film that this was not a rocket. It didn’t look at all like a rocket and nobody would throw a rocket into a car in that manner, I don’t think.” This week Palestine Report Online interviews director of the UNRWA executive office in Gaza, Rene Aquarone, on Israel’s recent claims that a UN ambulance was used to transport Qassam rockets. Read more about "A flimsy story": UNRWA Gaza director Rene Aquarone responds to Israel's Qassam allegations
A United Nations team has arrived in Jerusalem to look into allegations by Israel that a UN ambulance driver was filmed loading a Kassam rocket into his vehicle, a UN spokesman said today. The team will meet with officials over the next few days and will be asking the Israeli Government and UNRWA to cooperate with them, Fred Eckhard said. Early this week UNRWA Commissioner-General Peter Hansen said an investigation and analysis of the footage captured by an Israeli drone established that the object in question was a patient stretcher. The group, which was headed to the region on a previously scheduled visit to review UN operations there, will report back to Mr. Annan after its return to New York, Mr. Eckhard said. Read more about UN team arrives to probe Israeli accusations against UNRWA
Matthias Burchard, chief of the liaison office of UNRWA told journalists that an Israeli spokesperson for the Israeli army had retracted allegations in the past few days that UNRWA’s ambulances in Gaza might have been misused by Hamas and calls by Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York for the resignation of Peter Hansen, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA. UNRWA had maintained since the weekend that what was seen in the footage was a stretcher and not a rocket as alleged. UNRWA had been able to establish this in a matter of 24 hours, and it was very astonished that the IDF with its superior technology had not been able to do so. Read more about Israel backs off accusations against UN refugee agency
Peter Hansen, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has written a strongly-worded protest to Silvan Shalom, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, demanding an apology for allegations made against UNRWA’s ambulance drivers in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s military and its ambassador to the United Nations have alleged that it has footage of a Palestinian rocket being transported in an UNRWA ambulance. An investigation by UNRWA and analysis of the footage has established that the object in question was a patient stretcher. Read more about Israel's 'malicious propaganda' endangers UN staff
Heavy fighting has taken place in the last six days. The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) has recorded 82 Palestinian deaths of which 24 were children. Three hundred and sixteen Palestinians have been injured of which over 110 were children. Five Israelis have died including two children who were killed by a home made rocket fired by Palestinian militants from northern Gaza into Sderot on 29 September. The Israeli incursion has particularly focused Jabalia refugee camp. Israeli forces have isolated Beit Hanoun from the rest of the Gaza Strip with no movement for the local population in and out of the area. Read more about Humanitarian Situation Update: Northern Gaza
The United Nations Security Council today failed to adopt a resolution that would have demanded Israel halt all military operations in northern Gaza and withdraw from the area. The United States vetoed the draft, which received 11 votes in favour, with Germany, Romania and the United Kingdom abstaining. Speaking prior to the Council’s vote, Ambassador John C. Danforth of the United States called the proposed text “lopsided and unbalanced” for containing many “material omissions” and said it deserved a no vote. The Permanent Observer of Palestine, Nasser Al-Kidwa, called today another “sad day” for the Security Council for its failure again to fulfil its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security. Read more about United States vetoes Security Council text demanding Israel withdraw from Gaza
