No, Hamas, enabled by the moral bankruptcy of a vitriolic peanut gallery, has turned the Gaza Strip into a prison for Palestinians.
That was interesting clause in the middle. You have an interesting way with words.
In any case, you're saying that a community virtually sealed in, with Israeli soldiers watching every entrance and exit, preventing all kinds of supplies from getting in.... Oh wait, that's Hamas's fault! ... wait, what?
Life in the 'open prison' of Gaza is from 2008, but not much seems to have changed, eh? Oh, and I just noticed dogsgod had an article from 2006. So, let us go from 2006: 2006. 2007. 2008. 2009. 2010. Oh yeah, I'm sure making peace with Israel is at the front of their minds. I'm sure soldiers turning them back for medical treatment, settler harassment, and oh, the fact that the Palestinians consider it their land definitely helps.
I went to talk about his case with a spokesman for the Israeli government who pointed out that the border closures were for security reasons.
And when we got on to the subject of seriously ill patients being allowed out of Gaza for treatment, he told me that, while some patients had been let out, it was his view that terminally ill ones posed a potential danger to Israel
They had nothing to live for, he suggested, so they might blow themselves up and become suicide bombers.
Source:
Life in the 'open prison' of Gaza
"I'm dying of cancer, but I might live if I get treatment!" "Or you might blow yourself up, so we'll keep you in, where you'll have no chance to live, but hey, you won't blow yourself up." And then you're surprised that people still fire rockets.
Heres a thought!!! Hamas renounces violence , throws down its weapons ,recognises Israel right to exist, joins a political process of reconciliation,Israel and Egypt ends the blockade the west pours in millions of dollars to rebuild Gaza and we all live happily ever after.
well a man can dream cant he?
How about Israel stops building new (illegal) settlements, allows Gaza to receive necessary supplies (like building materials, gas, food maybe?), and other important matters? Maybe then they could try having a civil sit-down. Of course, that involves not assassinating your opponents in foreign countries in the meanwhile.
Am I asking for too much? Trust me, when you've got Israel destroying your country right before your eyes, well, peace isn't the first thing on your mind. Maybe a cease-fire, ensuing talks... but peace? That's not an overnight thing, especially in the region.
Also, what right to exist? The right of any state in the world to exist (maybe according to international law) or the right given by God to allow people of a certain religion living all over the world to live in their own state whether they can prove descent or not (I guess people who convert to Judaism can also trace their ancestry to the area — or can people not convert? I think they can, and they have, but correct me if I'm wrong)? Oh, so what if people have papers saying that it's their land? It was ours first! (Although I'm sure there were people before the Israelites, but now I'm just ranting.)
Im glad you mentioned that Egypt is part of the blockade but no body on the Muslim side complains about it, they are just being biased to one side, so it is merely a religious reason then a geographical one.
Egypt's made peace with Israel and so if Israel wants to blockade Gaza, I wouldn't be surprised that Egypt does the same, especially because they could be accused of supporting terrorism (which they probably already are at times), their relationship with Israel could suffer, etc. I think people on the Arab side (why just Muslims? I know Christians as well, and there are Arab Jews) don't mention Egypt as much because, as I said, it's tied into Israel's position, and many don't like Egypt's support of Israel anyway, it's a given. Governments do what is in their interest, and try to get away with what they can. (Yes, I am cynical, and of all governments.)
-scratches head- Why do I always feel that I'm ranting on this thread? Maybe I am, maybe not. Maybe I should just read and not reply. xD
