Amnesty slams Israel for killing Gazans dream

[joeblow]

Amnesty slams Israel for killing Gazans dream
Thu, 28 May 2009 06:12:53 GMT

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Two children trying to study in ruins of Gaza, not knowing what their future will be like

Human Rights group Amnesty International has condemned Israel for the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the blockaded Gaza Strip.

In its annual report, the London-based group says Israel's massive offensive on Gaza has brought the situation in the strip to "the brink of catastrophe".

The group also said Israel's crippling blockade on the impoverished enclave has worsened an already dire humanitarian situation adding that more than one-and-a-half -million people are at the risk of poverty, malnutrition and health problems because of the siege.

"The blockade exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation, health and sanitation problems, poverty and malnutrition for the 1.5 million residents."

The report includes cases in which Palestinian patients dying due to lack of medical care in the enclave.

"Seriously ill patients in need of medical care not available in Gaza and hundreds of students and workers wishing to study or travel to jobs abroad were among those trapped in Gaza by the blockade."

Not only the Israeli siege is making life miserable for a generation, it is also taking away the dream of a nation which doesn't seem to see light at the end of the tunnel.

Close to 1,400 Palestinians -- mostly women and children -- died during Israel's three-week-long onslaught against the costal sliver, and dozens of seriously ill patients are facing imminent death as Gaza Hospital run out of medical supplies while the Israeli authorities are barring supplies from reaching the territory.

Tel Aviv's operation Cast Lead in Gaza exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, inflicting heavy damage on the civilian infrastructure, disrupting the flow of clean water and causing overflow of sewage.

Nearly 20,000 homes and other buildings were damaged, leaving thousands of people homeless. Gaza has also been experiencing harsh conditions due to shortage of fuel and electricity, which has affected the performance of medical centers and hospitals.

Tel Aviv has been charged with war crimes during the Gaza war including the use of controversial chemical white phosphorous shells, indiscriminate firing in the densely-populated coastal sliver and the shelling of a UN school turned refugee camp.

Amnesty also said that Israel continues to imprison Palestinians, including 300 children.

According to the Palestinian sources, at least 11,500 Palestinians, including women and children, are suffering under harsh conditions in Israeli prisons.

MSH/MMN
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