Gazans say Egypt is now turning the screw

[Jefferson23]

GAZA, 2 October 2013 (IRIN) - The shift of power in Egypt over the past few months has led not just to border closures for those wanting to cross into the country from Gaza, but also to a sharp reduction in the transport of basic goods, as well as fishing rights, further isolating residents of the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

The Egyptian Army says that since it started operations in the eastern Sinai Peninsula in late June, it has destroyed more than 440 tunnels - 80 to 90 percent of detected tunnels - between Egypt and Gaza, in what is an ongoing operation.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that only 10 tunnels are now operating, down from at least 300 operating tunnels prior to the clamp down.

"They're strangling us, even if they claim the opposite," Jalal, 25, a tunnel worker, told IRIN. "This situation gives us no choice but to look to develop more approaches to keep tunnels working until a sustainable commercial terminal above the ground is opened."

in full: http://www.irinnews.org/report/98865/gazans-say-egypt-is-now-turning-the-screw

[Warpy]

1. I'm not surprised

I think everybody in the region has about had it with their hotheads firing unguided rockets into Israel.

I think they'll find all their neighbors a hell of a lot more cooperative if they figure out a way to keep their violent idiots under control.

[shaayecanaan]

7. What makes you think that Egypt is motivated by rockets being fired into Israel? nt

[ColesCountyDem]

2. A tunnel under a border rather defeats the entire purpose of having a border, doesn't it?

I'm not unsympathetic to plight of the people in the OPT, but I can't point fingers at the Egyptians for doing what is clearly lawful, i.e., securing their own border. 'Jalal' and his fellow Gazans might do well to engage in some introspection regarding their own 'activities'.

[delrem]

3. First two responses: blaming the victim.

[Loudly]

4. The "victim" has to get its mind right and earn trust.

Otherwise the "victim" is simply causing its own suffering.

[delrem]

5. Oh thanks. "The "victim" has to gets its mind right."

And how many more decades of seige, occupation and oppression do you think it'll take, to force the victim to "gets its mind right" according as the oppressor's dictates? Hmmm?

[Loudly]

6. As long as it takes to accept Israel's right to exist and not shoot rockets into it?

The sooner the better.

[delrem]

8. Do the victims get a right to exist, or not?

Do the victims get a right to a life free from IDF terrorist night-raids etc., or not?
Do the victims get a right to a life free from regular IDF training exercises, from regular IDF military "operations" targeting them with jets, missiles, tanks and ranks and ranks of fully armed troops, or not?
Do the victims get a right to a life lived on the lands of their ancestors, going back 10's and 100's of generations, or not? Do the victims get a right to ... oh shit, why do I continue this charade of a "conversation" when we all know that the victims have *no* rights to anything, not even to harvest and sell olives from their trees.

Even thinking of those awkward points of view means that the victim isn't complying with your "The "victim" has to get its mind right". Isn't in tune with your total blame the victim meme.

[King_David]

9. Ah another great white leader of the Palestinians emerges,

In the same fashion as the ISM.

So help us out now, what exactly does Hamas want?

What is their aim with rockets and terrorism against the Jewish State?

They want to get the Jews out of Gaza? Done

They want to end the siege? How does that help to end the siege?

So Mr great white leader from Canada....what do your people in Gaza want?

[shira]

15. These pro-Palestinian human rights advocates say they don't support Hamas....

But it's difficult believing that when they make Hamas out to be victims & never condemn what they do to their own people or Israelis across the border.

[azurnoir]

26. why are you concerned about the race of a ProPalestinian advocate? n/t

[King_David]

28. I'm not concerned at all nt

[azurnoir]

32. okay just wondering why you commented that he is White?

[azurnoir]

33. the victims recognized Israel "Right to exist" 20 years ago

and what did it get them? There are 5 times as many settlers living on land the UNGA recognized as Palestine on 11/29/2012, detentions, raids, evictions go on unchecked, even EU diplomats can not deliver so much as a tent without getting roughed up

[King_David]

38. In Gaza ? ( this threads about Gaza)

[azurnoir]

39. at the time in 1993 Gaza and the West Bank were ruled by the same party

[King_David]

40. Now we talk of a 3 state solution ..

[azurnoir]

41. who's "we" lol n/t

[King_David]

42. Those of us involved in IP. nt

[azurnoir]

43. lol you mean those actually doing the negotiating like John Kerry?

thanks though can you give us a link to where he states that?

[King_David]

44. I never said a word about Kerry nt

[azurnoir]

45. you said those involved in I/P

meaning what or did you mean a segment of those involved in I/P, many of us are but only a few dream of dividing the Palestinians on a permanent basis such as you describe

[oberliner]

47. EU diplomats can not deliver so much as a tent without getting roughed up

Mission accomplished, right?

[shira]

11. These Islamist "victims" going back to Hitler's Mufti al-Husseyni....

...had a problem with the Jews decades prior to 1948. Back when they weren't on Hitler's side, they were carrying out their own pogroms similar to the way the Europeans and Russians did over 100 years ago. The victims then were the Jews. Today's victims, as they were over 100 years ago....are Christian Copts, women, gays, atheists, seculars, etc. They have always been the victims of Islamist thugs. There are Jews who still live in Islamist nations as well and just like others, they are oppressed there too.

I know you probably see these Islamist "victims" like Hamas as you do Canada's First Nations.....Israelis are like the white people in Canada....but this is a different conflict altogether and not at all alike. It's a complete insult to Canada's First Nations and to Mandela and his people in SA to compare them to Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood, Iran, and the PLO. It's little wonder you know next to nothing about this conflict - but then again I don't think you're very interested in knowing or acknowledging what you don't wish to see.

[Loudly]

46. If we can contain the present to 1948, I think that might be progress of a sort.

It represents the greatest influx of European jewry, and the establishment of the State thereof.

The concept of a Jewish Homeland was brought to fruition during this recent post-war period.

[Scootaloo]

30. Well, there's a creepy statement if I ever saw one n/t

[polly7]

10. I can't imagine what it must feel like to be completely trapped that way. Horrible. nt.

[shira]

12. You feel sorry for Hamas? Sympathetic, empathic? n/t

[polly7]

13. I feel sorry for imprisoned Palestinians. You make shit up much? nt.

[shira]

14. So you don't feel sorry for Hamas? How about Hamas' victims? n/t

[Scootaloo]

27. Funny that you ask...

Yes, Shira makes shit up constantly. She also claims Arabs are child-sacrificing death cultists. Here, you see that she clearly can't tell the difference between Palestinians and Hamas.

This is what passes for "liberal" among Israel's supporters on DU. Also serves as a nice reminder of how much the TOS actually matters. I've only been able to come to the conclusion that this bullshit is exactly what Skinner, Elad, and EarlG want their site to represent, so... what the fuck, right?

[King_David]

29. Well after 5 hidden posts a person may not post anymore until it becomes 4 hidden posts

And that could take 90 days.

[Scootaloo]

31. David, quick question.

Can you or can you not tell the difference between the people of Gaza as a whole, and Hamas?

[King_David]

34. Of course I can

Hamas is a nasty terrorist organization ruling over and in my opinion terrorizing the people of Gaza and prolonging their misery.

The people of Gaza live in the territory of Gaza and deserve better.

[Scootaloo]

35. Excellent.

Maybe you could explain the differences to Shira.

[King_David]

36. I think she knows

Not sure how u come to your conclusions sometimes your way off base.

[Scootaloo]

37. This is why.

Title of the OP: Gazans say Egypt is now turning the screw

Response by Polly7: I can't imagine what it must feel like to be completely trapped that way. Horrible. nt.

Shira's response to Polly7: You feel sorry for Hamas? Sympathetic, empathic? n/t

Just for a recent example, anyway.

[Jefferson23]

16. The outcome is not promising to be positive for the Palestinians..not at all.

Good to see you, polly7.

[pelsar]

17. the Palestinians are screwed again....

the egyptian military does not take kindly to having its members killed by hamas and its affiliates in gaza, nor does it like the smuggling going on in the sinai....

when hamas learns to play nice with it neighbors, they'll have a chance at improving their own conditions, but until that happens, and given their ideology i dont give them much hope....

nor do i give much hope for some kind of "coup" in gaza (i.e. arab spring). Hamas has a tight reign on things in the small enclave.

[Jefferson23]

18. Primarily drivel is what you've posted here and in the form of subjugation.

I will respond to your last comment; you and your government had better hope there is no Arab Spring
in Gaza and throughout Palestine.

[King_David]

19. Is "drivel"anything you read that you don't like? nt

[Jefferson23]

20. I qualified my opinion for him, you could look up the words in the dictionary, if you like. n/t

[King_David]

21. OK thanks

You think your smarter than me and I need go look up stuff that you don't have time to explain to someone not as smart as you.

That's cool , I'll look it up in my dictionary after school today.

[pelsar]

22. so you disagree with the egyptian army?

why do you think "all of a sudden" they've decided to start closing tunnels? Its hardly a difficult thing to do..(hint, the trucks deliver the goods to the tunnel entrances).

and it only started after members of the egyptian army were ambushed and killed by hamas and friends....or didnt you know this?
_______

and the arab spring ?...given the results to so far, i do believe the Palestinians are a bit more cautious as to their version of the "arab spring"

as i understand you view...you bascially look down upon the Palestinians as if they have no ability to shape events, history has shown otherwise.

[Jefferson23]

23. The MB is gone. You hold onto your hints for yourself, pelsar...for what you believe they're worth.

I already expressed what they're worth to me.

[pelsar]

24. the egyptian army is not the MB...

did you miss the coup? (or the "non coup&quot that brought the egyptian army to full control? Well actually it just made it clear who actually controls egypt without the "cover"

[azurnoir]

25. like the song says

meet the new boss, same as the old boss