By Avner Gidron, Senior Policy Adviser at Amnesty International
Israel's rejection of an international inquiry into its deadly raid on the Gaza-bound ship is deeply disappointing, if not surprising. Judging by precedent, Israel is unlikely to provide the effective, independent and impartial investigation required to ensure truth, justice and reparations for victims and their families. But the truth is the outcome of an inquiry is unnecessary to reach the conclusion that Israel must end its siege of Gaza now.
The blockade violates human rights and humanitarian law, and it is politically senseless. It is past time that the United States and Israel's other allies press for its immediate end.
For three years, the population of the Gaza Strip has been suffering the debilitating effects of Israel's blockade imposed when Israel decided to treat the area as a "hostile entity" after Hamas ousted Fatah from Gaza. With the stated aim of preventing rocket fire by militants and pressuring Hamas, the blockade instead punishes the civilians in the Gaza Strip by restricting a vast range of goods and products that have no possible military use.
The firing of indiscriminate rockets into Israeli towns by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups (which, since 2001, has killed some 16 civilians in Israel) deserves unequivocal condemnation. But Israel's closure of Gaza goes well beyond its security needs, penning one and a half million Palestinians into a tiny strip of land and condemning hundreds of thousands to poverty and dependence. The sweeping scope of the blockade and statements by Israeli officials about its purpose make clear that this siege is being imposed as a form of collective punishment of the entire population of Gaza, a flagrant violation of Israel's obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Gazans are trapped. Hundreds have been unable to attend university or take up jobs abroad, let alone in other parts of the occupied Palestinian Territories. For the population of Gaza, nearby East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank may as well be on the other side of the world. Critically ill patients in need of medical care that is unavailable in local hospitals are frequently prevented from leaving Gaza or delayed until it is too late. Since 2007 almost all exports have been barred, with the derisory exception of a few truckloads of strawberries and cut flowers. What security concerns can explain the general prohibition on exporting flowers?
Israel regularly continues to bar entry of materials for the reconstruction of Gaza after Operation "Cast Lead," including spare parts for water works and other essential infrastructure. Delivery of food, fuel and other humanitarian goods remains subject to arbitrary restrictions - at various times food items such as pasta, biscuits and tomato paste have all been banned. The Kafkaesque absurdity of some decisions would be humorous if the consequences were not so serious.
In Washington, there appears to be a tentative acceptance of the need to put small amounts of pressure on Israel at last. The United States assented to a Security Council call for a "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent" investigation into the deaths. Secretary of State Clinton has spoken of the need for international participation in an inquiry.
Past experience suggests that the U.S. administration, faced with overwhelming Congressional opposition to any hint of criticism of the Netanyahu government's actions, may relapse back into automatic support mode.
U.S. policy has been myopic, in this regard. To take just one example: Richard Goldstone, one of the world's leading jurists, led a fact-finding mission on the "Cast Lead" offensive in Gaza that last year documented war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed by Israel and Hamas. The United States was one of just seven governments that voted against a U.N. General Assembly resolution calling for credible domestic investigations into abuses committed by both sides, taking Goldstone's findings as a starting point.
Israel's allies have let this siege go on for far too long. Some states have colluded in the blockade, hoping that Israel would succeed in turning Gazans against Hamas. But if that is its purpose, the siege has been an abject failure. Hamas has consolidated power. Weapons as well as matches and coffee can enter through the tunnels.
The Israeli government either does not yet recognize the failure of this cruel policy or is unwilling to admit it. Secretary Clinton, meanwhile, has described the situation in Gaza as "unacceptable and unsustainable." True enough. But will the U.S. government follow through? The idea that putting pressure on Israel to respect international law is somehow "soft" on abuses and crimes committed by the Palestinian side is a dangerous canard. This fallacy must be confronted more robustly.
The United States has more leverage on Israel than the rest of the world put together. Now is the time to use it.
Suffocating: The Gaza Strip under Israeli Blockade is at www.amnesty.org
Follow Amnesty International on Twitter: www.twitter.com/amnesty
Attack on Gaza: Not a crime.
Collective punishment: A crime.
Collective punishment of Gaza: Not a crime.
Public officials acting on behalf of another country: High Treason.
Senator Shumer: (From another thread) An 'American' patriot of the highest caliber.
Amnesty International plays right into the hands of those who perpetrate the crimes. Where was AI., when the gazians were lobbing thousands of rockets at Israel? The noise they made was deafening!
Avner Gidron calls for unequivocal condemnation of the indiscrimnate use of rockets fired.
If you had read the article you'd know his viewpoint.
Really - these new recruits.
"Israel's willingness to act with violence against civilians." I think you mean the terrorist group Hamas. The flotilla was encroaching on an international blockade created by a country that feels its security is threatened. Whether you think Israel's fear is justified or not, you can't say Israel was attacking civilians.
Buycott Gaza could sell well throughout the Med, Turkey, Italy, France, etc
It's time the illegal Israeli blockade is utterly smashed
How can you justify banning exports if arms and national security are the issue.
It is an act of a bully on a defenceless poverty ridden suffering population.
I want Israel to get a clear message that I am concerened that my tax dollars are, in part, enabling this behaviour and it has to stop.
You might be correct to an extent with Israel. But the Hamas treats it's own people far worse.
Israel might be banning some exports, but what about the imports from the West that Hamas refuses to accept. Or how Hamas teaches its children hate towards other people through cartoons.
This story that just appeared in JTA about an Israeli terror victim who met with the family of the Hamas terrorist who tried to kill his wife is just one example: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/06/09/2739538/visiting-the-family-of-the-hamas-terrorist-who-tried-to-kill-my-wife
There are so many others.
You have done a great job investigating how Israel's policy towards Gaza is hurting the Gaza population. However, why do you mention nothing about how Hamas is treating their people and how they are adding to the suffering of the Palestinian people?
Don't you think Hamas has a hand in this as well?
Why does Hamas reject aid from westerns? This can't be helping their people. Why does Hamas teach their growing population of children hate and death towards Israeli's and westerns alike. This can't be helping their people.
I agree, Israel needs to make some policy changes with regard to Gaza, but I believe much more action needs to be taken by the leaders of the people that are supposedly "under siege".
Many terrorist organizations, including those that helped establish the state of Israel, eventually become political organizations. Hamas had changed its tune regarding coexistence with Israel and no one in the US is listening -- except maybe Charlie Rose.
http://www.charlierose.com/guest/view/6912