On November 15, the London Independent headlined an article titled; "Chronic malnutrition in Gaza blamed on Israel." Writer Donald Macintyre referred to a leaked Red Cross report he called "explosive."

It chronicled "the devastating effect of the siege that Israel imposed after Hamas (took control of Gaza) in June 2007 and notes that the dramatic fall in living standards triggered a shift in diet that will damage the long-term health of (Gaza's population). Alarming deficiencies (showed up) in iron, vitamin A and vitamin D."

The report goes on to say that "heavy restrictions on all major sectors of Gaza's economy, compounded by a cost of living increase of at least 40%, is causing progressive deterioration in food security for up to 70 per cent of (the) population. That in turn is forcing people to cut household expenditures down to survival levels."

Chronic malnutrition is rising steadily, and "micronutrient deficiencies are of great concern." Since 2007, the reported cited a switch to "low cost/high energy" cereals, sugar and oil and away from higher-cost animal products, fresh fruits and vegetables. This type diet assures long-term harmful consequences for people on it.

The Red Cross said that "the (18 month) embargo has had a devastating effect for a large proportion of households who have had to make major changes on the composition of their food basket." They now rely 80% on cereals, sugar and oil. In addition, people are selling assets, cutting back on clothing and children's education, scavenging for discarded items, and doing virtually anything to survive.

The report refers to economic disintegration and that prolonging the current situation risks permanently damaging households and their capacity to recover. The study was conducted from May to July 2008.

Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, had little response except to say that the people of Gaza were being "held hostage" to Hamas' "extremist and nihilist" ideology. In fact, Hamas wants peace, has repeatedly been conciliatory, and its founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, said earlier that armed struggle would cease "if the Zionists ended (their) occupation of Palestinian territories and stopped killing Palestinian women, children and innocent civilians."

That offer is repeatedly rejected. More recently, Hamas offered to maintain peace and recognize Israel in return for a Palestinian state inside pre-1967 borders, its Occupied Territories. That, as well, is a non-starter for Israel. It conflicts with its West Bank plan to colonize the Territory and ethnically cleanse its rightful inhabitants in violation of international law.

It's called war.

Palestine has been fighting Israel it seems like forever now.

Are you suggesting that Israel should aid and support those who refuse to acknowledge their right to exist? That is they should aide and support their enemy?

That is ludicrous!!

Why not blame other neighboring nations for not supplying them?

If Palestine left Israel alone they wouldn't find themselves in the pickle they've prepared for themselves.

Israel should let the Palestinians eat,not starve their children......that is what I am saying.

Maybe Israel should not build settlements on Palestinian lands. Then they would not be in danger of attack......

this is too funny... even the governments there accept Israels rights to the land, but you and the terrorists groups don't... why is that?

Good for them, they should keep it up.

The same case could be made for the malnutriton of the jews in nazi camps. Ya know all the bridges blown no trains moveing, couldnt get food to them even if they wanted too.

to me it seems as if its bizzaro world with Israel wearing the jackboot this time around.

"In fact, Hamas wants peace, has repeatedly been conciliatory, and its founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, said earlier that armed struggle would cease "if the Zionists ended (their) occupation of Palestinian territories and stopped killing Palestinian women, children and innocent civilians."


This post is so far into fantasy ... it appears to be a standard middle eastern propaganda piece. Hamas is a terrorist organization.

So the Palistinians are locked away in concentration camps and being systematically execute with no means to fight back? The Jews had armed resistance that was effectively fighting back and the world was yelling at Germany to allow them to keep the land they claimed to be theirs?

Give me a break. Systematically killing all men women and children is much different than not providing food to people that want your entire country wiped off the face of the Earth.

I can't believe you are calling the same people that was targeted for genocide the same as the people that did it.

Do you think the Israelis should all be killed off?

Of course not. If kiling is done systematicly or by starvation the results are the same.

At least the nazis didnt pretend to be humanitarians while killing.

No hypocracy in their methods but the same results.

I am certain if Israel thought the world would stand for it their methods would be a little more efficiant and straight forward.