Aid groups from around the world have been struggling for days to get supplies in to help Gaza residents trapped by Israel's ongoing ground offensive.
One of the groups, Mercy Corps, has been trying to get one truckload of aid into Gaza since the start of the 13-day-old military campaign.
But Israel refused to let the aid into Gaza. The reason? Dates.
As Charles Levinson of The Wall Street Journal reports today, Israel declared the dates a luxury item and told Mercy Corps that they wouldn't let the aid into Gaza until the group removed the pallet of dates.
"We give priorities to needs like rice, sugar and flour," Israeli Defense Ministry spokesman Shlomo Dror told The WSJ. "If you are going to bring in supplies other than the basics, then that means some basic supplies will not get through."
Of course, Israel has allowed only a trickle of aid into Gaza since launching the air strikes on Dec. 27th.
Since then, Israel has allowed in about 500 truckloads of aid. By comparison, before Hamas seized military control of Gaza in June, 2007, Israel was allowing 500 truckloads of goods into Gaza each day.
Israel estimates that Gaza needs 60 to 80 truckloads of aid a day to get by.
So far, Israel has allowed an average of 40 trucks to get in each day.
Dates are a common food staple in the entire M.E. region! Dates provide more nutrition than rice or flour, so why deny a STARVED people extra nutrition? How cruel and inhumane the Jews treat others while spending billions to make repeated movies to remind the world to keep sending us your money... you abandoned us. Sorry, no more 'guilt trips' for you!!
Posted by: Morgan | January 08, 2009 at 10:16 AM
The same WSJ article states: "The U.N. says about 40 truckloads daily are needed to meet Gazans' minimal requirements." Israel allows into Gaza this number of trucks. It's admirable Israel actually has a higher estimate, but legit to only meet the UN minimal requirements, under the wartime circumstances. Interesting Dion cherry picks his sources to place Israel in the worst possible light.
Posted by: Dave J | January 08, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Spoken like a classic narcissist, Dave. Israel will forever portray itself as the "poor victims", and will forever place the blame for its woes upon everyone else. It is never Israel's fault, is it? How dare anyone not fear God and kiss your azz! We all know you guys are exempt from Hell and the world was made just for you! The rest of mankind are only here to serve you and pimp ourselves to make you money. Yeah, sure!
Posted by: Morgan | January 08, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Why else do you think the Germans gassed them? There is always a reason and you can now see!!
Posted by: adnedt | January 09, 2009 at 09:43 PM
He didn't place Israel in the worst possible light, Israel did.
Believe me.
Israel is a sick, twisted country run by sick, twisted people.
Posted by: K Ackermann | January 10, 2009 at 05:40 AM
its a shame people in this country still have no clue how to fight the war on terrorism, hamas being one of these groups. If we had al Qaida firing rockets we wouldn't fire back. There is no negotiating with terrorist, they see it as a sign of weakness. The whole world critise Israel for fighting back, and the muslim world again is the victim according to media and the U.N. who are also bad at judgement on America's actions actions against terroism. If it wasn't for Israel and the Jews, America would be blown to bits.
Posted by: david | January 14, 2009 at 07:15 PM
david .. you are truly clueless ... you should have said if it werent for the americans Israel would be blown to bits, I cant believe how Israeli are so self rituous!!
Posted by: patriot | January 15, 2009 at 03:30 AM
Yes, Dates should be allowed.
...and some comments here should be erased.
Posted by: Rogerhq | January 28, 2009 at 10:24 AM