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Document sets out the minimum calorie intake required by Gaza’s 1.5m population, according to their age and sex*

gaza
On Monday, the BBC published a full list of goods permitted into Gaza, under the Kafkaesque terms of the Israeli blockade. The contents of that list had long been the subject of exasperated conjecture for both humanitarian organisations and commercial importers. (Some of the proscribed items include jam, chocolate, wood, fruit juice, textiles, and plastic toys.)

Yesterday, I received this email from Eoin Murray of Trócaire (who kindly helped arrange my visit to the besieged city in the summer of 2008.) He wrote:

Hi Eoin,

This might be of interest to you.

Trócaire is calling on the Irish and UK governments to stop Israel from entering the OECD until such time as Israel respects international law. The crucial votes take place in the next week so putting pressure on now is vital.

In the email below you can find out why this matters and sign up. Of course if you can please forward it on to friends or conatct lists etc.

Thanks,

E.

http://www.trocaire.org/takeaction/israel

I don’t often sign petitions or champion political causes. But having been to Gaza, and having witnessed at the first hand the horrendous suffering of the civilian population, I would implore you to read up on what’s happening there and to consider signing this petition.

The Israelis are a cultured and civilised people. But that’s all the more reason why they should demand that their government (the only democratically elected one in the region, as they’re fond of reminding us) should show some basic level of respect for human rights and the rule of law.

* This would appear to corroborate what Said al Madhoun told me in 2008. “The Israelis are keeping us isolated and humiliated, but keeping us alive. When people are treated in this manner, you should only expect the worst from them. If live ceases to have any meaning, I guarantee you will only find more suicide bombers.”

May 5th, 2010.

4 Responses to “Document sets out the minimum calorie intake required by Gaza’s 1.5m population, according to their age and sex*”

  1. Eoin B Says:

    Where was the above photo first published, or who took it? It’s very striking.

  2. Admit nothing. Deny everything. Make counter-accusations. | Tripping Along The Ledge Says:

    […] posts: Document Sets Out Minimum Calorie Intake Required by Gaza’s 1.5m Pop. (05/05/2010) 24 Hours in Gaza (24/10/2008) June 1st, […]

  3. Eoin Says:

    @ Eoin B – sorry I only noticed this comment now. Can’t remember where I got it now, but a TinEye search turns up…

    http://www.tineye.com/search/dad773c20453c2fe1f51aed1fb6047bb2489bf21

  4. Deirdre Says:

    Jam, chocolate, fruit juice, plastic toys. One image instantly comes to mind…Children. Proscribed…Why?.
    Sorry, but I was not aware of this. Unless there are reasons for which I am presently unaware off, then it does appear incredibly mean-spirited on behalf of Israel to ban such items . And if this is the case, then it does not speak very well of Israel. Granted, it is not exactly life threatening, but still, it just feels so wrong.

    Granted, the Middle East situation is very complex and may very well be intractable. But how can there ever be hope for future understanding and co-operation, if in the meantime one group of children go without the most basic of childhood pleasures?. I can only hope that the majority of Israel’s people think the same way.
    I’m sure they do.

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