User:Okashu/Temp

Humanitarian aid

 * Further information: Humanitarian aid during the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict

On 7 January, Israel agreed to a three-hour humanitarian truce, allowing supplies and fuel into Gaza. The UN replied that "any mechanism that facilitates the distribution of assistance is welcomed", but stated that the needs of the Gaza population are so great, that humanitarian assistance need to operate around the clock providing constant supply lines to meet the population humanitarian needs. The International Red Cross, United Nations and aid workers have reported intolerable conditions and a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Human Rights Council added that "clearly, a three-hour suspension of hostilities allowed by Israel does not allow humanitarian deliveries and services to reach all those who desperately need them". The Red Cross has accused the Israeli military of failing "to meet its obligation under international humanitarian law." U.N. spokesman Chris Gunness said, "We've been coordinating with them (Israeli forces) and yet our staff continue to be hit and killed." He also said that "our personnel is coming under deliberate attack by the Israeli army and our installations have been directly hit."

Hamas was able to decrease the volume of rocket attacks for several months and pressured Islamic Jihad into abiding by the ceasefire,, and undertook to imprison anyone, from its own ranks or other groups, caught firing them. While over 1,894 rockets were fired into Israel in the four months and a half months preceding the ceasefire (Feb - Jun 18, 2008), only 37 were fired in the first four months of the ceasefire, prior to the Nov 5 Israeli attack on Hamas gunmen in a Gaza tunnel which Israeli officials alleged was being built to abduct soliders. This represents a 98% decrease in rocket fire as a result of the ceasefire, with none of the remaining attacks being claimed by Hamas.

[http://www.intelligence.org.il Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center]

http://www.terrorism-info.org.il/malam_multimedia/English/eng_n/pdf/ipc_e007.pdf