2008 Woodie Awards
Israel eases blockade on Gaza Strip
Joanna Bernstein
Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: World
Sick patients who have been cooped up inside hospitals with no power and limited medical supplies on the Gaza Strip were relieved upon finding out that the week and a half long Israeli imposed blockade had been lifted.
After 12 days of being denied fuel and gas shipments from other countries in the Middle East and in Europe, the Israeli government has eased their blockade on the Gaza Strip and enabled these imports to reach businesses and residents.
Israel imposed the blockade in response to rockets fired by Hamas on Sderot, Israel, a town less than two miles from Gaza.
"Most Israelis view Hamas (one of Palestine's two main political groups and leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement) as a terrorist organization," said Ken Gilmore, associate professor of political science. "The people of Gaza elected Hamas, thus in the eyes of the Israelis, everyday citizens are just as guilty of these rocket attacks as Hamas."
While Israelis view Hamas as a terrorist organization, many Palestinians feel that the structural violence imposed on Gaza by the Israeli government is cruel and unwarranted.
"Sadly, unjustifiable sieges, bombings, and killings have become a common practice for the Israeli army," said senior Yacoub Saad, former resident of Ramallah, Palestine.
The actions of both countries are symptoms of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict over control of the Gaza Strip.
Rasha Ali, a junior from AbuQuash, Palestine, has done her best to remain objective about the blockade despite the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
"Separating my feelings from any political bias, (the blockade) was still a crime against humanity and violates human rights," Ali said.
The violence that has erupted between Israel and Gaza has affected Egyptian citizens as much as it has affected both Israeli and Palestinian citizens.
Since Gaza shares a border with Egypt, thousands of its residents fiercely trampled over to Cairo to buy food, batteries, and other goods after Islamic militants blew a hole in the border wall.
After 12 days of being denied fuel and gas shipments from other countries in the Middle East and in Europe, the Israeli government has eased their blockade on the Gaza Strip and enabled these imports to reach businesses and residents.
Israel imposed the blockade in response to rockets fired by Hamas on Sderot, Israel, a town less than two miles from Gaza.
"Most Israelis view Hamas (one of Palestine's two main political groups and leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement) as a terrorist organization," said Ken Gilmore, associate professor of political science. "The people of Gaza elected Hamas, thus in the eyes of the Israelis, everyday citizens are just as guilty of these rocket attacks as Hamas."
While Israelis view Hamas as a terrorist organization, many Palestinians feel that the structural violence imposed on Gaza by the Israeli government is cruel and unwarranted.
"Sadly, unjustifiable sieges, bombings, and killings have become a common practice for the Israeli army," said senior Yacoub Saad, former resident of Ramallah, Palestine.
The actions of both countries are symptoms of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict over control of the Gaza Strip.
Rasha Ali, a junior from AbuQuash, Palestine, has done her best to remain objective about the blockade despite the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
"Separating my feelings from any political bias, (the blockade) was still a crime against humanity and violates human rights," Ali said.
The violence that has erupted between Israel and Gaza has affected Egyptian citizens as much as it has affected both Israeli and Palestinian citizens.
Since Gaza shares a border with Egypt, thousands of its residents fiercely trampled over to Cairo to buy food, batteries, and other goods after Islamic militants blew a hole in the border wall.
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