Humanitarian Aid Shipments to Gaza

The stage is set for yet another assault on Israel’s blockade of Gaza. This time it’s a Libyan “charity” shipment of food and medical supplies which will challenge the embargo intended to keep militants from resupplying Hamas with rockets and mortar rounds under the guise of humanitarian aid.


“Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak has called the ship an “unnecessary provocation,” saying goods for Gaza that don’t have military uses can be delivered through the Israeli port of Ashdod, following a security check.”


It would appear reasonable and prudent for Israel to protect it self from its enemies by keeping Hamas from importing military goods through its many supporters via the open sea. Israel isn’t trying to starve those living in Gaza by cutting off food and medical supplies; they are taking a measured approach to security, protecting its citizens from attack. A safe harbor has been established where legitimate charity shipments may dock, offload and be properly checked; why then would the Libyan ship want to create an international incident?


Maybe it has to do with that last shipment, the ‘peaceful’ flotilla from Turkey that tried to run the blockade. The news media had a field day portraying Israeli commandos as murdering thugs, taking out defenseless aid workers.


What the news media didn't report might be of interest; but who cares about facts when you can sway public opinion with half truths? According to an article by Burt Prelutsky some minor details regarding the content of that humanitarian aid shipment were not reported by any of the major media outlets.


“Well, for openers, the “humanitarians” were affiliated with Hamas, and they were armed with knives, chains and iron pipes. But in addition, what the Israelis discovered when they unloaded the cargo of the Mavi Marmara in the port of Ashdod, was that tucked away behind the sacks of flour were crates filled with bazookas, mortar shells and missiles, along with a million euros to be used for financing terrorist activities.”


I went by Wal-Mart this past week for the large economy size bag of Purina Cat Food to feed our Hobo Kitties . Never once did I consider waltzing on over to the sporting goods area of the store where I could hide an assault rifle along with several boxes of ammunition under the huge sack of cat food and smuggle them out of the store; but I’m not a member of Hamas either. Come to think of it, I don’t think Wal-Mart sells ‘assault rifles’, maybe shotguns and hunting rifles; my apologies if it offended anyone.


I’ve heard a rumor there might be as many as 6 or 7 dishonest people in the Houston area so it wouldn’t be unreasonable for Wal-Mart to employ minimal security measures like having customers go through check out counters to have items rung up by a cashier or have security officers at the exit doors to verify sales receipts. Most folks shopping at Wal-Mart wouldn’t take something without paying; however, those who try to avoid security check points as they flee into the parking lot and dodge security officers, they might be hiding something.


Getting back to Libyan humanitarian efforts to run Israel’s blockade, what purpose is served? Well, if you just fell off the turnip truck then maybe you’ll believe what Youssef Sawani, executive director of Qaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation claims.


“Sawani said Amalthea’s volunteers and crew do not “want to cause any provocation” with Israel and only want to reach Gaza to deliver the aid, most of which was donated by Greek companies and charities. He declined to say how those on aboard would react if Israel does not allow the ship into Gaza, saying only “let’s be optimistic and have positive expectations.”’


You want that translated, “We hope to have lots of news media present to show Israeli commandos doing what they do best, lots of screaming and blood. When that’s over, with any luck, nobody will notice fifteen boxes of long range missiles hidden under the tarp marked ‘hospital supplies’ or the others filled with RPG’s”. Humanitarian aid, yea; I believe that, and the check’s in the mail.


This article has been cross posted to The Moral Liberal , a publication whose banner reads, “Defending The Judeo-Christian Ethic, Limited Government, & The American Constitution”.