 The continued closure of Gaza's commercial lifeline is causing a humanitarian and economic crisis in the Gaza Strip, UN, Palestinian and Israeli human rights organisations say.
| My heart bleeds... No. Wait. Never mind. Just the chili again... |
The crossing, known as Karni or al-Muntar, is Gaza's only commercial outlet to the outside world. Israeli forces unilaterally shut down the crossing on 14 January based on "intelligence alerts of impending attacks", according to the Israeli Army. The closure comes despite an agreement brokered by Condoleeza Rice, the US Secretary of State, late last year that said the passage would operate continuously, especially during the harvest season.
| Wasn't there something in the agreement about the Paleos not attacking the crossing? |
According to the UN Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the closure is costing Palestinians up to $500,000 a day. Dairy products, baby formula, sugar, rice are amongst items dwindling on the supermarket shelves in Gaza. In addition, 90 containers of humanitarian supplies, including food and aid, belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), are stuck at Israeli ports, says the group. |