Norman Finkelstein on Gaza

02Jan09

Transcript. (via)

Here’s Jonathan Cook’s analysis of the attacks:

“Israel is now faced by two Palestinian national movements. The Fatah one, based in the West Bank and led by a weak president, Mahmoud Abbas, is largely discredited and compliant. The other, Hamas, based in Gaza, has grown in confidence as it claims to be the true guardian of resistance to the occupation.

Unable to destroy Hamas, Israel is now considering whether to live with the armed group next door.

Hamas has proved it can enforce its rule in Gaza much as Arafat once did in both occupied territories. The question being debated in Israel’s cabinet and war rooms is whether, like Arafat, Hamas can be made to collude with the occupation. It has proved it is strong, but can it be made useful to Israel, too?

In practice that would mean taming Hamas rather than crushing it. Whereas Israel is trying to build up Fatah in the West Bank with carrots, it is using the current slaughter in Gaza as a big stick with which to beat Hamas into compliance.

The ultimate objective is another truce stopping the rocket fire out of the Strip, like the six-month ceasefire that just ended, but on terms even more favorable to Israel.”

At least 425 people are now dead, with more than 2,000 wounded.  According to Ma’an News, 57% of those killed by Israel in the past two days have been children. At least 13,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the fighting, over half of them children. Due to Israel’s attacks on health facilities and the blockade Gazan hospitals are barely coping under “intense pressure”, with the Mental Health Progam having to completely suspended all activities.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society issued a situation update yesterday:

“Gaza Strip hospitals have suffered severe shortages of supplies over past 18 months’ blockade and are not equipped to receive mass casualties. Hospital Operating Rooms are overflowing, and are running out of essential medicines. They are also understaffed and not able to respond to the load of injuries as the official statement from staff at the main hospital in Gaza Strip says. Hospitals were being overwhelmed with patients and were running out of space and supplies.

Gaza Strip is densely populated. Its 1.5 million residents are already experiencing shortages in medicine, electrical power and basic supplies due to 18-month Israeli blockade. Current prognosis is for the crisis to continue with increased casualties…”

See also the ICRC’s statement, released yesterday.

Reuters reports:

“A Palestinian girl of about 14 died apparently of a heart attack, terrified by an explosion which rocked her house, said neighbours.”

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

Filed under: Israeli / Palestinian   |  1 Comment
Tags: air-strikes, Cast Lead, Gaza, Hamas, Jonathan Cook, Norman Finkelstein, war crimes