The report further stated that a senior official confirmed “All humanitarian aid sent into the Gaza Strip today needs to receive Hamas clearance,” and that “Hamas uses violence against international organizations, including UNRWA, if they do not cooperate.” As an example, an Israeli newspaper reported that UNRWA director John Ging had fled Gaza because he refused to hand over millions of dollars in aid funds to Hamas.
The Jerusalem Post’s account also noted that UNRWA and UNDP had "no choice" but to have some contact with Hamas officials in order for the assistance to be transferred but that Israel was willing to accept the conditions in favor of reconstruction as long as talks remained on the “technical level.”
Hamas leader Ismail Radwan told Ma’an News that the report consisted of “lies” put forward by Israel in order to continue its blockade of the Gaza Strip’s borders. Radwan said that the entry of foreign aid to Gaza is overseen by Israel, not the Hamas-affiliated government in Gaza.
The UNRWA also strongly denied claims on Friday that its employees receive threats from Hamas or that Hamas has been involved with aid distribution in any way. Chris Gunness, spokesman for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency UNRWA asserted that alleged reports claiming that John Ging fled were completely baseless and "entirely false". He was quoted as saying:
At no stage has Mr Ging ever fled Gaza and any suggestion that Hamas has any control or influence over UNRWA aid is as baseless… UNRWA distributes its aid directly to the refugees on the basis of need…The Hamas de facto government has no influence whatsoever on who receives assistance from UNRWA, nor have they made the demands alleged.Israel and United Nations aid agencies are deadlocked over international efforts to help the 1.5 million Palestinians of the Gaza Strip rebuild hundreds of homes and small businesses wrecked by Israel's military offensive last January. Israel insists that a mechanism must be developed through which reconstruction money does not pass through Hamas.
HEADLINES
Israeli Arabs struggle for land (BBC)
Settlers seize land near Nablus (Ma'an)
Lieberman: Iran nukes could spark world-threatening arms race (Ha'aretz)
Palestine and the Palestinians
Israel’s barrier no obstacle to Palestinians seeking work (Daily Star)
PA: Netanyahu peace rhetoric not enough (Ma'an)
Hamas Shifts From Rockets to Public Relations (New York Times)
Factions split over Dweik's return as PLC speaker (Ma'an)
Israel
IDF arrests wanted Al-Aqsa gunman in Nablus (Ha'aretz)
MKs try to get a handle on outposts (Jerusalem Post)
Israeli missile-defense test aborted due to malfunctions (Daily Star)
Israeli Report Stirs Settlement Worries (Wall Street Journal)
Poll: Israelis wary of PA leadership (Jerusalem Post)
The Neighbors
Hizbullah: No more border demos (Jerusalem Post)
Iraqis vote in key Kurdish elections(Gulf News)
Hizbullah, Amal, Future meet to boost reconciliation effort (Daily Star)
Al-Qaeda cells in region granted ‘full independence’ (Daily Star)
US Foreign Policy
U.S. warns Israel: Don't build up West Bank corridor (Ha'aretz)
U.S.: We won't exert economic pressure on Israel (Ha'aretz)
US dispels fears over Israel sanctions (Jerusalem Post)
Turmoil has put Iran 'on hold' (BBC)
US envoy to visit Syria (AFP)
International Relations/Law
UN warns over Lebanon arms cache (BBC)
Switzerland calls for end to Israeli settlements (Xinhau)
UNRWA denies chief fled Gaza after death threat (Ma'an)
Arts and Activism
International activists removed from hilltop claimed by settlers (Ma'an)
Activists say Israel gave key sites to settlers (Daily Star)
Leonard Cohen faces Palestinian picket at his Belfast show (Belfast Telegraph)
Gaza artist, survivor finds power in paint (Electronic Intifada)
Misc.
Stranded Palestinians to move to Slovakia (Gulf News)
Reform leader: Most U.S. Jews back settlement freeze (Ha'aretz)
Commentary
Avnery:The state of the most moral army in the world (Ma'an)
Sheffer: Nuclear Iran wouldn't pose existential threat to Israel (Ha'aretz)
Alpher: Sign of the times (Jerusalem Post)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277877017&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Mermelstein: "The war is with the Arabs" (Counterpunch)
Atzmon: Bruno: A glimpse into Zionism? (Counterpunch)
Isn't it time that Netanyahu was told no means 'no' on Jewish settlements? (Daily Star)
Views expressed on this post or on linked web pages do not represent the Palestine Center, the educational program of the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development. All content is for educational purposes only.
