Hamas Steals Aid Intended for Gaza Civilians

donsutherland1 · Jan 12, 2009

Today, The Jerusalem Post reported:

Hamas on Monday raided some 100 aid trucks that Israel had allowed into Gaza, stole their contents and sold them to the highest bidders.

The IDF said that since terminal activity is coordinated with UNRWA and the Red Cross, Israel could do nothing to prevent such raids, Israel Radio reported.

Hamas has stolen humanitarian assistance in the past. For example, on February 8, 2008, Haaretz revealed, "At least 10 trucks with humanitarian aid sent to the Gaza Strip by the Jordanian Red Crescent Society were confiscated by Hamas police shortly after the trucks entered the territory on Thursday evening, according to aid officials in Jerusalem." On April 10, 2008, The Washington Post reported, "Khuzundar [Mahmoud al-Khuzundar, head of the Gaza Strip's Fuel Suppliers' Association] said the Hamas-controlled government in Gaza has been siphoning off nearly 30 percent of all incoming fuel before its distribution to petrol stations."

Hamas' theft of humanitarian assistance in pursuit of profits is prohibited under international law. Under Article 54 of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, "It is prohibited to ...remove...objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs...for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse Party, whatever the motive, whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motive. In the incident reported by The Jerusalem Post, Hamas used the stolen assistance to generate income.

Degreez · Jan 12, 2009

donsutherland1 said:
Today, The Jerusalem Post reported:

Hamas on Monday raided some 100 aid trucks that Israel had allowed into Gaza, stole their contents and sold them to the highest bidders.

The IDF said that since terminal activity is coordinated with UNRWA and the Red Cross, Israel could do nothing to prevent such raids, Israel Radio reported.

Hamas has stolen humanitarian assistance in the past. For example, on February 8, 2008, Haaretz revealed, "At least 10 trucks with humanitarian aid sent to the Gaza Strip by the Jordanian Red Crescent Society were confiscated by Hamas police shortly after the trucks entered the territory on Thursday evening, according to aid officials in Jerusalem." On April 10, 2008, The Washington Post reported, "Khuzundar [Mahmoud al-Khuzundar, head of the Gaza Strip's Fuel Suppliers' Association] said the Hamas-controlled government in Gaza has been siphoning off nearly 30 percent of all incoming fuel before its distribution to petrol stations."

Hamas' theft of humanitarian assistance in pursuit of profits is prohibited under international law. Under Article 54 of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, "It is prohibited to ...remove...objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs...for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse Party, whatever the motive, whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motive. In the incident reported by The Jerusalem Post, Hamas used the stolen assistance to generate income.

Hamas/Palestine is not a UN Member state and is not bound by the Geneva Conventions like Israel is.

What they are doing is wrong, and I acknowledge that.

From Article 54 aswell:

In recognition of the vital requirements of any Party to the conflict in the defense of its national territory against invasion, derogation from the prohibitions contained in paragraph 2 may be made by a Party to the conflict within such territory under its own control where required by imperative military necessity.

Or I can use justone's tact:

no one can independently verify these claims by JPost so the article holds no substance in being factual or not.

Billo_Really · Jan 12, 2009

donsutherland1 said:
Today, The Jerusalem Post reported:

Hamas on Monday raided some 100 aid trucks that Israel had allowed into Gaza, stole their contents and sold them to the highest bidders.

The IDF said that since terminal activity is coordinated with UNRWA and the Red Cross, Israel could do nothing to prevent such raids, Israel Radio reported.

Hamas has stolen humanitarian assistance in the past. For example, on February 8, 2008, Haaretz revealed, "At least 10 trucks with humanitarian aid sent to the Gaza Strip by the Jordanian Red Crescent Society were confiscated by Hamas police shortly after the trucks entered the territory on Thursday evening, according to aid officials in Jerusalem." On April 10, 2008, The Washington Post reported, "Khuzundar [Mahmoud al-Khuzundar, head of the Gaza Strip's Fuel Suppliers' Association] said the Hamas-controlled government in Gaza has been siphoning off nearly 30 percent of all incoming fuel before its distribution to petrol stations."

Hamas' theft of humanitarian assistance in pursuit of profits is prohibited under international law. Under Article 54 of Protocol I of the Geneva Conventions, "It is prohibited to ...remove...objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs...for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse Party, whatever the motive, whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motive. In the incident reported by The Jerusalem Post, Hamas used the stolen assistance to generate income.

Don't quote international law to me if you have no intention to respect it when it comes to Israel. Ya let 100 trucks in, BFD. That's 500 short of what they need.

They are starving in Gaza because of the god-damn 18 month long blockade, which is a war crime too. It's also an act of war.

justone · Jan 12, 2009

Degreez said:
Or I can use justone's tact:

no one can independently verify these claims by JPost so the article holds no substance in being factual or not.

Either use my tact or cease immediately claiming that the tact you are using is mine.

Degreez · Jan 12, 2009

justone said:
Either use my tact or cease immediately claiming that the tact you are using is mine.

It is your tact.

Arguing that the legitimacy of an article holds more sway than the actual details of it.

800 deaths, half are civilians. You have no argument for the innocent who are dying, you never have.

Either address that, or cease immediately with your baseless tact.

Billo_Really · Jan 12, 2009

Degreez said:
Hamas/Palestine is not a UN Member state and is not bound by the Geneva Conventions like Israel is.

What they are doing is wrong, and I acknowledge that.

From Article 54 aswell:

Or I can use justone's tact:

no one can independently verify these claims by JPost so the article holds no substance in being factual or not.

Everyone should respect the Geneva Conventions.

Hamas does not get a free pass in this.

As critical as I've been of Israel recently, it is nice to see some signs of humanity from that country. Granted, we have far to go on the humanitarian issue, but it's only fair to give them credit when they do do good things.

It's strange though, I haven't found this reported in the ICRC website. But that's not to say it isn't true.

justone · Jan 12, 2009

Billo_Really said:
Don't quote international law to me if you have no intention to respect it when it comes to Israel. Ya let 100 trucks in, BFD. That's 500 short of what they need.

They are starving in Gaza because of the god-damn 18 month long blockade, which is a war crime too. It's also an act of war.

This is another proof that Israel undertakes Unreasonable steps. Billo will not be satisfied unless all Israeli line up, march to the sea and drown themselves.

Billo, they should be grateful for the blockade, as the only other choice Israel had was to start doing what it is doing now.

Billo, why you don't blame Egypt which blockaded them too?

They are not starving because of the blockade nor this particular blockade can be a war crime, everything you say is a lie.

justone · Jan 12, 2009

Degreez said:
It is your tact.

Arguing that the legitimacy of an article holds more sway than the actual details of it.

800 deaths, half are civilians. You have no argument for the innocent who are dying, you never have.

Either address that, or cease immediately with your baseless tact.

You are a lier.

Primitive disgusting lier, - from the first word to the last one - this is your tact.

cheat3 · Jan 12, 2009

donsutherland1 said:
Today, The Jerusalem Post reported:

lol at quoting the Jerusalem post.

Degreez · Jan 12, 2009

justone said:
This is another proof that Israel undertakes Unreasonable steps. Billo will not be satisfied unless all Israeli line up, march to the sea and drown themselves.

Billo, they should be grateful for the blockade, as the only choice Israel had was to start doing what is doing now.

Bill, why you don't blame Egypt which blockaded them too?

They are not starving because of the blockade nor this particular blockade can be a war crime, everything you say is a lie.

Take a look at Egypt's border with Gaza and compare it to Israel's:

Do Egyptians place a naval blockade on international waters as well? No.
All in all, the blockade by Egypt was part of the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.

Can you prove that no Palestinians are starving because of the blockade? If not, don't assert claims you cannot prove true.

Degreez · Jan 12, 2009

justone said:
You are a lier.

Primitive disgusting lier, - from the first word to the last one - this is your tact.

Still not going to address half the innocent civilian deaths are you?

justone · Jan 13, 2009

Degreez said:
Still not going to address half the innocent civilian deaths are you?