Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Following the release of Israel’s updated policy on civilian goods entering Gaza,  “things that people are trying to bring in by flotilla you can bring in through the legitimate existing crossings, [so] do it that way” said Quartet Envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Israel is currently letting in all civilian goods enter Gaza, with the only outright banned items being weapons and explosive materials. The goal has always been to weaken Hamas but not to the detriment of the Palestinian people living in Gaza. The updated policy will come with a public, universal list of what is not allowed to fall into the hands of Hamas, which continues to mount rocket attacks at Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

The rationale behind these “flotillas” is all but erased as a result of the easing of restrictions. There has never been an outright shortage of goods and medicine for Gazans, but the perception was conveniently used as part of a wider narrative to demonize Israel.

With both Egypt and Israel easing the land blockade, the only party holding back the people of Gaza is Hamas.

In today’s editorial in the New York Times, the paper argues that this new policy “should also focus more international attention, criticism and pressure on Hamas, which continues to rocket Israeli cities and refuses to accept Israel’s right to exist…..Mr. Netanyahu has rightly refused to abandon the sea blockade of Gaza. He cannot do that until Hamas stops rocketing Israeli cities and towns.”

Said Tony Blair, “for me, the fact that Israel says, ‘Look, we’re not going to allow things into the [Gaza] seaport, but you can bring them to Ashdod, and we can check them, and then they can come on to Gaza,’ I think that is a reasonable position.”

To read more from Tony Blair’s interview with the Jerusalem Post, click here.

Related posts:

1. Israel’s Updated Gaza Strip Policy The policy of liberalizing the entry of civilian goods into...
2. Israel’s Maritime Blockade Explained There's been a lot of misinformation being reported about the...
3. No Aid Found on Turkish Vessel Mavi Marmara After contents of the ship were unloaded, it has been...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The goal of the closure has always been to eliminate the flow of combatants and deny Hamas weaponry which it has, and will continue to use against Israelis and Palestinians. However, the updated policy will make the distinction between what is and what is not allowed into Gaza clearer. All goods, food products, medicine etc. will continue to enter Gaza with no restrictions. But rather than publish a list of what is allowed, the Israeli government has decided it will be simpler to have only a list of what is not allowed. This way, there is no confusion and the world can see that Israel has no intentions to deny Gazans needed goods. Again, everything that is not on the published list of banned materials (grenades and rifles etc.) will pass through any and all Israeli-operated crossings.

The policy of liberalizing the entry of civilian goods into Gaza is meant to enable the civilian population to engage in routine economic and civilian activity, while simultaneously preventing the entry of weapons and materiel that could help the Hamas terror regime to strike at Israeli citizens. Any civilian product that is not on the list of prohibited items will be allowed in.

As for “dual use” items, or goods that can be used either for civilian projects or terrorism, Israel will allow them entry to Gaza. With the help of international bodies, Israel is creating a system in which “dual use” goods such as raw metals and chemicals will be delivered with assurances from third parties that its destination is not Hamas but the people of Gaza. To ensure the safety and prosperity of the Palestinian people living in Gaza, efforts must be made to ensure that Hamas does not hijack incoming aid, which has been happening on a daily basis.

Said Robert Serry, special envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, “This targeting [by Hamas] of NGOs, including UN partner organizations, is unacceptable, violating accepted norms of a free society and harming the Palestinian people. The de facto authorities must cease such repressive steps and allow the re-opening of these civil society institutions without delay.”

The policy of closure on the Gaza Strip is anchored in international rules of law and treaties (including the Geneva Convention and the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea). The policy was also authorized by the Israel Supreme Court, an independent body not tied to politics of the ruling government.

Restrictions on the entry of goods into the Gaza Strip is now at a bare minimum, in which items banned are comparable to what one is not allowed to bring to the United States from Canada. Make no mistake, Israel’s sanctions against Hamas authorities will continue to deny them weapons to use against innocent civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian. The people of Gaza are not our enemy, and we hope that this updated policy will strength Palestinians while weakening Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist.

Related posts:

1. Statement from COGAT, Policy of aid into Gaza Statement from COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories),...
2. Blair: “No need for aid flotillas” Following the release of Israel's updated policy on civilian goods...
3. Gaza Update: Increased Access and June 15th Report On Tuesday alone, Israel allowed in 5,355 tons of goods...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Even before these measures are to be put in place, on Tuesday, Israel allowed in 5,355 tons of goods into Gaza. No border crossings were closed. In addition to the list below of goods which entered Gaza on June 15th, dozens of international organization staff members crossed into and out of Israel through the Erez crossing.

June 15th Imports

Kerem Shalom Crossing

Karmi Conveyor

Fuel Supply – Kerem Shalom Crossing

Related posts:

1. Status Update: Aid Prepped for Delivery to Gazans The most recent ship carrying supplies to Gaza docked at...
2. No Aid Found on Turkish Vessel Mavi Marmara After contents of the ship were unloaded, it has been...
3. Statement from COGAT, Policy of aid into Gaza Statement from COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories),...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The only ship that was violent was not carrying any aid. Of the six ships in the flotilla which announced their intentions to break Israel’s legal maritime blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza, five were redirected without incident. The one vessel, Turkish-operated Mavi Marmara, was the only ship which ambushed Israeli soldiers. Over the past 10 days, it has been obvious that the dozens of  “peace activists” came ready and eager for a violent skirmish and were thus anything but peace loving individuals.

After contents of the ship were unloaded, it has been discovered that the Mavi Marmara did not contain a single ounce of aid. Not one box of food or medicine for the people of Gaza. Out of 6 ships, only 3  were actually bringing goods with them. As the largest boat in the Flotilla, the Mavi Marmara was loaded with thugs sent by the terrorist-affiliated Turkish organization IHH. While most on board the Mavi Marmara were not violent, those who did not want to fight the Israelis were sent to the lower levels of the ship, leaving the area where Israeli soldiers landed composed entirely of fighters. The aid from the 3 freighters carrying goods has been inspected for contraband and was brought to the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza.

Yesterday, Israel allowed over 1,500 tons of aid, 250,000 liters of diesel, and 200 tons of Cooking Gas through the Kerem Shalom border into the Gaza Strip. Some of the imports for just June 9 include 181 tons of fruits and vegetables, 37 tons of flour, 76 tons of meat,  319 tons of animal feed, and 78 tons of essential humanitarian services. In addition, UNRWA and USAID brought in a combined 17 tons of essential humanitarian products through the crossing.

In response to Israel allowing the sending of nonessential aid including chips and candy, Hamas declared they would not allow the Palestinians they “govern” access to snacks. “We have three factories that make carbonated drinks. They say they want to allow in potato chips, but we have factories that produce more than enough to meet Gaza’s needs,” said Ziyad al-Zaza, economic and trade minister in Hamas’s Gaza-based government. While they refer to the aid coming in as “the first course,” what they are waiting for is “the main course,” meaning cement and iron. According to Robert Gates, America’s Secretary for Defense, “Construction materials haven’t gone for housing, they’ve gone for bunkers.”

With Hamas grandstanding for political purposes to the detriment of the Palestinians under their control, Israel will continue to make sure goods continue to come in daily. Stay tuned for future updates.

Related posts:

1. Status Update: Aid Prepped for Delivery to Gazans The most recent ship carrying supplies to Gaza docked at...
2. More Q&A’s From Wednesday’s Twitter Press Conference Thanks again to all of you who sent in your...
3. Weaponry Overview and Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Preparing Weaponry The opening footage of the video shows knives, rods, wrenches,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Due to the fact that the thousands of tons of aid, including cement, must first be offloaded onto trucks from the boats, not all of the aid has been delivered yet. This process, which includes screening goods for weapons, takes time.  The maximum capacity for a truck is roughly 25 tons, so while only 45 trucks have been prepped and loaded, it is still a great amount of aid.

Unfortunately, Hamas is currently refusing entry to trucks which are waiting at the Kerem Shalom border crossing. As Hamas has a history of hijacking aid, it is vital that Israel is assured that construction materials are going to be used for peaceful, civilian purposes. To that end, we are working with the humanitarian organizations in Gaza that can insure that all cement, construction materials, and other aid will go to humanitarian projects.

The rumors that Israel is not letting in cement are categorically false. Our goal is to make sure the aid is distributed to the people. While distribution would normally be the role of the government, the “government” of Gaza is a terrorist organization whose declared mission is the destruction of the State of Israel. While we will not let Hamas build bunkers and military sites, we will also not allow the people of Gaza to go without adequate supplies. With our partners in the international community, we will make sure that the goods are distributed to the people of Gaza.

We are working as hard as we can to offload all supplies and send them to Gaza. Please stay tuned for future updates.

Related posts:

1. No Aid Found on Turkish Vessel Mavi Marmara After contents of the ship were unloaded, it has been...
2. Gaza Update: Increased Access and June 15th Report On Tuesday alone, Israel allowed in 5,355 tons of goods...
3. Shariv: The Blockade Is About Saving Civilians Airport security makes all travelers put their bags through the...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

There’s been a lot of misinformation being reported about the nature of Egypt and Israel’s blockade of Gaza. While the casualties on both sides are a tragedy, Israel had no choice but to stop the flotilla from breaking the blockade – and international law. While Israel was forced to take action in international waters, its actions are supported by international maritime law.

Below, find 13 clear points which explain Israel’s maritime blockade, supported by international law.

1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been  smuggled into Gaza via the sea.

2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea.

3. A  blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral states. This is directly stated in Section IV, Article 10 of the ICRC.

4. The naval manuals of several western countries, including the US and England recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement of give due notice of the existence of the blockade.

5. In this vein, it should be noted that Israel publicized the existence of the blockade and the precise coordinates of such by means of the accepted international professional maritime channels. Israel also provided appropriate notification to the affected governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla.  Moreover, in real time, the ships participating in the protest flotilla were warned repeatedly that a maritime blockade is in effect.

6. Here, it should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and appropriate notification has been granted, as above.

7. Under international maritime law, when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats can enter the blockaded area.  That includes both civilian and enemy vessels.

8. A state may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law. The US Commander’s Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its port with the intention of evading the blockade.

9. Here we should note that the protesters indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral statements. Moreover, the route of these vessels indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade in violation of international law.

10. According to Section V, Article 67 (a) of the ICRC, merchant vessels flying a neutral flag may be intercepted if they are “breaching a blockade.”

11. Given the protesters explicit intention to violate the naval blockade, Israel exercised its right under international law to enforce the blockade. It should be noted that prior to undertaking enforcement measures, explicit warnings were  relayed directly to the captains of the vessels, expressing Israel’s intent to exercise its right to enforce the blockade.

12. Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order to enforce the blockade. Given the large number of vessels participating in the flotilla, an operational decision was made to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from the area of the blockade.

13. Israeli personnel attempting to enforce the blockade were met with violence by the protesters and acted in self defense to fend off such attacks.

Related posts:

1. Israel Appoints Independent Public Commission to Examine the Maritime Incident of May 31, 2010 Israel is setting up a commission led by former Supreme...
2. Shariv: The Blockade Is About Saving Civilians Airport security makes all travelers put their bags through the...
3. Press Conference with Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon delivers a statement on...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

As news of the earthquake in Haiti started to emerge, the Israeli government immediately began to make plans to send a delegation to aid in the relief efforts.

“Our decision to immediately dispatch a large delegation of doctors, nurses, medics, rescue forces as well as drugs and medical equipment to Haiti expresses the deep values which have characterized the Jewish people and the State of Israel throughout history,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

On Friday, two Israeli jets carrying nearly 10 tons of medical equipment, doctors, nurses, medics, police forces and an elite search and rescue team landed in Haiti. The 220-person delegation is led by Brig. Gen. Shalom Ben-Aryeh (Res.), the commander of the Home Front Command’s National Search and Rescue Unit.

The IDF’s chief medical officer, Brig. Gen. Nachman Esh, said that while the field hospital will largely treat trauma patients, similar to those encountered in a war, specialists in various other fields have also been sent.

Thus far, the Israeli search and rescue units have rescued 70 people from beneath the rubble.

In addition to deploying search and rescue units to find survivors, Israel established a field hospital that includes 40 doctors, 24 nurses, medics, paramedics, x-ray equipment and personnel, a pharmacy, an emergency room, two surgery rooms, an incubation ward, a children’s ward, a maternity ward, and more. The field hospital is capable of treating nearly 500 victims per day and performing initial surgeries.

“We expect to have to deal mainly with trauma cases, but when we arrive there, we also expect to encounter the secondary wave of infections and diseases, as well as the routine cases that the local hospitals would usually deal with,” Brig. Gen. Esh said.

To see a special report on CNN about the Israeli Field Hospital, click here.

To see how the Israeli Field Hospital saved the lives of a newborn baby and its mother, watch this ABC Special.

To view the latest directly from the Israeli delegation in Haiti, click here.

Related posts:

1. IDF Mission Concludes its Operations in Haiti After two weeks of life saving efforts, the Israeli team...
2. The World Comes Together for Haiti As the events in Haiti unfold and the pictures make...
3. Israeli Doctor: Dear Judge Goldstone, They Deceived You, You are Wrong "Dear Judge Goldstone, My name is Dr. David Zangen. I...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.