Israel Matzav: IDF: Humanitarian aid to Gaza up 900% in 2009

IDF: Humanitarian aid to Gaza up 900% in 2009

Quick, someone call Richard Goldstone. The IDF reports (and documents) a 900% increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2009 as compared with 2008.

The aid is supplied by various international organizations - the International Red Cross, UNRWA, WFP - and is imported into the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom Crossing near the Egyptian border.

"We are investing major resources to enable the flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip," Levi said during a tour of the Erez Crossing.

Last week, the Palestinians opened a corridor connecting the outskirts of Gaza City with the Erez Crossing. This way, Palestinians on their way to Israel will be sheltered from rain when walking to the crossing. To facilitate the construction of the corridor, the IDF permitted the transfer of building materials to the Gaza Strip.

In the first half of 2008, international organizations transferred 606 trucks into the Gaza Strip. In the first half of 2009, the number of international aid trucks jumped to just over 5,300. In total in 2008, Israel facilitated the transfer of 15,275 trucks into Gaza. By the end of last month, the number had already reached over 17,750.

In addition, since the beginning of the year, the IDF has issued over 18,500 permits for Palestinians to leave Gaza and enter Israel or travel overseas. The IDF has also allowed this year over 4,000 Palestinians into Gaza for medical treatment together with 3,600 escorts.

I wonder why anyone would want to go into Gaza for medical treatment.

I also wonder why Israel is bothering to allow the 'Palestinians' all this assistance. The world continues to lambaste us anyway.

By the way, the Kerem Shalom crossing point is the one Gilad Shalit was guarding when he was kidnapped in June 2006.

Israel Matzav: IDF: Humanitarian aid to Gaza up 900% in 2009