Last night, 25 armed, masked men set fire to a U.N. summer
camp at a beach in Nuseirat, Gaza, destroying inflatable pools and tents and
roughing up a group of guards protecting the facility. It was the second attack
on a U.N. recreation facility in just over a month. On May 23, a group of 30
masked, armed men set fire to another U.N. summer camp facility under construction
in Gaza City. They also threatened to kill the U.N.'s top relief official in
Gaza.
U.N. officials told Turtle
Bay they don't know who attacked the recreation facilities but they suspect
the vandals are Islamic extremists who object to programs that allow boys and
girls to jointly swim, play volleyball, and learn about the arts, theater and
other cultural activities.
"This is another example of the growing levels of extremism
in Gaza," John Ging, the director of
operations for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, said
in a statement. "The overwhelming use of UNRWA's Summer Games has once again
obviously frustrated those that are intolerant."
The U.N. established the Summer Games program four years
ago. The U.N.'s 1,200 camps provide a rare distraction from the hardships
endured by more than 250,000 Palestinian refugees that live in the Gaza Strip.
The program runs from June 12 through August 5. In last night's raid, the
assailants tied up the guards, set fire to tables and easels, and slashed
inflatable pools and tents.
In response, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's office issued a statement condemning the act of
"vandalism," and saying such attacks are "an assault upon the well-being of
Gaza's children." The statement called on the "de facto authorities" -- a
reference to Hamas, the Islamic movement that came to power through elections
in 2007 and whose legitimacy the U.N. does not fully recognize-- to "combat any incitement" against U.N.
activities, and to ensure the safety of U.N. personnel and facilities.
Ging said that the U.N. will rebuild the Nuseirat summer
camp immediately, and that the United Nations remains committed to continuing
the summer program, "which is so important for the physical and psychological
well-being of Gaza's children, so many of whom are stressed and traumatized by
their circumstances and experiences."
Ging said the attacks on U.N. summer camps provided "further
evidence, if that were needed, of the urgency to change the circumstances on
the ground that are generating such extremism." Gaza has been the target of an
Egyptian and Israeli blockade, which has banned many goods from entering the
Palestinian territory. Facing mounting international pressure, Israel has
agreed to ease the blockade by increasing the number of items that can be
imported to Gaza.
Israel's deputy U.N. ambassador, Daniel Carmon, told Turtle Bay the camp attacks are "another
reflection of what Israeli has been saying for years: that the territory is
literally occupied by a terrorist organization, Hamas," that promotes and
permits "extremism, terrorism, rockets over Israel and now, attacks
against summer camps managed by the international community."
The U.N. summer camps compete with Hamas-run programs for
the hearts of the more than 700,000 children under the age of 15 that live in
the Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reported.
About 100,000 kids reportedly attend Hamas camps.
"Hamas camps teach an anti-Israeli doctrine and
military-style marching, along with horseback riding, swimming and Islam,"
according to the U.S. news agency. "The U.N. says its hopes to help shield Gaza's
children against the lure of militancy, a task that is getting harder in this
impoverished territory."
U.N. officials say that Hamas has permitted the U.N. summer
camps to function since coming to power in 2007. And Hamas's interior ministry
condemned last night's attack, attributing it to "groups led by those with a misguided
idea who want to distort the situation in Gaza." Hamas said it would
investigate the attacks, and provide additional security at the U.N. camps.
walled off in blue tarp. That is to prevent a muslim man from accidentally seeing a woman and then jizzing in his pants or uncontrollably raping her. Because, the uncontrollable rape should come after his marriage to her!
about this issue and condemong it, I would also like to see the western medis make a big deal out of it, Israel is very cruel when it does something of the sort yet we hear crickets when hamas does it is there a double standard here?
While Israel is so-so nice and merciful to lift a little bit on a total blockade those evil, hateful and ruthless "militants" rough up some guards. Nice. Now we're supposed to feel that Israel is so peaceful, while those ungrateful men are doing evil things to poor misguided souls...
For Christ's sake, there is a Warsaw-like ghetto there! Israel is murdering volunteers, thousands of people are starving in Gaza yet all you care about are some tents and pools?! This is supposed to be even? This is how you're supposed to manipulate global opinion?
What do you know about Warsaw and the Holocause? Did the inmates of the Ghetto, who died like flies from starvation and disease, have thousands of tones of food, medicine, and non-military provisions DAILY (as do the inhabitants of Gaza)? There is no humanitarian crisis , or anything like it, in Gaza. Did you see the film clips of the boarding of the Marmara, as seen on You Tube? If so, you know that the boarding soldiers, armed at that point only will paint-ball guns, were beaten nearly to death by provocateurs. The other boats behaved legally, and were not harmed. You need seriously to wash your mout, and your keyboard, with soap, because you are retailing lies that anybody can see through. Beyond politic s, you should be deeply ashamed of yourself.
well besides all the other points, nobody has died from starvation in Gaza, so youre claim that thousands of starving is false. People are starving in Israel too, and in downtown LA and New York. Some people are just poor, there would be poor regardless of the situation.
Also, even if it is a Warsaw like ghetto, which it isnt, how does that excuse their behavior? They attacked their own people, the people they claim to be freeing from occupation, yet they occupy their own people. Care to explain?
You constantly say the Israeli Blockade. It is a joint blockade with Egypt. Are they also a Jewish State?
Wake up, Hamas is a bunch of terrorists that don't give a hoot about their citizens. I suggest you move to Gaza and join the cause, show some backbone and conviction with your beliefs.
i would expect people on here to be much different than they seem to be. Did you people wake up and say i hate jews or i hate arabs i think ill go troll the internet attacking them? This site should be a place for intelligent discussion not ignorant and intolerant rants. and the double standard of you people is sad not amusing.
I thoroughly agree with you Spoerad. I do not hate arabs, muslims, anyone based on race, religion, etc.
I used to think it was ridiculous to respond to people on comment sections because lets be honest, youre not gonna change many minds of the commentators. But I will not allow Israel to be bashed using false premises, facts and bias. I respond because I want to let people who are still not sure that there are two sides to every story and the other side of the story. The why to all the questions and statements. People tend to forget why situations start after they have started to unfold.
regardless of your views i can tell by your tone that you are part of the problem not the solution. and your use of lolz makes you likely to be 12 years old.
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