Per BBC, the only power plant in Gaza has shut down, due both to fuel shortages and the lack of parts needed to make repairs. Israel’s blockade continues to prevent the flow of food, medicines and fuel from reaching the 1.5 million residents of Gaza. In addition, banks are running out of cash, leading them to limit withdrawals. From AP
[M]ost banks have sharply curtailed withdrawals over the past two weeks and some have posted signs telling customers they cannot take out any more money. The U.N. stopped distributing cash handouts to Gaza’s poorest last week.Economists and bank officials are warning that tens of thousands of civil servants will not be able to cash paychecks next month."No society can operate without money, but that’s the situation we are reaching in Gaza," said economist Omar Shaban.
While Israel ostensibly is blocking currency from reaching Gaza to limit Hamas’ ability to fund attacks, the article further notes that Hamas does not use the banking system, but smuggles funds through tunnels between Gaza and Egypt. Oh, and collective punishment is still a violation of the fourth Geneva Convention.
Cross-posted at JustPeaceNow





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Israel is putting down the hammer while they still got Bush to cover for them that is obvious.
What is their game plan after Obama starts withdrawing troops? The world economy is collapsing we can’t afford another war.
The Arabs need higher oil prices a well timed oil embargo could hurt us a lot.
The Arabs want us so hurt that we will either pressure Israel diplomatically or at the very least promise to not sell them weapons and give them aid money.
No aid money their economy collapses.
What is Israel trying to accomplish besides giving the Arabs a reason?
The Israeli’s are committing genocide. They do not need cover from Bush. That is what they are accomplishing. Israel has long told US politicians what to do; not the other way around. You will never understand what is wrong with the US until you understand that.
Israel asks Bush to explain its ’special relationship’ with U.S. to Obama. To explain that since Nixon in 1969, all US Presidents have agreed that only Israel will not be expected to have its nuclear arsenal curtailed.
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1040967.html
Of coarse the media is covering this here in the US which helps to explain why the press in this country is ranked 36 th in the world
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R…..ut_Borders