The Israeli Humanitarian Lifeline to Gaza

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Maintaining medical aid for all in need - The medical corridor ¹¹

No Palestinian is denied medical care in Israel. However, if the Hamas regime does not grant permits for medical care, the Israeli government can do nothing to help the patient. Israel will facilitate all cases of medical treatments from Gaza, unless the patient is a known perpetrator of terror.

Israel maintains a corridor for the transfer of medical patients out of Gaza, and about 200 medical staff members go through the crossings every month. Israel also helps coordinate the transfer of Jordanian doctors into Gaza.

In 2009 alone, 10,544 patients and their companions left the Gaza Strip for medical treatment in Israel. Moreover, there were 382 emergency evacuations from Gaza for medical purposes.

The Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem donates $3 million in aid annually to treat Palestinians in Israel. Following fears of a swine flu outbreak, three Israeli hospitals were assigned to treat cases in the Gaza Strip and 44,500 immunizations were transferred to the Strip.

Since 2005, Palestinians exploited medical care arrangements more than 20 times to carry out terror attacks.

In 2009, some 4,883 tons of medical equipment and medicine were brought in.

In the first quarter of 2010, Israel shipped 152 trucks of medical supplies and equipment into Gaza. In a typical week (in May 2010), some 37 truckloads of hygiene products were shipped to Gaza through the land crossings. In addition, a new CAT scan machine was recently shipped to Gaza.

In 2009, Israel coordinated the transfer of medical supplies for the disabled including wheelchairs, crutches and first aid kits. Other equipment shipped to Gaza include heart-monitors, baby feeding tubes, dental equipment, medical books, ambulance emergency equipment, artificial limbs and infant sleeping bags.

While the import of cement and iron has been restricted into Gaza since these are used by the Hamas to cast rockets and bunkers, monitored imports of truckloads of cement, iron, and building supplies such as wood and windows are regularly coordinated with international parties. Already in the first quarter of 2010, 23 tons of iron and 25 tons of cement were transferred to the Gaza Strip.

On 13 May 2010, Israel allowed approximately 39 tons of building material into Gaza to help rebuild a damaged hospital. The construction material for al Quds hospital was transferred after safeguards in place and French assurances ensured that the construction material would not be diverted elsewhere.

On 24 May 2010 Israel opened the Kerem Shalom crossing to 97 trucks loaded with aid and goods, including six trucks holding 250 tons of cement and one truck loaded with five tons of iron for projects executed and operated by UNRWA.

According to the UN report of May 2010, 120 megawatts (over 70%) of the Strip's electricity supply comes from the Israeli electric grid, while 17 MWs come from Egypt and 30 MWs are produced by the Gaza city power station. Since January 2010, there has been deterioration in the supply of electricity to the Gaza Strip since the Hamas regime is unwilling to purchase the fuel to run the Gaza City power station.

Throughout 2009 Israel transferred 41 trucks of equipment for the maintenance of Gaza's electricity grid.

Israel facilitates the transfer of fuel through the border, and maintains that the diversion of fuel from domestic power generators to other uses is wholly a Hamas decision. Over 133 million liters of fuel entered Gaza from Israel over the last 18 months.

During the first quarter of 2010, the UN coordinated with Israel the transfer of equipment for UNWRA to upgrade the sewage pumping station. In 2009, 127 trucks containing more than 3,000 tons of hypochlorite entered the Gaza Strip for water purification purposes. Moreover, 48 trucks of equipment for improving the sanitation infrastructure led to a substantial reduction in the Beit Lahya facility's waste levels.

The United States, Israel, Canada, and the European Union have frozen funds to the Palestinian Hamas government since 2006, recognizing it as a terror organization. Israel has taken measures to support trade and commerce, the banking system, and the existing financial market in the Gaza Strip.

Gazans produce much of their own food products including olives, citrus, vegetables, Halal beef, and dairy products. Primary exports from Gaza are cut flowers and citrus, with trade partners being Israel, Egypt and the West Bank. During 2009, 7.5 million tons of flowers and 54 tons of strawberries were exported from Gaza with Israeli cooperation.

In 2009, 1.1 billion shekels (about $250 million) were transferred to the Gaza Strip for the ongoing activity of international organizations and to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority workers. 40 million damaged bank notes were traded for new bills, and at the request of the Palestinian Monetary Fund, 282.5 million shekels were transferred from Gazan to Israeli banks.

In February 2010, an agreement was reached with the Palestinian Authority's National Insurance Department to ensure that pensions reached those formerly employed in Israel. The funds were deposited in banks in Judea and Samaria, while the Palestinian Authority was given the responsibility of distributing the funds to the pensioners in Gaza.

Projected life expectancy in the Gaza Strip (2010) is 73.86, greater than Estonia, Malaysia, Jamaica and Bulgaria.
The infant mortality rate in Gaza is 17.71 per 1000, lower than that of China, Jordan, Lebanon and Thailand.
Fertility rates are about five children per family, equal to many African nations such as Rwanda and Senegal.

Palestinian families receive the same subsidized healthcare as Israelis, about 10% of the cost for the same treatment in the United States.

Israel transfers school equipment supplied by UNRWA including notebooks, school bags, writing implements and textbooks. Israel is currently coordinating the transfer of 200,000 laptops for Gaza schoolchildren and the shipment of 74 maritime containers for conversion into Gaza classrooms.

In the first quarter of 2010, Israel transferred 250 trucks with equipment for the UNWRA summer camp, including arts-and-crafts equipment, swimming pools, inflatable toys, ice cream machines, musical instruments, clothing, sports equipment.

About 20% of the population in Gaza owns a personal computer - this is more than Portugal, Brazil, Saudi Arabia or Russia. They have access to ADSL and dial-up Internet service, provided by one of four providers.

About 70% of Gazans own a TV and radio and have access to satellite TV or broadcast TV from the PA or Israel.

Gaza has well-developed telephone landlines, and extensive mobile telephone services provided by PalTel (Jawwal) and the Israeli provider Cellcom.

According to USAID report, 81% of households in Gaza have access to a cell phone. The PA-owned cell phone provider Jawwal has more than 1 million cellular subscribers.

Despite the inherent dangers involved, Israel permits Gazans and visitors to travel between Gaza and Israel, from Gaza to Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), and even abroad for medical treatment, religious pilgrimages, and business trips. Whenever possible Israel allows for diplomatic activities and trade and commerce with the Gaza Strip.

In additional to medical travel, 21,200 activists from international organizations and over 400 diplomatic delegations were permitted entry into Gaza, while 2,200 Palestinians employed by international organizations were given exit permits from the Gaza Strip.

147 permits were given to Palestinian students for academic studies around the world and special permission was given to Gazan footballers to train in Judea and Samaria and compete in international matches abroad.

During the Christmas holiday, approximately 400 permits were given to visit Bethlehem from Gaza as well 100 permits to travel abroad. In addition, 257 permits were given to businessmen from Gaza to facilitate business operations.

YYYYYYY

This says it all; as does G-d's Word concerning Israel and His warning to the nations:

"Behold, all who are incensed against you [Israel] shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all."

Neither the American President, nor the EU, the UN, or Egypt can help Israel. The G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Who says to His people, Israel, "I, the LORD your G-d, hold your right hand; it is I Who say to you, 'Fear not, I will help you,'" is Israel’s sole help.

"Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your G-d; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My victorious right hand."

And why would G-d do this? Because...

"... Israel is My Servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, My friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, 'You are My servant, I have chosen you and NOT CAST YOU OFF.'"

Because of the nations' perpetual hatred and enmity against the Jewish nation and people, G-d promises:

"Behold, I will make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains [of anti-Israel world powers] and crush them, and you shall make the hills [of military, financial and political mighty men plotting Israel's demise] like chaff; you shall winnow them and the wind [of of great conflicts] shall carry them away, and the tempest [of my wrath] shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the LORD, in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory."¹²

Unhappily, Israel’s leaders are indeed acting like "worms" before the world leaders, making Israel like the ground for nations to walk on. However, G-d will plead the cause of His people and put the cup of staggering and the bowl of His wrath into the hand of Israel's tormentors¹³.

This anti-Israel American President will fall one day, and so will all the mighty world powers, those men of might and riches, each and every one who proudly strives against the Holy One of Israel and defies the G-d of all the earth. Though today Israel is regarded as the least of nations, G-d has already announced by Jeremiah that one day "Jacob shall be CHIEF of the nations" for one thousand years, and a blessing in all the earth like dew and showers on the the grass¹⁴.

Hence, may all the righteous stand with G-d's chosen and not stand aloof as though Israel was of no concern, lest G-d not remember their righteousness but treat them as His enemies¹⁵ because they were in “partnership” with them when they betrayed His people Israel while supporting Israel’s enemies¹⁶.

Speaking the truth and G-d's warning in love, I am

yours in Yeshua,
Annelore

¹¹ Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA): Behind the Headlines: The Israeli humanitarian lifeline to Gaza;
25 May 2010; the article is reproduced here in its entirety, beginning with "Despite attacks by Hamas..."

¹² Isaiah 41:11-13, 10, 8-9, 15-16,

¹³ Isaiah 41:14; 51:22-23

¹⁴ Jer.50:24, 29; 31:7; Rev. 20:6; Mic; 5:7

¹⁵ Psalm 83

¹⁶ Obadiah 10-11; Ezek. 18:24, 26-28

Pages: 50- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 51-Special- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Endnotes |
52-prophetic- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 53- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Endnotes | 54-1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
55war-1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 56- 1 | 2 | 3 | Endnotes | 57-1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Endnotes | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI |
58- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Endnotes | 59-U.S.Election2008-Obama- 1| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Endnotes
60 - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 61- 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Endnotes | Appendix | 62 - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 63- 1 | 2 |