AIC Testifies to UN Fact Finding Commission on Gaza Conflict: “Israeli Business Interests Determine Diet of Palestinians Under Siege in Gaza”

Date published: 4th July 2009
Source: Alternative Information Center (AIC)
_____

“The world should be aware of the human implications of Israel’s policy
of ‘no development, no prosperity’ in the Gaza Strip,” noted AIC
economist Shir Hever, as he testified today (2 July 2009) in Amman
before the United Nations Fact Finding Commission on the Gaza Conflict.

The AIC was invited to testify before this important body following
intensive work in gathering and publishing primary information and
analyses during Israel’s recent military attacks on the Gaza Strip. In
addition to today’s personal testimony, the AIC submitted two documents
to the UN Fact Finding Commission: a collection of AIC original articles
focusing on the political, social and legal developments in East
Jerusalem, the West Bank, Israel and the Gaza Strip during the Israeli
attacks on the latter, with an emphasis on Israeli oppression of popular
protests against the military attacks, particularly by Palestinian
citizens and residents of Israel; restrictions on reporting from and
about the Gaza Strip; and reviews of the economic, social and legal
aspects of the attacks.

The AIC further submitted an advance copy of its economic research
entitled “Operation Cast Lead: Israel Attacks the Gaza Strip”. This
research, which will be available in August 2009, provides a general
overview of the events of the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip, with an
emphasis on the socio-political context and the events that preceded it.
It explores various economic aspects of the attack, and concludes with
possible effects that this will have on the Israeli occupation of the
Palestinian territories.

“Israeli public opinion was shockingly tolerant of Israeli war crimes
and the violation of basic rights during this time, even against those
in Israel,” remarks AIC Policy Director Nassar Ibrahim. “This is
primarily because the international community failed to set clear
boundaries during Israel’s recent military attacks on the Gaza Strip.”

Israel refuses to cooperate with this UN Fact Finding Mission,
established in April 2009 by the UN Human Rights Council and is not
permitting access to areas under its control, thus rendering
implementation of the Mission’s already challenging mandate that much
more difficult. Mission members are accordingly unable to gain
first-hand evidence and impressions of rights issues related to Israel’s
attacks on Gaza.

Israeli damage to property and human lives in the Gaza Strip did not
end with “Operation Cast Lead” and continues to this day through the
ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip.