A rare insight into Gaza

Hamas is deemed a terrorist organisation by many countries around the world. Yet, as a democratically elected party, it governs the 1.5 million people in Gaza.

Now, as we all know, not only did the Israelis pound the small piece of land, Gaza, during the recent Gaza War, but in effect, the place has been under blockade by the Israelis for nearly 2 years. All reports out of Gaza by NGO's speak of the hardship the people are suffering - be it lack of food and water or basic amenities, let alone building materials to re-build what the Israeli bombs destroyed.

Antony Loewenstein provides an otherwise rare insight into Gaza in a piece in The Nation, following a visit to Gaza which ended last week:

"Israel's recent war against Gaza has been condemned by virtually every human rights group in the world. An Israeli NGO of combat soldiers called Breaking the Silence released a report in July, based on the testimony of veterans of the Gaza campaign, that found excessive violence and the use of human shields during the battle. Noam Chayut, co-founder of the group, told me recently in Tel Aviv that many veterans were shocked by the Israeli army's behavior but still believed in the morality of the war itself.

Gaza creates contradictions in us all. I went there in July to investigate everything from war damage and the Western-led siege to the rule of Hamas and freedom of speech. Hamas control of Gaza is often seen as an impediment to peace. Militancy, extremism, terrorism and deadly rockets create an image of fundamentalism and irrationality."

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