Incursion adds to long-suffering Palestinians' woes

MIDDLE EAST: Israel's operations in the Gaza Strip and West Bank have compounded the sufferings of Palestinians living there, who are already suffering serious deprivation because of the suspension of international aid since Hamas took office.

In spite of Israel's arrests of Hamas ministers, lawmakers and officials, "people are going about their business as normally as they can in Ramallah", said a Palestinian academic who commutes between the city and Jerusalem.

However, the Gaza Strip is perilous because Israel has been firing rockets into Gaza City and at targets in the north and south. A resident said traffic between the south and centre had resumed. Cars have been bypassing bridges across gullies blown up by Israel, but fewer people are risking the roads.

Palestinian families in funds have been stocking up on basic supplies of flour, oil, pulses and bottled water. Basil Shawwa, the proprietor of Marna House Hotel in Gaza City, said: "Everything is available in the markets here, for now. Electricity is six hours on and six hours off. But we have enough fuel for our generator."

A doctor who has a private clinic confirmed Mr Shawwa's information. "The lack of electricity makes things difficult for us, but we are managing with generators. We have enough medicines in our store for the next two weeks. Israel closed the crossing points for most of the time since the beginning of the year, so we have shortages of some medications." But, he interjected: "All the crossing points are closed now. If this continues for one or two weeks, we will not have fuel for generators, food, or flour and medicine will run out again."

He said 450 Palestinians were stuck at the Rafah crossing with Egypt and could not return home. "There would have been more at Rafah but they were warned to stay away."

If Israel's siege continues, the government, which is unable to function, will, once again, be unable to pay wages to lower paid civil servants and policemen, who have had only one salary since March. Those on high grades were given the same amount of money as the lowest.

Many of these people are already living on borrowings from more prosperous relatives and credit from shopkeepers.

Gazans who had jobs in factories and workshops have been laid off for the duration of the Israeli campaign because there is not enough electricity to operate machinery.

The vast majority of Gazans, who cannot afford to run generators, suffer greatly from the lack of electricity during the sweltering days and hot humid nights. They cannot operate air conditioners, fans, refrigerators or even keep up with the news by watching television.

One grand Gazan lady, overcome by this crisis, has taken to her bed with the intention of dying because she simply cannot take another round of violence, suffering, and deprivation.