The BBC's stand on Gaza

DEC appeals are sometimes made to help victims of natural disasters (earthquake, floods) and sometimes the aftermath of military conflicts. They raised £13.6million for humanitarian aid for the people of Darfur. Quite rightly I don't remember anyone batting an eyelid over broadcasting appeals for Darfur although that was clearly the result of a political conflict, the rights and wrongs of different sides hotly contested in Sudan. Anyone with an ounce of concern for human beings ought to acknowledge the pressing case of the people of Gaza.

Now that the Israeli authorities are allowing journalists into Gaza again the terrible devastation is plain to see by anyone whatever their view of the politics of the war in Gaza. What is particularly depressing is that some of the same people who praise the BBC for not broadcasting this appeal also praise the Israeli government for outlawing journalists from the BBC and others from reporting the three week war.

When money is raised for Darfur, no one think it will help a terrorist organization keep its own Iranian money for rearming itself, in view of the next conflict that will destroy again what UE and USA have paid for.
Not even mentioning the money that is directly diverted to pay Hamas operatives, policemen who shoot suspected Fatah members and enforce he terror group's agenda, etc.

Jose,
The money that is being raised is for the people of Gaza not for any political organisation. It is being raised by 13 reputable aid agencies who operate through the DEC in a completely transparent way. You can read about how they work on:

www.dec.org.uk/who_we_are/how_we_work.html
(you will also find details there of how to give to the Gaza appeal)

One of the reason I was against the war on Gaza was because what was dressed up as a war n Hamas seemed to be a war on the Palestinian people, many of whom did not vote Hamas.

Your post seems to suggest that innocent civilians should continue to pay the price of that war.

Here in Britain many Jews were unhappy with this war. We couldn't persuade our community leaders to question it, but we can support the victims of the terrible devastation brought about by heavy bombardment including phosphorus bombs.

Shtekhler
Maybe you didn't read before you reacted: normally the Hamas should pay for the destruction they contributed to bring on the Gaza people.
All money given to Gaza is a salary for their irresponsibility. As is the money and weapons from Iran and Syria.
My opinion is that those who pay for something should be those who are responsible for it.
Nobody asked if the Germans voted for Hitler when we dropped bombs on them. Nobody dropped leaflets asking them to leave Dresden. And Germans did not wait for 60 years to rebuild their democracy and country.
War on civilians? What for? Do you realize how stupid that would be? Obviously not. Only one side had interest in civilian casualties.
If destructions are as important as you believe they are, how come there are so LITTLE civilian casualties? These correspond to the total destruction of a square of 100-yard side, in a crowded city like Gaza. So either you admit that Israel was not targeting civilians and made everything to avoid unwanted human casualties, or you keep asserting that there are a lot of destructions. But you'll have to choose.

Jose,
I hope we are not the only two people who use this site. Especially as we are so far apart in our understanding!

I think you are in denial about the impact of this war. Taking figures from a wide number of sources, it seems that between 2/3 and 3/4 of the fatalities in Gaza were civilians (including 400 children). Each loss of life is regrettable on all sides of the conflict but how should we feel when we see that one Israeli life was worth 100 Palestinian lives?

And beyond the fatalities we are talking of 5-6000 wounded mainly civilians. Yes, leaflets were dropped advising civilians to leave their homes. What advice is there for them now about where to go now that their homes have been flattened to rubble? They are desperately in need of humanitarian aid. Which is where this discussion started.

Shtechler,
We are not the only two: observation could have tipped you about that.
Money raised not for 'political' (meaning terrorist) activists? Do you remember that UNRWA has Hamas activists on its payroll?
The 'civilian' count includes as "(Israel's) victims of the war" all the people who were shot in the leg or taught parachutism without a parachute (and hands tied in the back) for being suspect Fatah members, people used as human shields (near schools and hospitals, on top of suspect buildings), 'children' between 15 and 17 who participated in hostilities, Hamas friendly fire victims, Hamas collateral damages, etc.
How can a doctor differentiate between a Hamas activist in civilian clothes and some civilian wounded or killed in (Israeli or Hamas) action?
How can a doctor differentiate Israel shell wounds from Hamas shell wounds?
How can a doctor differentiate a civilian killed in a booby trap and another killed by an Israeli strike?
How can a doctor know if these 'civilians' deliberately ignored the warnings of the IDF?
How can a doctor count the dead activists who are buried immediately, without being sent to a hospital.
How can 2/3-3/4 be civilians when Israeli claim they have killed 500-700 Hamas activitists?
Until you can answer these questions, all civilian counts among the fatalities will be obvious jokes. It is interesting to see that you take them at face value.

An Israeli life worth 100 Palestinian lives? In fact, according to Hamas, one Gilad Shalit is worth 1000 Palestinian prisoners.
Your comment is irrelevant to the facts: the Hamas knew what they risked by shooting rockets every damn day on Israel, including all along the so-called "truce" during more than three years and threatening the lives of one million Israeli civilians. Even I knew what would happen. Again, you were perhaps the only one ignorant of the consequences.

If the Hamas puts all Iranian and Syrian money into supporting people instead of buying weapons and paying for terrorism, the lives of Palestinian people will be much better. UNRWA, USA, UE are already sending a lot of money every year, to no avail for the peace process it seems. More money will be more problems for Israel but no less suffering for Palestinians.