Israel Bans School Supplies to Gaza

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The trucks are carrying paper destined for the fabrication of school supplies such as children's textbooks. A statement issued by the institution warned that Palestinian children would be forced to attend school without any of the basic necessities such as pencils, pens and textbooks if the military directive isn't reversed. The local group has pushed for education as a means of developing peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The schools are run by the UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency

The Israeli government has enforced a blockade on the Gaza Strip since Hamas loyalists ousted their Fatah rivals at the end of May. The closing of the main border crossing from Israel at Karna has spelled disaster for the already beleaguered Palestinians residing there under military occupation. This has prompted a chorus of criticism from international aid agencies siting the Israeli policy of collective punishment as a violation of international law.

The Telegraph quoted representatives from Gisha and Oxfam on the border closures:

This amounts to the implementation of a policy of collective punishment which is in breach of international law because it involves the intentional inflicting of suffering on a civilian population. This is totally counterproductive for Israel as it strengthens the extremists in Gaza, said Miss Bashi, the director of the Israeli human rights group Gisha. Denying Gaza residents the ability to live in dignity, to lead normal lives, to work and support themselves and their families violates Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law, human rights law and its own national law.

If Karni's doors aren't re-opened soon and custom codes reinstated, the slide into all-out dependency on humanitarian assistance will be swift and inevitable, said Michael Bailey, an Oxfam spokesman.

As of July, Almost 66,000 Palestinians have been laid off because of economic problems caused by the Karni closure with 80 per cent of Gaza's businesses forced to shut, according to the Palestinian Trade Centre.
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Israel refuses to recognize the democratically elected Hamas government and has sought to undermine them by effectively sealing off the 1.5 million Palestinians from the West Bank and the rest of the world. It has also pressured foreign governments to boycott the Hamas lead government and impose economic sanctions. It sites 'security reasons' for the indefinite closure. The Israeli Defense Ministry has responded by saying it is currently considering whether the items should fall under the banner of 'humanitarian aid' and be allowed to cross.