MIDEAST: Gaza Locked In Despite Truce

By Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani

CAIRO, Jul 7 (IPS) - Despite a torrent of mutual recriminations, the fragile truce between Israel and Palestinian resistance faction Hamas survived into its third week. Israel, however, has been slow to fulfil its pledge -- as laid down in an Egypt-brokered ceasefire agreement -- to allow desperately-needed humanitarian supplies into the outdoor prison that is the Gaza Strip.

"Repeated closures of the border crossings (by Israel)...are indicative of Israel's lack of seriousness regarding the Egyptian ceasefire agreement," Ismail Heniya, head of Gaza's ruling Hamas government, told reporters Friday (Jul. 4). "If the ceasefire is to survive, Israel must open the crossings (into the Gaza Strip) and lift its siege."

After several months of indirect negotiations in Cairo, Israel and Hamas -- along with smaller Palestinian resistance factions -- accepted a Tahdia, or "calming" of hostilities, early last month. Despite stated reservations by both sides, the truce officially took effect Jun. 19.

The arrangement calls for a halt to Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip in exchange for the cessation of Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel from positions within the strip. The ceasefire, however, does not extend to the West Bank, governed by the U.S.-backed Fatah movement of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.

Most importantly for Hamas -- and the Gaza Strip's roughly 1.5 million people -- the scheme also calls for the gradual reopening of border crossings into and out of the territory. Along with five Gaza-Israel crossings, this includes the flashpoint Rafah terminal, which represents the strip's sole transit point into Egypt and the outside world beyond.

Ever since Hamas wrested control of Gaza one year ago (after winning elections in 2006), Israel has kept its shared crossings with the enclave hermetically sealed. The Egyptian government, meanwhile, citing the lack of a formal treaty regulating border protocol, put the finishing touches on the blockade by sealing the Rafah terminal as well.

Backed by the U.S. and the EU, the de facto siege has destroyed the Gaza Strip's economy and deprived much of its population of vital commodities, including foodstuffs and medicine. The situation has prompted a number of commentators to describe the embattled territory as the world's largest concentration camp.

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