AboutPierre-Alexandre De Bavay M.A. Expertise I can answer any question that deals with geopolitics, political stability and the role of big powers in the Middle East. My strongest background deals with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but I have a good knowledge of the region going from the Caucasus to Egypt, the Arabic Peninsula and Central Asia. Even if your question does not directly deal with this, I will try to answer it anyway.
Experience I worked for the Center for American Studies in Brussels and for the European Institute for International Relations as political analyst.
Organizations CAS, EIIR
Education/Credentials BA Political Science
MA International Relations
MA American Studies
Question QUESTION: Former U.S. President Carter feels that Israel's refusal (despite being asked by him) to provide to Gazans more than 15% to 25% of what they need in terms of food, fuel, etc. is what led eventually to the extreme hostilities there. He bases these percentages on what was provided when Israel was in charge of Gaza. The only way now for Gazans to get what they need and ward off starvation is via their tunnels, which Israel destroys as conduits for weaponry. My question is: What is Israel's justification for denying these essentials to the Gazans even when there are no hostilities?
ANSWER: Hi Richard,
Thank you for the question. Israel's strategy towards Gaza has not really been homogenous since Tsahal and colonies retreated from the Gaza strip in 2005/2006. Israel though that a peace process would have been easier to build after a retreat. The problem is that Gaza is geopolitically isolated even if bordering Egypt.
To answer your question directly, I would say that there is merely no justification. Israel is currently leading an offensive against Hamas and is willing to avoid any rearmament. The consequence is unfortunately obvious : by filtering aid from other foreign countries to Gazans, Israel also prevents the reconstruction of cities, hospitals and so on...As regards the tunnels, the situation is the same. Israel fears that Hamas would use them to obtain weapons. And that is indeed the case.
Therefore, the denial of these essentials as you say is the result of a strategy which aims at controlling what comes inside Gaza. To use a word that I dislike, this is a 'collateral damage'. But this does not mean it should be authorized. I think that what Jimmy Carter said is indeed correct : by treating Gazans in that way, Israel is merely launching an escalation that will prevent the peace process to expand for several years.
I hope this answers you question.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thanks very much for your insights. I appreciate the trouble you've taken to respond to my concerns.
However, what I glean by way of a direct answer to my quest for Israel's justification is just that there is "none." Surely I'm not the first person to raise this question. So Israel must have some justification, even if a poor one, for this inhumane action.
Further, what is Israel's *reason* for so limiting food etc. to Gaza, to 15% to 25% of what's needed? If they just want to let all the Gazans starve, why not provide zero percent? Or if not, why not provide 100%? Even if they don't have a good justification, they must have an understandable motivation.
Answer Hi again,
Well, it is difficult to see whether Israel is truly willing to prevent aid from entering Gaza or if it is an undesirable consequence of the conflict. What I can say is that there is truly a will to avoid Hamas to get new weaponry. As regards the food and healthcare supply to less than 25%, I do not really know. And I am not even sure that Israel perfectly knows it either.
Now the question is : "why would Tsahal voluntarily prevent more than 25% aid to enter Gaza ?". This may be linked to a large scale strategy : by limiting the aid, Israel might be willing to avoid full starvation of the people and at the same time weaken the population and make things easier for the Israeli army. The other hypothesis may be the following : Israel might be willing to show the Palestinians from Gaza that this is all Hamas' fault and that the conflict would cease if Hamas surrenders.
Hope this helps, but this is the limit of my knowledge on that question.
