The Gaza interuption

We're back this week having been away for a few days at The Party doing spooky things of a more child-like nature which is more the sort of thing I like but even then you can't easily avoid what's going on around which in a way isn't so dissimilar to how things were as a child where at least with me childhood was intermingled with with the impact of terrorism and of war being in the family newspapers and on the tv.

Thus in a way that the Invasion of an Israeli kibbutz and horrific murder of over 1,400 women, men and children and the subsequent action in Gaza by the Israeli military should rear its head perhaps ought not to have surprised me although at least people knew when enough had been said and promptly changed subject.

While many felt their sympathies were with Israel, an understandable concern has been getting aid to those most in need, ensuring that would not be taken by Hamas, the terrorist organization that is very much on their ground there and nothing usable for war would be smuggled in.

Related to that is what to do with the sick and injured in hospitals short on medicines and having no mains electricity reliant upon oil fired generators and Hamas having taken oil from all over Gaza for their conflict means they are desperately short of the means of keeping literally the lights on and medicines cool.

Israel is justifiably concerned about oil as aid being intercepted by Hamas which you can't rule out although that's no consolation to the hospitals and so why many of us feel sadly Hamas brought this upon the Gaza people and it could never go unpunished, we are concerned, moved even, to feel international bodies not the least the United Nations need to step in running a safe program, fully escorted to get aid in without the risk of it being used by Hamas for war.

Fortunately some aid is getting through now, although oil remains a sticking point - and why is that 18-30 year men feel it's okay to raid a UN Aid Store helping themselves to what is there for those in need - and some evacuations have began to Egypt including that of those holding UK Citizenship to flee.

It's not perfect but at least something that will make a difference in a messy situation where the only long term answer is learning to live in peace and respect for each other's rights.