No aid was sent on the Mavi Marmara, empty.

[Ari Ben-Canaan]

http://www.israelpolitik.org/2010/06/10/no-aid-found-on-turkish-vessel-mavi-marmara/

The only ship that was violent was not carrying any aid. Of the seven ships which announced their intentions to break Israel’s legal maritime blockade of Hamas-controlled Gaza, six were redirected without incident. The one vessel, Turkish-operated Mavi Marmara, was the only ship in the flotilla which ambushed Israeli soldiers. Over the past 10 days, it has been obvious that the dozens of  “peace activists” came ready and eager for a violent skirmish and were thus anything but peace loving individuals.

After contents of the ship were unloaded, it has been discovered that the Mavi Marmara did not contain a single ounce of aid. Not one box of food or medicine for the people of Gaza. Out of 7 ships, only 4  were actually bringing goods with them. As the largest boat in the Flotilla, the Mavi Marmara was loaded with thugs sent by the terrorist-affiliated Turkish organization IHH. While most on board the Mavi Marmara were not violent, those who did not want to fight the Israelis were sent to the lower levels of the ship, leaving the area where Israeli soldiers landed composed entirely of fighters. The aid from the 4 freighters carrying goods has been inspected for contraband and was brought to the Kerem Shalom border crossing with Gaza.

Yesterday, Israel allowed over 1,500 tons of aid, 250,000 liters of diesel, and 200 tons of Cooking Gas through the Kerem Shalom border into the Gaza Strip. Some of the imports for just June 9 include 181 tons of fruits and vegetables, 37 tons of flour, 76 tons of meat,  319 tons of animal feed, and 78 tons of essential humanitarian services. In addition, UNRWA and USAID brought in a combined 17 tons of essential humanitarian products through the crossing.

In response to Israel allowing the sending of nonessential aid including chips and candy, Hamas declared they would not allow the Palestinians they “govern” access to snacks. “We have three factories that make carbonated drinks. They say they want to allow in potato chips, but we have factories that produce more than enough to meet Gaza’s needs,” said Ziyad al-Zaza, economic and trade minister in Hamas’s Gaza-based government. While they refer to the aid coming in as “the first course,” what they are waiting for is “the main course,” meaning cement and iron. According to Robert Gates, America’s Secretary for Defense, “Construction materials haven’t gone for housing, they’ve gone for bunkers.”

With Hamas grandstanding for political purposes to the detriment of the Palestinians under their control, Israel will continue to make sure goods continue to come in daily. Stay tuned for future updates.

Of course.  What a shocker.