No hummus for Hamas

Apparently supplies of lentils and chickpeas have been blocked from entering Gaza by the Israelis, on the grounds that they're luxuries not essentials. I've been to the Middle East several times: falafel, hummus - they eat nothing else but chickpeas and lentils. It's like telling Italians they can't have pasta. (Which is banned from entering Gaza too). The alternative explanation is that they're a threat to national security. As a vegan I have put chickpeas and lentils, and indeed pasta, to imaginative use over the years, but I've never endangered anyone's life in doing so.

On a more serious note, the International Development Secretary has been out in Gaza this weekend, and has announced £30m in aid, bringing the total to £47m. And he also called for a relaxation of the restrictions on certain goods crossing the border which, as well as the foodstuffs mentioned above, has also included construction materials and medical supplies.

Gaza - good news for now

Was going to blog about the Israeli ceasefire last night, but thought anything I posted would have been out of date before anyone read it in the morning. Glad that Hamas have now joined in.

UK has announced an extra £20m aid, and the priority now has to be getting that through, which means urgent negotiations on re-opening the crossings and - the quid pro quo - closing the tunnels and stopping the arms smuggling. And we need a long-term settlement; not much point rebuilding Gaza if it's going to be bombed and bulldozed again.

This is what Gordon said:

"Our first priority - a humanitarian imperative - is to get food and medical treatment to those who so urgently need it. We will focus our efforts on support to the UN agencies who are doing such courageous work in the most difficult environments. We will help transport those civilians in most need of treatment to hospitals in the West Bank. We will also support children traumatised by the violence, rebuild schools and hospitals and clear unexploded bombs and shells. Israel must allow full access to humanitarian workers and to relief supplies. We must also end Gaza's economic isolation by reopening the crossings that link it to the outside world."

Catching up

Back home now. Catching up on coverage of Gaza, having had only intermittent access to the internet and newspapers while I was away, and no TV at all. Here's what caught my attention...

I don't normally bother with the Indy's website, but they've got some interesting pieces by Robert Fisk and Johann Hari, plus Mark Steel doing what he does. The Times has a different slant on it, pointing out a possible risk to Israel's 'secret' nuclear plant. The Guardian has an 'interactive guide' to the attacks, which at first I thought sounded like a sick computer game, but it gives a good picture of what has been happening and where. And the interactive guide to the occupation of the West Bank is excellent although it's from May 2007.

Of course what's been happening in the last week or so is only part of the story; the BBC site is good on the impact of the economic blockade since June 2007. And the Times gives details of Britain's new commitment of £6.9m humanitarian aid to Gaza, but highlights the difficulties we will have in getting it to where it's needed. More on the DFID website, including a couple of statements from the boss (and a report on his pre-Xmas visit to Bristol. Seems like a very long time ago now.)

As far as I know there have been two letters circulating amongst Labour MPs - the letter that appeared in the Guardian on New Year's Eve, and also a letter to the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband. Will update as things happen.