Shame on us all, for Gaza is forgotten

When Gaza is being left alone by the Arab world and the international community to fend off the devastating impact of the three-year-old Israeli blockade, it is left to the individual efforts of peace activists to answer the cry of Gazans.

An international aid convoy of nine ships under the banner ‘Freedom Flotilla' set off from Istanbul on Saturday, despite Israeli threats of stopping it even by force.

The ships are carrying some 5,000 tonnes of reconstruction materials, school supplies and medical equipment, according to the organisers, the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza.

It is a symbolic initiative to raise awareness of the plight of Gazans and the inhumane policies of the Israeli occupation. But the aid convoy has become the main story because it is the only move to support Gaza and challenge the Israeli siege.

The Arab League has failed to shoulder its responsibility in Gaza. The Palestinian National Authority, as well as other Arab governments, have been for long oblivious to the suffering of the Palestinians in the war-ravaged strip.

Even when Arab states recently put some conditions for the resumption of indirect talks with Israel, ending the Gaza siege was not one of them. Freezing the expansion of colonies in the West Bank is fundamental to the Palestinian Question. But so is the livelihood of 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza without adequate food, basic medical supplies and with a ridiculously high unemployment rate.

The plight of Gazans was not even mentioned in the recent talks between the Palestinian negotiators and US peace envoy George Mitchell. Isn't it strange that one hardly hears the word ‘Gaza' in Arab meetings these days? Obviously Arab governments have abdicated their responsibility towards the Palestinians and left their fate in the hands of Israel and a few aid organisations. Shame on us all.