COGAT Report Contradicts UN Chief

Gaza marketPic: Islamic Jihad website

Truck loaded with supplies entering GazaPic: IDF website

During a visit to the Gaza Strip at the beginning of the week, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commented about the Strip’s residents suffering and harsh living conditions.

Prior to his Gaza visit, which took place on Sunday and marked Ban’s second trip to the Strip since Operation Cast Lead last year, Ban told reporters: "I'll go to Gaza to express my solidarity with the plight of the Palestinian people there and to underscore the need to end the blockade." He added that the siege on Gaza was causing what he called "unacceptable human suffering".

Ban did announce during the visit that Israel would launch a housing project in the town of Khan Younis, which would involve the rebuilding of 150 housing units, a mill, an UNRWA school and sewage infrastructure. Ban said that this while this is a positive move, the Strip's residents were dealing with harsh living conditions.

However, a recent report released by the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) seems to contradict Ban’s claims of a siege on Gaza.

The report summarizes Israel’s humanitarian activity in the Gaza Strip during 2009. It begins by claiming that Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June 2007, and that it is in constant armed conflict with Israel and does not recognize Israel’s right to exists. However, the report goes on to say: “Despite the Hamas control on the Gaza Strip, the COGAT and Erez CLA officers in coordination with the PA civil committee in the Gaza Strip (of the Fatah government) continue to coordinate on the health, infrastructure and other humanitarian issues.”

The report then goes on to summarize in detail all the humanitarian efforts in Gaza. For example, the report states that “Unprecedented humanitarian efforts to the Gaza Strip population were held during operation ‘Cast Lead’”, including 1,503 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid and 45 ambulances which entered the Strip during the operation. Diesel was provided to the power station and for UNRWA activities. In addition, Israel implemented what is called a “humanitarian cease” for 3 hours every day, during which the IDF ceased activities in order to allow residents to purchase food, move about and repair infrastructure.

Israel’s humanitarian efforts in Gaza did not end with Operation Cast Lead, and efforts were made throughout the 2009 year. The report discusses health and says that 10,544 patients and companions exited the Gaza strip during 2009 in order to receive medical treatment in Israel. Medical equipment was transferred on a regular basis and Israel assisted Gaza during the H1N1 flu outbreak, both in treating patients and in transferring 44,500 vaccines to the Strip.

Furthermore, Israel assisted Gaza with electricity. According to the report, between April and October, maintenance work was conducted in the power station by Siemens. In addition, over 105,701,740 litres of diesel were delivered to the station.

Israel helped the Strip in the economy, and preserved the activities of the private sector and the banking system in the Gaza Strip. 257 Palestinian businessmen were allowed to exit the Strip to Israel, the West Bank and abroad. Over 1.1 billion NIS was transferred for salaries and activities of the international organization and for salaries of PA employees.

The report also discusses Israel’s humanitarian work with the international community. In 2009, a significant increase in the number of international staff members that entered the Gaza Strip was recorded: 21,200 foreign staff members and over 400 diplomatic delegates entered the Strip. In addition, 147 students exited for academic studies abroad , according to requests made by the international community. Equipment was transferred to the Strip for UNRWA’s summer camps. Routine meetings were held between COGAT and the international community to organize and coordinate these activities.

Israel also approved the export of flowers and strawberries from the Gaza Strip together with the Netherlands. 7,325,476 flowers and 54 tons of strawberries were exported. 10,871 cattle entered the Gaza Strip during 2009, mainly for the holidays of Ramadan and Eidal-Edha. 374 Christians were allowed to exit the Strip for Christmas in Israel and Bethlehem. Israel even made humanitarian efforts in the sports field, approving for players of the Palestinian football team to exit Gaza for training purposed and for games in the West Bank and abroad.

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