Friday, October 19, 2012

Blog 8: Document on Calorie Figures in Gaza Blockade Stirs Dispute


In Jerusalem the Israeli military calculated the number of calories the citizens of Gaza needed to consume in order to avoid malnutrition during the blockade imposed on the Palestinian territory from 2007- 2010. The Defense Ministry released this document under a court order on Wednesday. The military insisted that they have never used these guidelines to restrict the flow of food but calculations have shown that limits have been imposed on food imports. There has been further evidence to conclude that Israel has used food as a weapon. A military spokesperson said that the calculation was made to be used as a safeguard to avoid humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The document was made public after and Israeli rights group battled to make it public. Israel calculated that the daily requirement was 2,279 calories per person. This is in line with the World Health Organization guidelines. The Goal of this policy was to wage an economic warfare so Gaza’s economy would freeze and create pressure on the Hamas government. The result after this document was released was that military officials enforced the blockade to allow frozen salmon and low-fat yogurt to be sent through. Underground tunnels have been built so go around the blockade. Food has been smuggled from Egypt to Gaza.  
                This article is significant because it shows that the Israeli military used food as a weapon. Despite the calorie count that says will stop the people of Gaza from becoming malnourished the military limited imports through the blockade. Because of the limitation of food imports people were unable to receive the food that they needed to have the correct nutrients to help them survive. Food shouldn't be used as a weapon given that it is a necessity to survive. 

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