Remembering Gaza One Year after Operation Cast Lead

One year ago, on December 27th, 2008, Israel began its bombardment on the Gaza Strip in what became known as Operation Cast Lead. The fighting which ended on January 18, 2009 killed 1,385 Palestinians, of which 762 did not take part in any of the hostilities. 13 Israelis died during the offensive, 9 soldiers within Gaza and 4 by Qassam rockets shot by Hamas from the Gaza strip (btselem.org). The fighting also resulted in severe damage to buildings, agricultural land, electricity, and water resources. Even one year after the fighting, much of the damage has still not been fixed due to the continuing siege by Israel on the Gaza strip. Buildings still lie in shambles as the Israeli authorities will not allow concrete and other building supplies through the borders in order to rebuild. Water resources are extremely limited as they have been contaminated by sewage as a result of sanitation infrastructure being destroyed. It is increasingly difficult for Palestinians to gain permits to exist Gaza, leaving 1.5 million people confined to a 146 square mile area. The economy has been destroyed as there is little capability to export the goods manufactured by farmers and fisherman must stay within 6 km of the shore of the Mediterranean Sea or they will be shot at by Israeli navy vessels.

As B'tselem (an Israeli Human Rights organization) states, the reason given by the Israeli government for the siege on Gaza is for security. B'Tselem argues, however, that the siege does the exact opposite in creating further security threats for Israel. The limitation on goods allowed in and out of the Gaza strip, has created an atmosphere in which the smuggling tunnels run by Hamas are necessary and are a growing business. Necessary goods are smuggled through the tunnels and increases support for Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It is necessary for Human rights in the Palestinian territories to end the siege and also for the security of the Israeli public.


Many people around the world are remembering Gaza at this time of the one year anniversary of Operation Cast Lead with vigils, movies, public events, and peace marches. The Gaza Freedom March took place today. Over 1300 people from 43 different countries gathered in a non-violent, mass march to the Israeli border to protest the blockade on Gaza. Read more HERE.

Help remember Gaza at the beginning of this New Year by reading more on B'Tselem's website on Operation Cast Lead and the Siege on Gaza.

You can also take ACTION by sending a letter written by Churches for Middle East Peace to your representative urging them to sign the McDermott-Ellison Letter about Gaza to President Obama. Click HERE.