Hamas torches children's summer camps

Melanie Phillips
The Spectator
29 June '10

All those who believe Gaza is in need of more international aid should be aware of what has now happened twice to summer camps for children in Gaza that are run by the UN. Foreign Policy magazine reports:

Last night, 25 armed, masked men set fire to a U.N. summer camp at a beach in Nuseirat, Gaza, destroying inflatable pools and tents and roughing up a group of guards protecting the facility. It was the second attack on a U.N. recreation facility in just over a month. On May 23, a group of 30 masked, armed men set fire to another U.N. summer camp facility under construction in Gaza City. They also threatened to kill the U.N.'s top relief official in Gaza.

U.N. officials told Turtle Bay they don't know who attacked the recreation facilities but they suspect the vandals are Islamic extremists who object to programs that allow boys and girls to jointly swim, play volleyball, and learn about the arts, theater and other cultural activities.

This is yet another example of what I wrote about in the Daily Mail the other week – that the principle behind international aid programmes, that humanitarian assistance must be delivered regardless of the political situation because human need transcends politics or war, is totally flawed. All too often that aid is hijacked, trashed or used to prolong and deepen war or repression. In respect of Gaza, Barry Rubin makes a further related and salutary observation:

(Read full article)

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UNRWA condemns second attack on Summer Games locations in Gaza

IMRA

UNRWA
Press Release
Gaza
28 June 2010

(It would seem that the competition for summer camp is getting stiff.The UN's main competitor is the Islamic militant Hamas, which operates camps for some 100,000 children and offers lessons on Islam and military-style marching. Would you like to bet on whether the Hamas camp suffers the same fate? Y.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNRWA condemns second attack on Summer Games locations

At 0230 on Monday 28 June 2010, a group of approximately 25 armed and masked men attacked and set fire to and destroyed an UNRWA Summer Games recreation facility on the beach in Nuseirat, Gaza. The guards at the facility were physically assaulted and handcuffed but they were not injured. Fortunately no one else was hurt in the incident.

The attack is the second of its kind in a month, following on from an attack on Sunday 23 May 2010 when a group of approximately 30 armed and masked men attacked and set fire to an UNRWA Summer Games recreation facility then under construction on the beach in Gaza city.

UNRWA's Director of Operations in Gaza, John Ging, condemning this second "cowardly and despicable act" said that "the overwhelming success of UNRWA's Summer Games has once again obviously frustrated those that are intolerant of children's happiness." He went on to say that "this is another example of the growing levels of extremism in Gaza and further evidence, if that were needed, of the urgency to change the circumstances on the ground that are generating such extremism." Ging said that UNRWA's response would be simple: "UNRWA will rebuild the camp immediately and will continue with its Summer Games program which is so important for the physical and psychological wellbeing of Gaza's children, so many of whom are stressed and traumatised by their circumstances and experiences." Ging also complimented the
emergency services who were quick to respond and ensured that the damage caused by the attack was minimised.

UNRWA's Summer Games, conducted for the fourth year with the full support and involvement of the community, is the largest recreation program for Gaza's children providing a diversified set of activities including sports, swimming, arts and crafts, theatre and drama. The Summer Games commenced on 12 June and will run through 5 August, providing 1,200 summer camps for over 250,000 refugee children across the Gaza Strip.

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Attack on UNRWA Summer Games Camp

Dr. Aaron Lerner
IMRA
23 May '10

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Press Release

Ref: 39/2010
Date: 23 May 2010
Time: 10:00 GMT.

PCHR Strongly Condemns Attack on UNRWA Summer Games Camp

(Point #6 below really says it all. PCHR needs to paste their own words up on the wall with the reminder, "You get what you pay for".This is already well above the "Freedom Flotillas" ability to focus on the real needs." Y.)

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns the attack carried out by a large number of masked gunmen on a summer games camp organized by UNRWA at a beach in the west of Gaza City. The attackers set fire to parts of the camp and damaged its contents in the early morning. PCHR calls upon the government in the Gaza Strip to seriously investigate the attack, which constitutes part of the state of security chaos and misuse of weapons plaguing the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimony of the camp guard, Ibrahim Kamel 'Eleiwa, at approximately 2:30 on Sunday, 23 May 2010, a large number of masked gunmen broke into the UNRWA camp designated for the summer games at the beach in the Sheikh 'Ejleen area in the west of Gaza City. They attacked the guard with gun butts, handcuffed him and took his mobile phone. They then began damaging the contents of the camp, tearing down the canvas walls and setting fire to the equipment used by children.

Before they left, one of gunmen put a letter and three bullets in the pocket of the handcuffed guard. The letter included a threat against three UNRWA officials, including John Ging, Director UNRWA Operations in Gaza. At
approximately 5:00, the supervisor of the camp arrived with an interrogator, who inspected the area and took the guard to the police station for questioning.

It should be noted that UNRWA began holding summer games, which target children aged 7-15 in the summer of 2008. The camps have been held at UNRWA schools and at camps on the beach and included sport and art activities. The camp that was targeted this morning consists of nine sites, each of which stands on a 2-donum[1] area of land, forming a total area of 18 donums. Each site offers services to a total of 500 children during two separate morning and afternoon periods. The camp serves 4,500 children every two weeks. It was decided that four camps were going to be held this
summer in order to serve 18,000 children in addition to providing job opportunities for 540 persons. The first camp was scheduled to commence on 12 June 2010.

.... PCHR strongly condemns this attack, which constitutes part of the state of
security chaos and misuse of weapons plaguing the (OPT), and:

6. Emphasizes the importance of the rule of law and completely rejects the notion that any party can claim to be the guardian of morals and values of this people, and carries out whatever attacks it deems appropriate, as such actions constitute the epitome of security chaos and misuse of weapons.

(Read full press release)

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