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Pushed to extremism by despair

Aug 31,2014 - Last updated at Aug 31,2014

According to the international group Shelter Cluster, it would take 20 years to repair the material damage caused by Israel’s 50 days of bombardment of Gaza.

The organisation seeks to assist different clusters at national level as well as other non-refugee related coordination mechanisms by providing services in a timely and coordinated manner in order to improve the humanitarian effort, and reinforce preparedness and technical capabilities in order to respond to humanitarian crises.

The organisation’s assessment of the destruction in Gaza, chaired by the Norwegian Refugee Council with the participation of the UN Refugee Agency and the International Committee of the Red Cross, emphasised the complexities involved in a general reconstruction programme for Gaza, which some Palestinian officials estimate will cost over $6 billion. 

No less than 17,000 housing units were completely destroyed in Gaza during the bombing. Gaza already has an alarming housing deficit, conservatively put at 75,000.

For reconstruction, even the 20-year period suggested by Shelter Cluster is contingent on the extent of Israel’s willingness to relax its blockade of Gaza, the speed with which goods, especially construction material, is allowed to enter the strip, a process dictated by Israel’s whim. 

Egypt and Norway are now proposing holding a donor conference on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gaza.

Israel’s war, which took Gaza 20 years back, spells out more suffering, frustrations and desperation for the population of this impoverished strip. 

Desperation, unemployment and poverty are a potent driver of individuals, especially the younger ones, into the arms of militants, who, from the look of things in the region, are becoming more extremist as time passes.

Israel would be well advised to think of the consequences its aggression and indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, together with the denial of shelter and means of livelihood for its people, will have, particularly of itself.

If Israel wants a durable peace with Gaza, it should facilitate, rather than hinder, the promotion and enjoyment of a decent standard of living for the people in the strip.

Short of that, the Palestinians in Gaza are bound to lose hope and veer towards an armed struggle that would be equally devastating for them and for the Israelis.

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