A group that plans to sail a shipload of cement to Gaza said that Israel should not continue to make money by requiring materials for the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) to come through its ports (IMRA, 6/19).
The group makes the siege seem to be done for money. It is done for counter-terrorism. This is war, declared by the Arabs. Sieges are as old as history. If Gaza had its own port, it would import heavy weapons. Can’t be allowed!
Israel banned cement shipments to Gaza. It doesn’t make money from what it doesn’t let through. It bans cement, because the last time it let in cement and steel, Hamas used most of it for bunkers and weapons. The group and other protesters pretend these materials are used only for civilian buildings.
Protesters contend that Gaza should be allowed to rebuild from the war. Why should Israel let it? Most of the buildings destroyed were used by Hamas for warfare. The war isn’t over, just suspended.
Who makes money from shipments to the P.A.? Israel may get some port fees, but it loses a lot of money from terrorist destruction in Israel. When Israel allows shipments in, it collects excise taxes for the P.A.. Hamas exploits the siege to tax what it smuggles. Those taxes are a main support for it.
To see how Hamas uses the money it gets, click here:
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