For the past two months, Israel has cut off deliveries of flour and other essential food items to the Gaza Strip. A staggering two thirds of the bakeries and many restaurants have been forced to close. The agriculture industry is on the verge of collapse because of repeated closures of the export terminal at Karni. The closure has caused significant economic hardship to Gaza farmers and businessmen. Cement, steel and fertilizers cannot enter into the Strip. Greenhouse owners are losing about $500,000 a day during the peak of the harvest season for peppers, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes.
The blockade is in complete violation of the border agreements. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that the head of the Southern Command, Yoav Galant, and Aviv Kochavi, commander of the Gaza Division, strongly recommended the reopening of Karni and said there were no security-related concerns. But Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the closure to continue. It is unconscionable that Israel is allowing innocent men, women and children to slowly starve. How can our government continue to support such egregious polices of the Israeli government? I call on all concerned citizens to contact their representatives in Washington and demand that Karni be reopened to allow the free flow of goods to Gaza.
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