Another Side to the Story

I’m sure we have all witnessed pictures like this one on television or in newspapers illustrating the poverty within the Gaza strip. The pictures are normally accompanied by anti Israeli commentary blaming scenes like this on Israel for it’s continued blockade of Gaza. It is of course heart wrenching to see images of children scrabbling about in a dump to assist in their survival and no right thinking persons takes any pleasure in the suffering of others, however, she should be careful not to swallow everything we’re feed by the media. There is always ‘another side to the story’.

The Blame Game

Is Israel justified in her blockade of the Gaza strip? The international media seems intent on pointing the finger of blame at Israel for the poverty within Gaza but who is really to blame. Surely Israel is well within her rights to block the free movement of goods into an area from where thousands of rockets are fired each year at innocent Israeli citizens! If the citizens of Kent started firing rockets across into Calais do you not think the French government would take some action? The reality is the Palestinians are their own worst enemies.

The blockade may cause poverty but what choice does the nation of Israel have? They must attempt to stop the rockets being smuggled into Gaza. The blockage has actually had some great successes not least the capture, in March of the German registered M/V Victoria bound for Gaza with a variety of munitions which had originated in Iran. As long as the militant Islamists within Gaza continue to desire the destruction of Israel then the blockade that impoverishes their own people will be justified to continue.

Unreported Facts

Since the beginning of the blockage of Gaza the Israeli authorities have sent trucks by the thousands carrying humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip. Goods such as medicine, baby food, building materials and diesel fuel have poured in from Israel on a daily basis but you never hear about this on the mainstream media.

According the International Monetary Fund the economy of Gaza has grown by double-digit proportions in recent years. While the major Western economies stagnate and fear a slide back into recession the economy of Gaza and the West Bank for that matter are literally booming. This economic growth in Gaza manifests itself in new luxury hotels, water parks and shopping malls, below are a few images that show the other side of the story.




Gaza’s New Shopping Mall





The Grand Palace Hotel, Gaza




The Gaza Water Park





I do not begrudge the citizens of Gaza a bit of leisure time and luxury. I just wish there was a bit more honesty on the part of the international media or maybe it’s not a lack of honesty but rather a lack of scrutiny as they swallow the propaganda of Hamas. A good journalist should always look at the other side of the story.