AS THE WORLD WELCOMES 2009, PALESTINIANS CONTINUED TO FACE HELL ON EARTH.

By Emuran Saidy, New York City

As the year 2008 is getting to a close, the Middle East Crisis is in full gear.  Israel continues to hit Hamas with all its military lethal might for five days in a row.  This Israeli offensive has created untold human sufferings to the people of Gaza Strip.  They are denied of food and medical supplies for the sick and wounded.  Hundreds of Hamas militants died and many innocent civilians including women and children. Yet, the Israeli government promised to continue hammering Hamas despite a French government proposal for a truce.

The Israeli heavy-handed show of power has stirred international condemnation across the globe through demonstration in major world cities.

As both sides are accusing each other for provoking the war, there is an international agreement for a cease-fire.  This will enable aid groups to give much-needed goods to the people of Gaza who are currently in dire need of help.   Mr. Karen Abu Zayd the commissioner General of the U.N. Relief and Work Agency told CNN that “more than 150 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were allowed into the territory on Tuesday” adding that “ the situation in the region remains desperate.

The Israeli military offensive has  made Gaza to be without fuel, power and electricity.  Among the targets of the Israeli  military were the office of the Hamas Prime minister Ismail Haniya, Hamas interior ministry, a lot of tunnels linking Gaza to Egypt through the Rafah were also targetd by the israeli military  amongst others.

The israeli offensive will go a long way to weakeninig Hamas military strenghth and shake its power grip of the Gaza Strip.  However, Hamas promised to defend gaza in the face of the israel offensive.

The problems facing the Gaza hospitals right now numerous.  The hospitals are without adequate  medical supplies.  The hospitals are also facing high death injury ratio.  Many people died of wounds that are treatable but the necessary resources needed to treat them is lacking.

There is news reports that the Israeli government will continue to pound Gaza as its cabinet met to discuss the progress of the bombing.  It is also believe that Israeli military might go for a ground invasion of the Gaza but the the weather condition might make that a difficulity.  However, it is believe, the Israeli ground forces are only waiting for an order for the commanders.

The israel-palestinian conflict has always been a headache for many American presidents.  The Bush administration has isolated the then government of the late Yassa Arafat.  Since his death, there has been few progress to creating a democratic palestinian state to be side by with Israeli.

Now that bush is going, the incoming administration of the President-Elect Barack Obama must do all he could to bring a lasting peace to the region.  He should start assemblying his middle east team to be ready and start the peace process immediately.  Hilary Clinton, has a lot of work to do in the Middle East.  The Israeli Palistinian conflict, the Iran Nuclear Ambition, the War in iraq, the tension between India and Pakistan, the war in Afghanistan and many more other world issues that she will face.  If this mean for her to tap her husband approach, as long as it will bring a lasting peace between the two sides should be welcomed.  Another approach could be having a direct talk with all parties involved and come up with a concrete plan that will bring peace to the region.  In doing so, her office must not issolate any group as was the Bush Administration’s approach.  The incoming administration must do all it can to put an end to all the senseless killing and provocation from both ends.

It should be noted that that HAMAS (Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamia) meaning Islamic Resistance Movement  is in existance for about twenty-one years.  It is founded in Egypt with the goal of creating an islamic fundamentalist Palestinian state.