ISRAEL deliberately
blocked the United Nations from building up vital food
supplies in Gaza that feed a million people daily before
the launch of its war against Hamas, according to a senior
UN official in Jerusalem.
In a scathing critique of Israeli actions leading up
to the conflict, the UN's chief humanitarian co-ordinator
in Israel, the former Australian diplomat Maxwell Gaylard,
accused Israel of failing to honour its commitments
to open its border with Gaza during several months of
truce from June 19 last year.
"The Israelis would not let us facilitate a regular
and sufficient flow of supplies into the Strip,"
Mr Gaylard said.
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The chief spokesman for Israel's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Yigal Palmor, said the claims were "unqualified
bullshit".
"At no time was there a shortage of food in Gaza
over the past three weeks," Mr Palmor said.
