Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 4:10 PM

Comments (0)     E-mail E-mail article      Print Print      Share Share

UN humanitarian chief criticizes Gaza blockade

The U.N. humanitarian chief says Israel's blockade of Gaza is not helping its security or weakening Hamas' hold on the territory.

The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS —

The U.N. humanitarian chief says Israel's blockade of Gaza is not helping its security or weakening Hamas' hold on the territory.

John Holmes also warned that as bad as the hundreds of tunnels that bypass the blockade are, Gaza would have difficulty surviving if Egypt succeeds in blocking them because they are a conduit for badly needed commercial goods including food and medicine.

The tunnels are also widely believed to be used for smuggling cash and weapons to Hamas.

Egypt has a fence along Gaza's southern border and is reinforcing the area with underground metal plates to shut down the tunnels.

Holmes, who visited Gaza earlier this month during a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories, said he again called on Israel to allow the normal entry of goods.

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print      Share Share

More Nation & World

UPDATE - 10:01 AM
Rebels tighten hold on Libya oil port

UPDATE - 09:29 AM
Reality leads US to temper its tough talk on Libya

UPDATE - 09:38 AM
2 Ark. injection wells may be closed amid quakes

Armed guards save Dutch couple from Somali pirates

Navy to release lewd video investigation findings

More Nation & World headlines...

Comments
No comments have been posted to this article.

advertising


Get home delivery today!

Video

Advertising

AP Video

Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech

Marketplace

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising