Brutal Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza (2005): Photos

Brutal Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza (2005): Photos

Well, that got your attention didn't it?

So much talk of Israel's "ethnic cleansing" of Palestinians, I thought it was time for a reminder of the only actual ethnic cleansing which has taken place since the Israel war of independence in 1948.

And it wasn't Palestinian Arabs that were "cleansed" - it was Jews. And it happened in a town called Gush Katif.

Background

Gush Katif was referred to in the news as a "settlement bloc". In actual fact it was a pleasant seaside resort on the Mediterranean, located on the coast of the Gaza Strip near the border with the Sinai Desert, and home to about 8,000 men, women and children. Here are some photos of this beautiful place before the Israeli government, in a desperate attempt at making peace with the Palestinians, ethnically cleansed it of Jews in 2005:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/d2806c4cb74b.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b6416286d279.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/623ffd211b18.jpg[/atsimg]

Ethnic Cleansing

In an attempt to appease terrorists in Gaza, and win worldwide favour, Ariel Sharon ordered that Gaza be evacuated in 2005. This process took 7 days and is a painful chapter in Israeli history. Thousands of ordinary people were dragged from their homes and forced onto crowded buses to be "resettled" elsewhere in Israel. Four years on, many of them still have no homes and are living in temporary accomodation. Here are some photos of what is euphemistically referred to as "disengagement":

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/5120cb5f9717.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/4e656944a6b7.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/668d0dbb6372.jpg[/atsimg]

Aftermath

Here is what was left of Gush Katif after the Jewish presence was removed.

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/5839d24f4ee5.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/b22713bb7765.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/e37473a4b372.jpg[/atsimg]
[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/dfc5e4a07794.jpg[/atsimg]

Lots more information out there if people care to search for it. All too often people forget that in the Middle East conflict there is suffering on both sides, which is why I wanted to highlight this.

I wasn't paying attention when this happened. It was vaguely in the news, but I didn't connect with the tragedy of the situation at the time.

Next time, I'll be wide awake.

Originally posted by mattpryor
I thought it was time for a reminder of the only actual ethnic cleansing which has taken place since the Israel war of independence in 1948.

you call that the only actual ethnic cleansing since 1948?

i'm left asking myself only one question, how is it possible to delude yourself to this large a degree?

Originally posted by mattpryor

Brutal Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza (2005): Photos

Lots more information out there if people care to search for it. All too often people forget that in the Middle East conflict there is suffering on both sides, which is why I wanted to highlight this.

Thanks for this post, S & F. I hope your flame suit is nearby though.
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If the Israeli govt removes the Jews, then it can bomb the place with impunity.

There would never be any reports of Jewish causalities which would have a political backlash for the Israeli govt. This is purely an ass covering exercise so they can use military force.