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| U.N. Agency Suspends Aid After Protest in Gaza | |
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| JERUSALEM — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has indefinitely suspended food distribution in the Gaza Strip after protesters angry over the curtailing of a cash-assistance program for the poor stormed the agency’s main compound in Gaza City on Thursday, an official said Friday. | JERUSALEM — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has indefinitely suspended food distribution in the Gaza Strip after protesters angry over the curtailing of a cash-assistance program for the poor stormed the agency’s main compound in Gaza City on Thursday, an official said Friday. |
| “There will be no food tomorrow,” said Adnan Abu-Hasna, a spokesman for the agency, which provides nutrition, education, health and other services to some 815,000 Palestinian refugees, nearly half of Gaza’s population. “The food-distribution centers and the relief offices will be closed in the coming days unless there’s a real security being provided to the life of our staff, because there is a great concern about their safety.” | “There will be no food tomorrow,” said Adnan Abu-Hasna, a spokesman for the agency, which provides nutrition, education, health and other services to some 815,000 Palestinian refugees, nearly half of Gaza’s population. “The food-distribution centers and the relief offices will be closed in the coming days unless there’s a real security being provided to the life of our staff, because there is a great concern about their safety.” |
| The agency provides three-month rations of flour, oil, sugar, rice and other staples to about 25,000 people a day through scores of centers scattered throughout Gaza’s refugee camps. While they and the relief offices that provide psychological and other support are shuttered, the 246 schools and 21 health clinics that the United Nations runs in Gaza will operate as usual. | The agency provides three-month rations of flour, oil, sugar, rice and other staples to about 25,000 people a day through scores of centers scattered throughout Gaza’s refugee camps. While they and the relief offices that provide psychological and other support are shuttered, the 246 schools and 21 health clinics that the United Nations runs in Gaza will operate as usual. |
| Ismail Haniya, prime minister of Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, told reporters Friday that his government would pursue “urgent and quick talks” with the agency in hopes of restoring the food distribution and other services “in a state of security and stability.” | Ismail Haniya, prime minister of Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, told reporters Friday that his government would pursue “urgent and quick talks” with the agency in hopes of restoring the food distribution and other services “in a state of security and stability.” |
| But Abu Ahmad al-Massri, a 42-year-old father of seven who lives in the Beach refugee camp in Gaza City and participated in the demonstration Thursday, said he would continue to protest the ending of the cash program. A former clothes manufacturer, Mr. Massri is unemployed and said he had been relying on the grants since 2004. He said his aid had been reduced over the years to about $80 every three months from $250. | But Abu Ahmad al-Massri, a 42-year-old father of seven who lives in the Beach refugee camp in Gaza City and participated in the demonstration Thursday, said he would continue to protest the ending of the cash program. A former clothes manufacturer, Mr. Massri is unemployed and said he had been relying on the grants since 2004. He said his aid had been reduced over the years to about $80 every three months from $250. |
| “They want to make reductions, they should reduce the costs they spend for their bodyguards,” Mr. Massri said of the agency. “I am ready to die in defending the food of my family. If I lost one of my kids it’s easier for me than losing my food.” | “They want to make reductions, they should reduce the costs they spend for their bodyguards,” Mr. Massri said of the agency. “I am ready to die in defending the food of my family. If I lost one of my kids it’s easier for me than losing my food.” |
| The violent protest Thursday followed days of smaller demonstrations after a decision April 1 to cancel a program in which the relief agency has provided 21,000 families, totaling 100,000 people, with about $4 million in direct aid per year — $10 per person every three months. The agency said that the program was ended because of a $67 million deficit and that it had offered recipients temporary, three-month jobs, instead. Though the jobs would pay double the cash grants, refugees were concerned they would not last. | The violent protest Thursday followed days of smaller demonstrations after a decision April 1 to cancel a program in which the relief agency has provided 21,000 families, totaling 100,000 people, with about $4 million in direct aid per year — $10 per person every three months. The agency said that the program was ended because of a $67 million deficit and that it had offered recipients temporary, three-month jobs, instead. Though the jobs would pay double the cash grants, refugees were concerned they would not last. |
| After several smaller protests at offices of the agency throughout the week, about 100 people joined a demonstration Thursday organized by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s popular committee for refugees, carrying signs and banners including one that read, “Don’t deprive our children of their rights in life.” After some of the refugees broke into the compound, the police eventually dispersed the demonstration. | After several smaller protests at offices of the agency throughout the week, about 100 people joined a demonstration Thursday organized by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s popular committee for refugees, carrying signs and banners including one that read, “Don’t deprive our children of their rights in life.” After some of the refugees broke into the compound, the police eventually dispersed the demonstration. |
| “They have the right to demonstrate peacefully and to protest any decision,” Mr. Abu-Hasna, the agency spokesman, said. “But to reach that level is really unacceptable. They jumped over the walls, they stormed the gates, they began to scream and to threaten also. What happened yesterday is crossing all the red lines.” | “They have the right to demonstrate peacefully and to protest any decision,” Mr. Abu-Hasna, the agency spokesman, said. “But to reach that level is really unacceptable. They jumped over the walls, they stormed the gates, they began to scream and to threaten also. What happened yesterday is crossing all the red lines.” |
| A statement issued Thursday by the P.L.O. refugee committee blamed the agency for the protest. “What happened yesterday was a result of a state of anger and boiling in the refugees,” it said, adding that the agency “has neglected our warnings.” | A statement issued Thursday by the P.L.O. refugee committee blamed the agency for the protest. “What happened yesterday was a result of a state of anger and boiling in the refugees,” it said, adding that the agency “has neglected our warnings.” |
| Though unrelated, the protests over the elimination of the cash assistance came amid days of unrest in Gaza and the West Bank over a Palestinian prisoner who died of cancer in Israeli custody, and the killing by Israeli soldiers Wednesday night of two teenagers who approached an army post during a demonstration. | Though unrelated, the protests over the elimination of the cash assistance came amid days of unrest in Gaza and the West Bank over a Palestinian prisoner who died of cancer in Israeli custody, and the killing by Israeli soldiers Wednesday night of two teenagers who approached an army post during a demonstration. |
| Israeli and Palestinian security forces were on high alert Friday for protests after the noon prayers, but by 2 p.m. no major incidents had been reported. Access to Al Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City was limited to women and men over 50 to prevent clashes that have become routine there in recent months. | Israeli and Palestinian security forces were on high alert Friday for protests after the noon prayers, but by 2 p.m. no major incidents had been reported. Access to Al Aksa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City was limited to women and men over 50 to prevent clashes that have become routine there in recent months. |
| Tony Blair, the international Middle East peace envoy, issued a statement Friday morning expressing concern “about the deteriorating security situation on the ground.” | Tony Blair, the international Middle East peace envoy, issued a statement Friday morning expressing concern “about the deteriorating security situation on the ground.” |
| “The situation in the West Bank is very volatile,” Mr. Blair said. “I am deeply troubled by the loss of life and call on the government of Israel to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with the demonstrations in the West Bank. I also call on all sides to avoid public statements that could further fuel the tensions.” | “The situation in the West Bank is very volatile,” Mr. Blair said. “I am deeply troubled by the loss of life and call on the government of Israel to exercise maximum restraint in dealing with the demonstrations in the West Bank. I also call on all sides to avoid public statements that could further fuel the tensions.” |
Fares Akram contributed reporting from the Gaza Strip. | Fares Akram contributed reporting from the Gaza Strip. |