The Gaza population is about 1.5 million, and most of these are impoverished. About 50% of the male population is without work. On 12/27/08 “Operation Cast Lead” was unleashed. This was a massive bombardment that killed 220 adults and children in the first 15 minutes. After this a massive invasion followed; which killed 1400 humans, and about 5000 were injured. Almost all factories were destroyed, as well as 40 mosques, and 4000 homes. The efforts to rebuild and provide jobs for the locals is not an option because cement, ballast and steel rods are only let in at 5% of the rate needed to rebuild. At the rate this is going it will take 78 years to rebuild Gaza.
The lack of work and extreme poverty has drawn many boys and men to scavenge for broken concrete in the evacuated Eli Sinai settlement and in the Erez border control post.
So far all the boys that have been shot have been done by a single shot, it has been confirmed that the weapon of use was a rifle in hands of a sniper. Many times the victims have been targeted and they are usually shot in the leg. The victims have not been a threat to these snipers and they have not carry any weapons that would indicate otherwise, all the victims have had their backs turn to the shooters.
Unfortunately, with all the dangers that this situation has caused many have no choice but to risk their lives, they have no other job to do.
Title: Silence is Complicity: The methodical shooting of boys at work in Gaza by snipers of the Israeli Occupation Force.
Author: Dr. David Halpin
Source: Global Research, January 20, 2011
URL: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=22879
Student Researcher: Yuliana Zamudio, Sonoma State University
Faculty advisor: James Dean, Sonoma State University