Traditional Ramadan celebrations are barely present in Gaza as the population suffers under torturous economic sanctions, writes Erica Silverman "I am making less than 10 per cent of what I made last Ramadan," says vendor Mahmoud Al-Halu, leaning over bins of dates and other holiday sweets for sale in Gaza City's central market. "The [Israeli] occupation has closed the borders because the Hamas government has been cut off from the world. My message to [US President] Bush is: 'Let us live!'" he cries. Al-Halu purchased $6,000 worth of food products over the past two months that never reached Gaza due to the closure of Karni crossing, Gaza's only commercial outlet, and there are no refunds. "No one is buying and no one is selling, I have never seen such a miserable Ramadan," said 46-year-old shopkeeper Majid Al-Halu, arranging cheeses and sweets. "Bush asked the entire world to stop sending money to the Palestinians," he added. Most Palestinians have gone unpaid for nearly seven months since the US instituted strict economic sanctions against the Hamas-led government, crushing the Palestinian economy. President Mahmoud Abbas promised to pay half a month's salary at the start of Ramadan, and another half before the month's end, but as of Monday his office was empty handed. Most Palestinians in Gaza are borrowing from relatives and asking for handouts in order to survive. It is a dark Ramadan this year for residents in Gaza. The market place is peppered with tables of lanterns and batteries, precious commodities since this year's Ramadan meals are prepared without electricity after Israeli forces obliterated Gaza's only power station 28 June. According to Rafiq Maliha, project manager of Gaza Power Generating Company, three transformers may make their way into Gaza via Karem Shalom crossing this week, contingent upon Israeli permission. An agreement has been signed between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and an Egyptian construction company to import seven transformers. Another four may reach Gaza the first week of October. It will take weeks, however, for the transformers to become operational, and only 35 per cent of the plant's capacity can be restored. The lack of electricity means water and sanitation systems operate intermittently. In many areas in Gaza water supplies are contaminated and dangerously low. About 25 wells operating via generator, powered by European Union donated fuel, supply Gaza's water, according to Maher Al-Najjar, a lead engineer from the PA's Costal Municipalities Water Utility. A generator powering one of the wells gave out last week with over 10,000 Gaza City residents left without water. Ramadan arrives at the end of a violent, poverty stricken summer. According to the PA Health Ministry, as of Sunday, 243 Palestinians in Gaza have died, 68 of them children, with 966 injured, including 330 children, as a result of the now over three month long Israeli incursion into Gaza, purportedly to halt the launching of Qassam rockets into Israel and to secure the recovery of an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas 25 June. Gaza's commercial and passenger border crossings were sealed after the kidnapping, and have opened only sporadically since. Rafah crossing, Gaza's only passenger exit, opened Friday for three days ahead of Ramadan. Palestinian officials estimate 10,000 people departed and 5,000 entered during the brief opening. Hundreds of Palestinians holding dual citizenship in other countries came to Gaza this summer to visit family and have been trapped inside since June. Months later, many have lost their jobs back home. According to the Red Cross in Gaza, hundreds of Palestinians are still waiting to enter Egypt for emergency healthcare. In a joint statement released after last week's meeting in New York, the Quartet -- the US, the EU, the United Nations and Russia -- "Welcomed the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to form a government of national unity, in the hope that the platform of such a government would reflect Quartet principles and allow for early engagement." The statement was seen as a compromise between the US and EU positions. The Quartet called for the full implementation of the Agreement on Movement and Access, brokered by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last November, which stipulates Rafah and all other Gaza passages should remain open. "The decision by the Quartet... is a progressive position, and we hope that this position will contribute to stopping all forms of political and economic siege," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zhouhri. The EU Temporary International Mechanism (TIM) -- Gaza's lifeline as the sole supplier of fuel, medical supplies and "allowances" that are the only source of income for many Palestinians -- was extended by the Quartet for another three months, initially approved on 17 June. Funds are channeled directly to the president's Office, bypassing the PA. The Quartet encouraged Israel to hand over $500 million in tax and customs revenues it is withholding from the PA via the mechanism to ameliorate the humanitarian and economic crisis. Israel declined. "Window one" of the mechanism provides non-salary operating expenditures to the PA ministries of health, education and social affairs from an existing World Bank trust fund. On 18 September the World Bank signed an agreement with the President's Office for the administration of a $46.6 million grant that will finance urgent supplies and running costs in hospitals and primary healthcare centres. "Window two" of the mechanism provides fuel for generators across the Strip since Gaza's power station was destroyed by Israel. About half the $40 million budget has been spent. "Window three" of the mechanism provides social allowances to healthcare workers, low-income civil servants, and welfare recipients. Starting Saturday, the EU Commission will pay a "social allowance" of 1,500 shekels via local banks to 40,000 needy Palestinian families. The funds for this sector are almost entirely spent. The EU has $45 million in donor commitments, but the funds are not yet available. The EU will need at least $15 million per month to provide the "allowances". Meanwhile, Fatah members accused Hamas of involvement in the assassination of a senior intelligence official, Jad Tayeh, last week, reflecting growing tensions between the two groups. Tayeh was killed with five of his bodyguards and aides by a group of armed militants in the Beach Refugee Camp in Gaza City. Hamas condemned the act, while Interior Minister Said Syiam continues to oversee an investigation. Abbas said at the United Nations in New York last week that a new Palestinian government would recognise Israel. However, speaking after Friday prayer in Gaza City Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh denied the suggestion, offering a long-term truce with Israel instead. Palestinians favour a unity government, but the question remains: can Hamas relinquish some of their political power without an internal conflict? The tremendous suffering of the Gazan population has created a growing sentiment that they are being punished by the Bush administration for electing an Islamic government.
