When Iyad Farahat was 7 years old, his father died. Like many Palestine refugee children growing up in difficult circumstances, he was soon forced to leave school. At 19, Iyad entered the textile industry, and quickly opened a small sewing factory in Rafah. By 1996, at 32, he was able to move his business to the Karni Industrial Zone in northern Gaza, where he had 50 sewing machines and around 60 employees.
For over ten years, the business was successful. He cultivated a strong relationship with a partner in Israel, who worked with him to export textiles to Israel and the United States. Iyad and his wife, Aida, raised three boys, and used their success to help their community. Iyad joined the Sultan Club, which supports youth sport programmes and activities.
Blockade brings misery
In 2004, however, everything began to change. Restrictions on export from Gaza increased; movement within the Strip became more difficult because of checkpoints established around Israeli settlements. When his partner in Israel went bankrupt because of delays and penalties incurred on contracts, Iyad struggled to pay his workers; soon, he was bouncing checks.
By 2006, with the blockade on Gaza in full effect and export stopped completely, he was forced to liquidate his assets to pay his employees.
How dare the Israelis close the crossings that Farahat relied on for his livelihood!
It isn't as if there were any terror attacks at the Karni Industrial Zone and crossing, right?
Apr 15, 2003 - Zachar Rahamin Hanukayev, 39, of Sderot and Ahmed Salah Kara, 20, of Shuafat in northern Jerusalem were killed and four Israelis were wounded when a Palestinian terrorist opened fire at the Karni industrial zone crossing in the Gaza Strip. The gunman was killed by security personnel. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.Did UNRWA ever, even once, condemn Hamas or Fatah for their terror attacks that caused Israel to close the Erez and Karni industrial zones and crossings to save lives?
Mar 14, 2004 - Ten people were killed and 16 wounded in a double suicide bombing at Ashdod Port. The terrorists infiltrated into Israel from the Gaza Strip via the Karni Crossing while hidden in a double cell wall installed in a cargo container departing the Gaza Strip to Israel. Hamas and Fatah claimed responsibility for the attack.
Dec 7, 2004 - St.-Sgt. Nadav Kudinsky, 20, of Kiryat Gat of the Oketz canine unit was killed by a bomb, along with his dog, when a booby-trapped chicken coup exploded northwest of the Karni Corssing in the Gaza Strip. Four soldiers were wounded in the exchange of fire while evacuating him. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jan 13, 2005 - Six Israeli civilians were murdered and five Israeli civilians were wounded in a combined terrorist attack carried out in the compound of the Karni Crossing. Three terrorists infiltrated into the compound via a hole which was created in a wall after the terrorists activated an explosive device which was placed next to a door at the Palestinian side of the crossing. The civilians were killed as result of the explosion, and after the terrorists hurled grenades and opened fire at the civilians working at Karni. Hamas and the Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed joint responsiblity for the attack.
Apr 26, 2006 - An attempted bombing attack on the Karni crossing was carried out by the Popular Resistance Committees in the Gaza Strip under the direction of Hamas.
May 5, 2008 - Two mortar bombs land on the Karni Crossing and one on the Erez Crossing
No*. To this UN agency, only Israel is wrong. To this UN agency, Israeli lives are worthless and Palestinian Arab convenience is far more important.
Context? Background? The worthless, morally depraved UNRWA only cares about such things when it helps make Israel look bad.
*I found a single passing condemnation of "rockets" buried inside a UNRWA document, and one or two quotes on the UNRWA website of the UN secretary general condemning rocket attacks in general, but no condemnations that mention any actual terror groups by name.