Just what do the pro-DEC appeal people think Hamas is doing blowing people up at boarder crossings ?

There has been a spectacular amount of whining about various "British" Charities not being given free air time to help fund their activities ( which include the distribution of aid - or handing it over to the Hamas militants anyway - but also include their salaries, headquarters and careers during the debt crisis and recession ) and help Hamas in its campaign to isolate Israel using the suffering of its own population which it deliberately brought about.

No such fuss is made currently about Zimbabwe or Darfur or Congo* ( though in fairness I can think of DEC appeals for the last two ) - but then the fake outrage of the hard left doesn't have anything to gain there does it, and there's just no votes is saving those lives for the main parties to chase.

Lets face it - if the health and well being of the Palestinian people was Hamas' priority this sort of thing just wouldn't be going on. They could have stopped launching rockets when it became clear what Israel was going to do - but their pride and self importance came first.

So what's up with this exploding bombs at the border crossing stuff as your trying to negotiate a ceasefire to rearm to get 'aid' across those border crossings.

Go on amaze me ...

* Note that this has not stopped the public donating. Perhaps - just perhaps many other people silently (because the activists will jump down your throat if you say anything) agree - see comparative data for DEC appeals ( Gaza money is only to date, but it has received blanket coverage in the media as a new item of its own and transmission on C4 and ITV ).

As I've said before I'm all for donations to help the people who are suffering and have made such a donation myself - its just some of the charities and the way the appeal is structured is taking part in and rewarding the conflict.

The bonfire of Gaza-DEC vanities

There's an interesting little spat going on right now. The BBC has refused to provide air time for the disaster emergency committee (DEC) to do its usual appeal after a high profile humanitarian disaster for the people in Gaza.

There clearly has been a lot of suffering and need is Gaza since the Israeli attempt to stop Hamas firing missiles at its people, and Hamas' human shield policy causing so much destruction.

But then perhaps the BBC knows a little more. They know all the aid will be controlled by Hamas ( already aid lorries are being hijacked by Hamas ). Hamas supporters will get first call, and building materials are as likely to be used for military purposes as anything else.

Equally Hamas have been behaving like the Fascists many claim them to be. People suspected of being sympathetic to Israel or being Fatah supporters are being tortured, having eyes gouged out, kneecapped and summarily executed as a matter of course.

The towns of Gaza may be in the state that some of Europe was after WWII, except in their case the fascist's are still in power.

So its no longer a clear cut issue. In addition some of the aidlack;" >aid agencies have shown themselves to be a long way from impartial.

These major appeals are also major feeding times for the professionalised charities with their career charity workers and high over heads. Remember their over kill for the tsunami and for Burma ? In the current climate some who work for these charities may lose their jobs if the money doesn't start rolling soon.

Hence sending aidlack;" >aid to Gaza has a highly political and self interested element to it. And on this basis the BBC are right to block it. Though they might like to do something about some of their reporting. When they finally got into Gaza some of their bone headed reporters where going round asking people if they still supported Hamas ! I saw one man, his eyes pleading with the camera at being asked such a question - which is really just an invitation for suicide - bravely saying he had no opinion.

But all this has been manner manna from heaven for wee Dougie Alexander who can try to put Labour on side with its Muslim floating voters by demanding action etc ( which also confirms the political nature of this appeal ). Its hypocrisy from the government who really gave the green light for Israel's actions.

I suspect the BBC will cave to pressure, political pressure, which will just confirm they were right in the first place.

But what of the victims of Hamas' human shield policy in Gaza ?

My advice is to chose your charity carefully. I sent money during the fighting to one that works with the diminishing band of Christians in Gaza ( estimated to be about 3000 ) who are persecuted at the best of times.

There will be other good charities, just do your home work and avoid those like the UN who are compromised - and do give something. Because the one significant truth of all of this is that a lot of people are suffering.

Further The BBC reporting on itself here and the news that ITV and Channel 4 intend to go ahead with the DEC broadcast.

Further background:

The BBC explain their case here.
Janet Daley argues for no censorship on our news and broadcasts here.
Everywhere else people are laying into the BBC and this decision.

Except apparently Andrew Roberts of the Times who argues that the charities themselves are biased. He makes a good case that is very much worth reading.