Israel Impounds aid ship headed to Gaza
The ship set sail from the Lebanese port of Tripoli Tuesday in a bid to defy Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Reporters from Arab TV stations Al-Jadeed and Al-Jazeera who were on the vessel said the Israelis fired at the ship before boarding it and beating those on board.
Gerald Loftus wants to send a US Hospital Ship to Gaza
In the end, perhaps the French and my skeptical American commenters are right: for “logistical” or “force protection” reasons, or simply, for medical effectiveness, maybe our hospital ships are needed more for amphibious exercises with allied nations. Preparing for some future disaster surely to strike in the Gulf of Mexico.
And maybe the US Government is justified in channeling its aid to Gaza – considerable as it is – through UN specialized agencies and the ICRC.
But I doubt seriously that there is any more urgent medical-humanitarian mission right now than Gaza. And whatever the form and amount of US aid to Gaza via the UN and the Red Cross, it doesn’t have the impact – and, let’s face it, the public diplomacy payoff – of a gleaming white hospital ship flying the US flag.
SOUTHCOM responds to Earthquake in Costa Rica
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake killed at least 13 people in Costa Rica last week. Among the first responders was a joint U.S. Army-U.S. Air Force team flying Blackhawk helicopters. “The team, comprised of Army and Air Force aviation crews, rescue, medical and support members, supported ongoing efforts to search and locate victims of the natural disaster,” the Air Force reported.
Christopher Albon is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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