So that must exclude rockets, rifles, RPGs, military comm equipment, and militant personnel, just to list some of the contraband that makes it into Gaza, even now. Tunnels?
That is why I said official, there are reportedly numerous tunnels that funnel arms and other goods (livestock included) into Gaza from Egypt. Some of these are reported to be very large and very deep, up to 20-45 feet deep. A large part of the motivation is money, the Bedouins in Egypt and enterprising Gazans make a lot of money smuggling goods in the the Gaza Strip. Hamas is well supplied by these tunnels too, they have had a steady supply of rockets since the Gaza Strip was pretty much cut off almost two years ago.
True enough. No debate. Do note my comment above though. Maybe the Egyptians don't dislike Hamas enough. Maybe the Egyptians aren't trying hard enough for a host of other reasons.
The Egyptians are trying to walk a fine line, their own populace has been quite restless and supportive of the Gazans, to a degree. They also have their own domestic Islamic movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, which is pretty much the grandaddy of all modern Islamic groups. They are also following the letter of the law though, agreements with Israel limit the number of security forces on the border and Israel has reportedly not 'consented' to them to increase that number. That is not all too clear though.
That the Israelis are doing what a nation at war is expected to do is not the question. Do you really believe that CNN, BBC, Reuters, or any other western media outlet could not get a man in if they really wanted too? Yes or no, please. If the answer is yes, then why don't they do it and stop bitching? I provided just one good answer above, and I still think it is the most likely.
I wouldn't expect the Israelis to do any less, just pointing out what is the reality. I do sincerely think that the western news organizations are not willing to risk their regular reporters lives getting them into Gaza. Israel has been pretty explicit about not letting them into the territory, and they pretty much control all of the access. They have to run through their own risk assessments and with pretty much everything a possible target in Gaza, why risk going in alone and unafraid? Especially relying on what is probably very risky entry and exit routes, probably the same routes that smuggle in the arms and livestock that the Gazans use. And believe it or not, BBC has recently come under pretty severe criticism for letting one of its reporters into Somalia, she ended up getting killed. This was even though she was fully aware of the dangers.
And there is never an expectation that reporters die for their jobs. Fortunately or unfortunately, there is a different expectation for soldiers.
