THE continuing tragedy of Gaza is that it was supposed to offer Palestinians an opportunity to show they were ready for self-government after Israel withdrew in August 2005. Unfortunately, the Strip has descended into poverty and chaos, a launching pad for thousands of rockets targeted at Israel’s civilian population.

After months of heavy losses to superior Israeli commando raids, which have killed more than 420 people, mainly Palestinian terrorists, in the past eight months, Hamas is proposing a six-month truce. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, obviously, would welcome a cessation of rocket attacks. But, understandably, he is taking his time to respond, fearing Hamas would use the break to rearm.

What is clear at present is that Hamas is light years away from having the nous and goodwill, even towards its own people, to lead a Palestinian State. Fuel supplies on the Strip have dried up, forcing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to suspend food aid to 650,000 impoverished residents.

The Israeli Government claims Hamas has created a dishonest crisis in an attempt to court international leverage. Hamas is blaming Israel for the crisis, but its arguments are not convincing. Late last year, Israel flagged fuel rationing as a means to combat rocket attacks. But it insists that enough fuel is stored in Gaza to cover essential humanitarian needs. Israel also says that it tried to transfer fuel directly to UNRWA, but was thwarted by a farmers’ demonstration supported by Hamas.

Tensions further escalated a few weeks ago when two Islamic Jihad terrorists killed two Israelis at the fuel terminal that supplies Gaza. At the time, Islamic Jihad said the fuel coming from Israel was “dripped in humiliation” and not wanted.

Hamas leaders also admit that at least part of the shortage stems from a three-week strike by Gaza suppliers, who claim that moving small volumes of fuel is too uneconomical. As the elected Government, however, it is the responsibility of Hamas to overcome such obstacles and get the fuel moving so that food aid given by the world in good faith reaches its people.

If, however, it is political pointscoring motivating Hamas’s failure to get the fuel and food moving, it is further proof, if any was needed, of the organisation’s true nature. Hamas is responsible for hundreds of murderous suicide bombings and other terrorist attacks on Israel. This time, however, it seems prepared to let its own men, women and children go hungry. In doing so, it is showing the world that anybody who believes that Israel is the worst enemy of the Palestinian people needs to think again. The impasse does not advance hopes of a workable, two-state solution.