A good friend of mine recently moved back to her hometown of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, Palestine in order to implement a sustainable development project that she, along with Save Gaza, designed to assist the hardest hit of Israel's illegal military occupation. Since arriving in Gaza, she's kept her friends and family updated with candid eyewitness accounts of the region's dire situation. Below is an email I received from her this morning:
Dear all,
I hope this email again finds you all well. Things have calmed down tremendously in the last several days since Hamas's "victory." For the firs time since I got here 18 days ago, I was able to be out after dark and feel relatively safe. There wasn't any gun fire or people with AK 47s roaming the streets. This mainly because Fatah and Hamas are no longer shooting at each other and because folks in Gaza will tell you, Hamas is and will restore law and order.
Hamas has started going from house to house searching and collecting weapons in Gaza city and Khan Younis since Saturday and will continue to all of Gaza's camps. On Friday there were two rallies cheering Hamas's victory, and from talking to those in the rally, they are supporting Hamas because Hamas is cleaning up "Fatah's thieves" who collaborated with Israel and the US, but also because people feel safer now than they have for months. One man sitting next to me in the taxi yesterday said for the first time in months he isn't worried that his neighbor or cousin may shoot him over a minor feud or getting his car stolen or his daughters kidnapped. He feels safe.
Those supporting Fatah say this victory will not last and like the international media, refer to the recent events, as a "coup." And they'll say, "once Gazans taste starvation they'll be begging for Dahlan to come back." I'm not so sure about that. It feels Gazans can withstand any sort of collective punishment that Israel and the US has in store for them.
I'd like to comment briefly about the usage of the word "coup," only because here in Gaza, only Fatah supporters called it a "coup by the Islamic movement Hamas" as well as news sources who called me for comments. I think people tend to forget that Hamas is not just an Islamic movement, and whether not we agree with its Islamic agenda, it is a political party as well, representative of those people who voted for them. Additionally, they were democratically elected in an election that was enforced by democratic countries all over the world, and it is the failure of the international community to recognize the choice of the people that has placed Gaza in the situation that it is currently in, not the "coup." And as s result, the people of Gaza will suffer the consequences and endure a collective punishment of an economic embargo.
People are frantic, but I don't think they're scared; worried about the future, but not submitting to Israel or the US. People are certainly preparing for the worst. Those who can afford to are stocking up on flour and sugar, especially now that UNRWA has resumed its full duties since the fighting started. I found it hard to move around because the markets have been crowded with people as they prepare for a food and water shortages. Gaza's borders with Egypt and Israel have closed (the Rafah border has been closed for the past two weeks, Karni and Kerem Shalom closed last week). I also learned Israel cut off the gas and when I confirmed it with my aunt she said we have only a couple days of gas left. Egypt in alliance with the US and Israel is putting pressure on Hamas and therefore cutting off the electricity during the night (Rafah and Khan Younis gets its electricity from Egypt), which means we get a few hours of water a day because the electricity has to be strong enough to pump the water from the ground and since most houses are several floors up, water cant always reach....including ours.
Those who cannot afford to stock up worry about how they can feed their families, which is exactly where Israel and the US want us to be. No salaries, no money, no open borders, literally a prison where we live on little food and water and don't have time to plan or organize on how to get ourselves out of this situation. Starvation is the best strategy, but no one in Gaza will starve to death. Israel will cut off gas for a few days, then give us a little; cut off international food aid then allow a few trucks of flour and sugar in. Israel knows how many people are in Gaza and how much to allow in order to to give people a taste of hungry and despair, but not starvation.
And the international community is pushing for the two states, a Hamas Gaza and a Fatah West Bank and continue to speak of how different the two are and continue rallying around the US funded Fatah. So while Gaza is preparing for a humanitarian crisis, the US and Israel plan on how to further separate Palestinians in the the west bank and Gaza from each other so that we may not unify and we may forget about the occupation, and our right of return.
Myself, I'm doing very well and still very glad to be here.
Yasmine
If you'd like to help, please donate to Save Gaza.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Eyewitness in Gaza: 2
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
23 comments:
You blame Israel and the US for all your woes, yet you admit that they will not starve you. Wouldn't a true enemy try and destroy you, especially now that an "opportunity" has arrived.
It's time to stand up and take notice as to who is actually using the Palestinian people as pawns. Have you not grown tired of the propaganda spewed from the bowels of your "leaders?"
The only effective change is that which comes from the Palestinians, instead of that which comes from outside influences.
Those who cannot afford to stock up worry about how they can feed their families, which is exactly where Israel and the US want us to be. No salaries, no money, no open borders, literally a prison where we live on little food and water and don't have time to plan or organize on how to get ourselves out of this situation. Starvation is the best strategy, but no one in Gaza will starve to death. Israel will cut off gas for a few days, then give us a little; cut off international food aid then allow a few trucks of flour and sugar in. Israel knows how many people are in Gaza and how much to allow in order to to give people a taste of hungry and despair, but not starvation.
We have reached an unusual situation where both pro-Palestinians and pro-Zionists advocate the same strategy, yet accept that they are likely to be ignored by those in the middle who continue to follow a course of action that has only produced failure - unless, of course, you are one of the new masters of Gazas population, and welcome lording over the newest of Persia's satraps.
I love the charge of "collaboration". It has no substance, but it sounds really evil.
Yasmine sounds pretty glad that Hamas — the good guys — won. Of course, other anti-Israelis say that Hamas are an evil created by Israel.
Do you think you could get your stories straight?
Is the disarming that Hamas is doing now a Good Thing? Or does it just cement a totalitarian rule?
Is Yasmine at all concerned that Hamas has such close ties with Iran, and that Iran has consistently pushed for hegemony in the region? Or is the only force of evil the great and little satans, US and Israel?
Who was it that was dragging men out in the street and executing them in front of their families?
Yasmine's heroes.
I love how Hamas killed two Palestinian Peace Activists at the march the other day, and the fact that the world's media doesn't give a shit.
And there's hope for a wonderful future in the West Bank, too:
Hamas leaders in the West Bank have been driven underground by a Fatah campaign of kidnappings and arrests, but the Islamic militants warn they’ll eventually come out of hiding to try to destabilize the rule of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with car bombings and assassinations.
Palestinians should just end the war with Israel. They must withraw their troops from Israel at once, return to their country and borders, then there will be peace.
Great to hear this perspective. Thank you for sharing it.
and it is the failure of the international community to recognize the choice of the people that has placed Gaza in the situation that it is currently in
That's such bullshit and the latest exercise in self-delusion by certain Palestinians and their hard-line far-left nutty supporters in the West.
"Democratically elected" does not in and of itself require international support - and it shouldn't - considering the "democratically elected" group has "platforms" and goals in diametric opposition to those of Western governments (i.e. two-state solution).
By that logic, you should be writing posts decrying anti-Americanism and non-cooperation with American goals in the Arab, Muslim and Communist (Chavez) world based on American foreign policy because Bush was "democratically elected."
But that is obviously a stupid concept - as is your contention - and only stupid people and mendacious propogandists buy into it.
Which one are you?
Yasser: very clever, point taken.
Now if Palestinians could just educate their kids that Israelis are people too, stop rocketing them, and consider those who attack Israelis criminals, that would be even more progress.
solomon2: very clever, point taken.
Now if Israelis could just educate their kids that Palestinians are people too, stop dropping one ton bombs on them, and consider those who attack Palestinians criminals, that would be even more progress.
Yasser: done.
No one-ton bombs dropped on Palestinians in I-don't-know-how-long.
Took out a couple of rocket launchers the other day, without any bloodshed, but that doesn't take bombs.
Israeli kids aren't educated that Palestinians are sub-human, so there really isn't any need to educate them that Palestinians are people. It's assumed. Unlike the Palestinian children, who are shamelessly indoctrinated into the supremacist death-cult.
And here's an Israeli conviction of someone who was intending to attack Palestinians.
Looking forward to your links of Palestinians behaving in a civilized fashion.
Here's another case of Israel treating those who attack Palestinians as criminals.
"Israeli kids aren't educated that Palestinians are sub-human, so there really isn't any need to educate them that Palestinians are people. It's assumed."
You're right. Israli children are not taught that they are the chosen people and that God gave them the land of Palestine...and that the indigenous people living there have no right to live there....no subhuman implications there.
You're right. Israli children are not taught that they are the chosen people and that God gave them the land of Palestine...
All Muslim, Christian and Jewish kids are taught that, Yesser. It's written in scripture that way. Are you saying God is a liar? They are God's chosen people, and that *is* the promised land. Promised to who? Not to Palestinians.
If you want to bring God into it, you automatically lose the argument.
Programmer Craig,
Who is the land promised to? And what implications does this promise have on the those living there that it is not promised to?
Why are you asking me? I'm neither Jewish nor Muslim. I'm just pointing out that what you said was at odds with scripture. It isn't only what "Israeli" kids are taught. It's what kids in all 3 of the Abrahamic faiths are taught. Or, should be taught. But Muslim kids don't seem to be taught the actual scripture, but rather they are taught what some insane man in a Mickey Mouse suit thinks.
And what implications does this promise have on the those living there that it is not promised to?
Yasser, I checked with the Quran to find out what the "implications" for Palestinians are:
Quran 5.33 YUSUFALI: The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter;
I think it's safe to say that since Palestinians are trying to deprive God's chosen people of the land He promised to them, they are waging war against God. Also, since they violate God's greatest commandments, and at the same time claim they violate God's law, in the service of God, which is obviously blasphemy.
The "mischief through the land" is troublesome as well, when one considers the activities of Palestinians in the middle east, wouldn't you say?
This verse, therefore, obviously applies to Palestinians.
The "implications" are:
1) execution
2) crucifixion
3)cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides
4) exile from the land
And also punishment in the hereafter. AKA damnation.
Looks to me like the Israelis have gone with "exile from the land" which I am sure you would agree with me, is the most lenient treatment that the Quran specifies for Palestinians.
Thanks Craig, the knowledge is greatly appreciated.
no subhuman implications there
No, there aren't. But it's pretty weak for you to fall back on "implications".
A sense of entitlement and even of superiority is not equivalent to making other sub-human. As I pointed out (and you sensibly ignored), Israel treats those who attack Palestinians as criminals. Just like you asked.
Palestinians treat Palestinians who attack Israelis as heroes.
"Israel treats those who attack Palestinians as criminals."
Is this part of some comedy routine? Cause its not funny. Last I check it treats them as war heros...
I posted the links for you, yasser. Is your clicking finger broken? Or are you just selectively blind to what you don't want to see?
Still waiting for you to post some links of Palestinians' superior morality.
Thanks, Hamas!
Christians living in Gaza City on Monday appealed to the international community to protect them against increased attacks by Muslim extremists.
...
Fatah officials blamed Hamas militiamen for the attack on the church and school. However, Islam Shahwan, spokesman for Hamas's Executive Force in the Gaza Strip, denied responsibility.
He nevertheless admitted that a large group of Hamas militiamen had been near the area during the attack. "We have instructed all our men to withdraw from the area," he said. "We will punish anyone who targets churches and public institutions."
---
I,ve just readed the E-mail you've posted Nadeem, and just want to say for Yasmeen that there is no more shootings because Hamas was shooting the Palestinian Authority, and there is no more Palestinian Authority to kill, after they killed some of thim, and the others escaped to Egypt and west bank.
Hamas terminated PA that fast, because they acts in a shameful way that PA dont use.
Its your first munth in Palestine, so trust my 25 years here.
Post a Comment