Ibrahim a friend sent me a message on my mobile said : look outside .. F16 warplanes are smiling for you, missiles are dancing for you, “Zanannaa” the discovery planes are singing for you, because I have requested them all wishing you “Happy New Year”
—Adham Khalil from Jabaliya Camp in Gaza, who blogs at Free Free Palestine
Amal Sabawi is at afscg@palnet.com, and directs the American Friends Service Committee’s Popular Achievement program in Gaza. Amal in Arabic means hope. All writing as is, unedited by me. Because of Israeli destruction of internet and phone infrastructure, further communications are in doubt.
12/30/08:
Dear Skip
How are you doing , i hope all is fine with you and you have plan to enjoy
the new year , i do think of you and know how you concern on people here ,
unfortunately things going badly , after the long suffer of people with
the tighten closure and prohibiting people of most important basic needs
and commodity , it was so horrible to have this bloodshed against
civilians ,
i try to write about the situation and update our friends outside on
what’s going on , hope this would be useful , will continue writing ,
hope you can come to come to Gaza next summer as you already have plan to
do so ,
we pray to end this massacre and stop killing of civilians
My best wishes and wish you happy new year
Amal
1/2/09:
After asking if I could put her writing on my blog:
Hi Skip
I hope you are doing very well and have blessed new year
for sure you can use it i hope it been useful , i try to write and update
my friends in US on the situation but the electricity most of the time is
cut off , will continue send you what i have
wish you and all people all over the world have peaceful time and the
joyous of the holidays
be well
amal
Later on 1/2/09:
Dear Skip
We used to live this tragedy long time , i dont have positive memory to
have safe time here , under occupation we grown up , we were very young
and the only thing we have around was the solders and their tanks ,
the first Intifada was also difficult continued for seven years to face
the shooting and prisons , when the Palestinian authority established we
didnt belive that we have some peaceful time cross the pain and suffer ,
only few years when the second and current Intifada started as life turned
to violence , and the peak was with the fight and division among
Palestinian , Caza suffered a lot and every time you have new tragedy ,
this one is the most dreadful one , Gaza is comletely destructed under the
missiles and tons of bombs ,
despite that we shouldnt give up and well hold our dream and hope to live
in peace and freedom , Gaza its not stones or cements Gaza is people the
people will rebuild it again and they will pass this , the sun will shine
one day
best wishes
amal
hope you the best
It’s a War
by Amal Sabawi
written a few days after the massacre began on the last day of Hanukah
The military operation against Gaza Strip began on Saturday noon of the 27th December 2008 by intensive air raids pounding all security centers attached to the dismissed Hamas government. About 60 war planes took part in the air raid which has left some 150 killed and 200 wounded just on the first day of the assault. The timing of the air raid started as students were leaving schools and universities, and women rushed into the streets frantically looking for their children.
Gaza is known to have the highest population density of the world, where one million and a half people live in an area of not more than 360 square kilometers. Above all, it is worth mentioning that there are no air raid shelters or secure places are built. Thus civilians are more likely to be an easy target and more casualties are inflicted on them.
On the other hand, Israel has declared that this operation will continue as long as necessary until the capabilities of Hamas and other Palestinian associates are paralysed. This is aiming at stopping rocket and mortar attacks that have so called ‘traumatized’ southern Israel.
These new waves of air raids have expanded to include homes and civilian possessions. These air strikes and mortar shelling have left 300 killed and 800 wounded according to hospitals statistics for the second day of the military action.
The Israeli aggression on Gaza began after 17 months of absolutely complete blockade, and closure of borders for goods, commodities as well as the mobility of people. This blockade includes the embargo of drugs and essential medical equipment. According to the Ministry of Health estimates, more than 100 kinds of medicines are not available. Gaza hospitals are not well equipped and unable to receive a large number of casualties. When these hospitals are not able to give primary care to patients including simple surgical operations as well as shortage of medical manpower, they are completely unable to cope with serious cases. To transfer such patients to neighboring countries hospitals Is hindered due to the conflict between the Egyptian government and Hamas. It seems that Hamas resents the role of the Egyptian government and accuses it having colluded with Israel. Thus, it refuses to transfer the wounded to the Egyptian hospitals. However, this conflict will put the lives of hundreds of wounded at a great risk.
Subsequently, Israel began a psychological warfare by striking civilian houses after their being notified of evacuating them. Several houses have been demolished, which resulted in a multiple number of casualties among inhabitants of adjacent houses; and if starvation, shortage of foodstuff is added, which necessitates immediate intervention to stop Israeli assaults, and lifting embargo and blockade for the dignity and humanity of people.
Links:
American Friends Service Committee in Gaza
Popular Achievement Program in Gaza
AFSC Relief Work in Gaza, 1949
Photos of rally and march in Boston supporting Gaza, January 3, 2008
