[Gaza City, December 9, 2008] My boots on the ground and eye witness in Gaza is Sam Habeeb, a twenty-something photo journalist, humanitarian worker who was helping me get into Gaza during my last trip to occupied territory a few weeks ago.
However, reality changed my plans, for I realized that although I could get into Gaza, getting out would be more of a struggle than I had the time to sacrifice.
Instead, I expressed my solidarity at the Erez checkpoint with a few other justice and peace seeking activists who rose up in solidarity Read more... with the 1.5 million open air prisoners-most all refugees expelled from their homes by Israel in 1948 and 1967.
60% of the population of Gaza is under the age of 18 years old, and it was while gazing at a few of Sam's photos of them, that I intuited a kinship with Sam, whose photos of the little one's could break even the hardest of heart.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
Sam Habeeb is not just a humanitarian worker and photo-journalist, he is a harbinger of some good news regarding the harmonious Non-Violent Resistance Movement blowin' outta Gaza and catching fire in all areas of the occupied Palestinian territories.
Ever since 'civilized' white men dumped their guilt over The Third Reich's atrocities upon the indigenous Palestinians-and 750,000 fled their homes for fear of their lives from Zionists who grabbed more than their share between 1947-48, there have always been Palestinian nonviolent resister; but those actions have been blown off/ignored for decades.
Unbeknownst to most American's the first Palestinian uprising was literally stones and pebbles thrown by the indigenous David's of the Holy Land in response to mighty Goliath Israeli tanks and armed soldiers that took over their lives in 1948 and made things worse in 1967.
During the second Palestinian Intifada the unreported non-violent and peaceful resistance movement re-shaped with support and of International activists, such as ISM, especially in the West Bank.
Global resistance has succeeded to expose to the world the collective punishment Israel inflicts upon Palestinians through word of mouth and written reports on the World Wide Web.
The International presence in solidarity with nonviolent Palestinian and Israelis such as with Anarchist Against the Wall, also effectively hindered the stealing and annexation of fertile Palestinian agricultural land by the apartheid wall.
In Gaza, all hearts still turn to the altruistic young American, Rachel Corrie, who is credited with being the first of many citizen journalist-activists who leave their comfort zones in order to go, seek and report the truth.
Sam reported the following via email from Gaza:
Many Palestinian solidarity groups working against the Israeli siege on Gaza created a human chain action on the ground this past February.
Over 60,000 civilians; children, youths, elderly men and women took part in the action near the Israeli borders. The chain extended from Rafah to Bait Hanon cities for around 38 kilometers.
The Israeli Forces responded to this nonviolent community action with an emergency call up of thousands of troops!
Thousands of dollars and bad publicity is all Israel received for her knee-jerk action to SECURE Israeli borders from unarmed nonviolent civilians, whose only weapons are the truth.
According to the organizers of the Popular Committee against Siege/PCAS, success was theirs by highlighting the issue of the immoral siege.
Uncounted hundreds of phone calls and emails poured forth in solidarity with PCAS from International press and Israeli as well.
Another action was a candle lit vigil after a total power blackout hit the Gaza strip early in 2008.
Thousands of civilians rushed into the streets to protest this unjust action by Israel. The next thing that occurred was the spontaneous breaking of borders with Egypt.
In August 2008, Palestinians and Internationals hired two wooden sailing boats to carry them from Cyprus to Gaza. They not only symbolically broke the siege on Gaza by sailing through international waters, the nonviolent activists are all a conscience for the world.
Recently, a Libyan boat sailed but was banned by Israel before entering into Gaza. More boats are scheduled to sail despite the risks and costs, proving that peaceful resistance is addictive to trouble makers who get off on exposing BS and embarrassing bureaucrats.
A week ago a group of young Palestinians organized the first ever music concert in Gaza, Gaza Concert 08, was their response to the awful situation in the Gaza strip.
These young people sang for freedom and peace just as fervently as they cried for an end to the unjust siege inflicted upon the voiceless, who will not be silenced!
Thousands attended the concert and several media outlets highlighted on the event which was a first in Gaza. Palestinian Dabka dance, Rapp and national songs were performed calling for lifting siege and ending Israeli occupation.
A touching gesture seeking reconciliation occurred after many songs of freedom and peace.
Ahmed, a Dabka dancer who lost his hand in an Israeli military operation in 2006 at Jabalia camp, sincerely said, "I came here to express my readiness and willingness of having peace, I lost my hand but I still desire a just peace with Israelis if they give me my full-rights."
Hatem Shurab, 24, one of the concert organizers and singer based in Gaza, is another victim of the Israeli siege. He was accepted to go to America for school, but his training was stopped last October due to the closure of Gaza which has trapped him.
Hatem told me, "I came here to sing for peace and freedom. I came here to make the suffering of people heard through songs and music. I sang for Sarah who was sick and unable to get treatment due to siege. The words of my song say: A girl called Sarah…innocence on her eyes…because of no medications she is about to die…Don't let Sarah feel the pain…let her fly like a bird in the sky…take the siege away."
According to the International Palestinian Campaign to lift the Gaza siege, this action is intended to convey the message of a people whose voice is not heard in the international dialogue.
Coordinator of the campaign, Nadine Rajab said the concert was planned to be across Gaza, West Bank and occupied territories 48 lands. But due to the Israeli siege it hasn't been allowed out of Gaza.
"The occupation banned us from having our brothers from the West Bank. We overcame this as they have sent us a video of their songs. Next year we want to make it regional so our voice would be heard widely. All in one, we have succeeded to achieve our aim of telling our story. Many people do think we are savage and terrorists but the concert of today would prove the opposite. Many people abroad are fed up of our news but through this way they will know what's happening."
Palestinians are stronger than any siege and more persistent than any occupation.
Palestinians are a reflection of sadness and joy; death and life.
The Israeli empire has totally succeeded in blocking the borders of Gaza but they can NOT block the hopes, dreams, wails, hymns and rhythm of young Gazans!
The Gaza strip is witnessing an ever increasing severity in conditions due to the Israeli siege which has brutalized 1.5 million civilians-60% are children under the age of 18-for nearly two years now.
It turned even harsher on the 4th of November when Israel totally closed the borders preventing all life requirements form getting into Gaza.
Desperately ill patients were refused the right to travel for treatment to save their lives.
The very basics of life, such as flour, sugar and rice have vanished from sight in Gaza. [end Sam]
1
1
1
