What Bush left behind?!

Since US President George W. Bush's visit to this part of the world, at least 38 Gazans were killed and another 1,500 were injured as a result of Israeli military attacks. This escalation of violence came right after Bush's trip to Israel and Ramallah, as Israel enjoyed an obvious green light from the US as the Arab and Islamic world sat by and watched.

For anyone who might believe that Bush's visit would improve the lives of Palestinians in General and of Gazans in particular, let me assure you that the opposite has occurred.

Electricity cuts still plague Gaza. Ambulance sirens wail one after the other; the smell of death is everywhere. Gazans have no life anymore, and Bush and Israel are to thank.

On Wednesday a 27-year-old father, his nine-year-old son and his brother were all killed in an Israeli air strike. Israel said that the incident was an error. Such a mistake ended the lives of three innocent civilians from the same family.

I'm wondering, how can I, or any father in Gaza, guarantee his own family's safety? We are all targets, no matter if we are civilians or combatants. And who will be held accountable for there crimes? The answer is as clear as ever: no one.

A few days ago I came home from work tired, and then I took a nap. I wake up at 6:00pm to find everything dark, no electricity as usual, and my infant son was crying. I took my wife and son for a drive around Gaza only to find Gaza City in total darkness, a ghost town.

While driving, news broke regarding an Israeli air strike that targeted a car on one of Gaza's main streets; two Gazans were killed. Two minutes later, another breaking news report stated that another air strike targeted another car in a different area. The radio report added that Israeli helicopters were still in the air above Gaza. A third broadcast reported that Israel fired land-to-land rockets targeting northern Gaza. In less than five minutes I heard all of that as we drove back home to darkness.

Two day ago, Israel announced a "complete closure" against Gaza – as if it was open before. Prior to this decision of a complete closure everything was already closed. Gazans' suffering continues. The other day as I was playing with my son, I heard a massive explosion that shook the house and make my four-month-old start to cry. I turned on the radio to hear that an Israeli F16 fired a half- ton missile on the building of the former Interior Ministry in Gaza. The building was crushed and a woman was killed and another 45 persons were injured. All of them lived next door to the struck building and were celebrating a wedding that ended up being a funeral instead.Yesterday I went to see the damage; the scene resembled an earthquake. Why did it happen? This is the state of insecurity, in which not one single Gazan is secure or safe even in his or her own home.

Today I went to fill up my car with gas as I was running down to the last few liters. The gas station attendant told me that by the end of day the station would be closed since they were nearing the end of their supply. Now I can tell Bush that because of his unconditional support of Israel, Gaza can no longer provide its population with daily necessities. There's no food, no water, no electricity, no borders that we can cross, no medicine, nothing.

Now let's all imagine that this same siege was imposed Israel. What would be the reaction of Bush and the international community?
This article is published at: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9238.shtml

George W. Bush: You are not welcome

While I was driving in the car the other day, there was a radio report that the Israeli high court has approved to cut off the electricity from Gaza and leave Gaza in darkness to intensify the collective punishment on Gaza. When the Israeli high court previously agreed to ban the transfer to Gaza of fuel to supply the main power plant, there were power cuts for at least eight hours a day.

Power and fuel cuts mean that hospitals, factories and other essential services suffer as a result. Such Israeli court decisions ignore the humanitarian impact on Gaza.

I drove back home and I found the streets without light and not even much traffic as if Gaza was under curfew. When I arrived home, my family was sitting in darkness with a little candlelight. My three-and-a-half-month-old son was crying. I felt that he didn't want to be in darkness as darkness to him means bed time.

The power cuts that Gazans were experiencing before the last electricity cut was even then too much to bear and now the necessities of daily life are even harder to come by.What drives me and other Gazans crazy is that the international community can see all of the human rights violations being committed in Gaza and yet they choose not to take any action and instead remain silent. In the past I remember hearing the international community condemn such Israeli violations, but now, nothing.

One must conclude they are in favor of the Gaza siege because they support Israel's declaration that Gaza is an "enemy entity" since Hamas took over the Strip, ignoring that there are civilians living in Gaza that cannot be blamed for anything other than residing in Gaza.My family and I are suffering like many others in Gaza. We are all waiting for an improvement in the situation in Gaza, hoping that things will get better. Most Gazans have nothing to do but hope for a better life for our children, families and ourselves.

I wish I could tell George W. Bush that if he is coming to Palestine to complicate the lives of Palestinians while showing sympathy with Israeli then you are not welcome. We want solutions in easing our lives, the opening the borders and the breaking of the siege.I am not optimistic about Bush's visit as it's nothing but more talks. I am expecting a huge Israeli military attack against Gaza with the approval of the US. And as always, occupied Palestinians will receive nothing but the blame.I am sorry George W. Bush, you are not welcome.Published at: Electronic Intifada website:http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9213.shtml

Gaza residents discuss the closure (BBC)

Three Palestinians describe life in Gaza under the closure of the borders and how much they think the extra funding pledged by donors in Paris can help them.

MAZEN ABU ARMA, SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, RAFAH

I am principal of a school for children aged 10-13. The school is in a poor area and we are funded by UNWRA. The pupils who attend are among those hit hardest by the closure [of Gaza's border with Israel and Egypt, since June 2007]. Many of their parents used to work outside the Gaza Strip, so since the closure they have had no income.
Some of them come without proper clothing or shoes. It all affects their health and their performance at school. They attend, but often they are not really concentrating.
We have a lot of problems with low achievement. We do try to raise standards, but the circumstances don't help.
Some of these young people are blaming the whole world for their problems.
Put yourself in their shoes - what do you think will happen to them? They may become radicalised, they may become fanatics.
This is definitely affecting their mentality, their personalities.
As far as this new aid money goes, if it goes directly to the people I can assure you it will help. But the method of delivering the money is important.
The UN is the only international agency in Gaza which is working. It is making a lot of effort to help the refugees.

AWAD KESHTA, UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC, RAFAH

Every day we hear some clashes between Palestinians and Israelis on the borders to our east. But it doesn't really come into our area, to be honest.
However the closure affects every area of life.
Since Hamas took power there has been no construction work. There are a lot of half-finished projects and broken areas. Everything is upside down.
We heard about the pledges made by the donors. They spend a lot of money in the West Bank but here we don't tend to see it.
There are some shortages. We can't find the washing liquid we want, and there wasn't enough lamb for the Eid celebrations. We couldn't find Cola or Sevenup.
But more important are the medical shortages. In the West Bank patients can leave for treatment elsewhere. Here, they don't have the option.

MOHAMMED ALI, 26, GAZA CITY

At the moment I am the only source of income for about 12 members of my family. I work with an international humanitarian organisation and I also work as a freelance journalist.
My father used to work in tailoring in the Israeli industrial areas in Erez. When the Israelis withdrew [in September 2005] they closed the factory and he found similar work inside Gaza for less money.
But since the closure even that factory closed because no materials could get through. I would say about 70% of factories have closed for the same reasons.
I am an ambitious man and want to do an MA. My wife is educated, she's an electrical engineer. We want to travel, get more experiences and more education. But even if I get a visa, I can't leave.
The problem with this donors' conference is that they're giving their money to Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas]. He only represents the West Bank - and he's the one separating the West Bank from Gaza.
How can this man sleep when he has cut the salaries of 33,000 people in Gaza?
Two months ago my wife had our first baby. I look at him and I want to give him a better life, but I don't know how to.

The link to BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/7153865.stm

Tears and Blood in Gaza New Year

One night before New Year eve, my wife asked me where shall we celebrate the New Year?! I thought for a while, finally I decided not to stay home. An hour later, I received a phone call from a dear friend from France wishing me a happy New Year and then she asked me the same kind of question about where we'll celebrate the New Year.
I really thought deeply of what kind of New Year Gaza should celebrate?! How I can have pleasant time whereas hundred of pilgrims coming back from Mecca are stranded in Cairo can not enter back homes.
Gaza New Year simultaneous an Israeli bloody incursion, southern of Gaza, harvest dozens of Gazans lives. The bloody New Year in Gaza comes during unmerciful siege imposed against Gazans since June 2007.
At the end my wife I decided to stay home and not to celebrate but to cry instead of all the suffering we have and others in the Gaza Strip.
In night time, I went out with colleagues and friends. We talked about the season topics whish are the hardship that Gazans are living under. I came back home at 10pm, my son was in bed like little angel, my wife was waiting me. We watched TV to see how people all over the world are happy celebrating New Year with firework and partying.
"Why don't we have fun and celebrate the New Year as any ordinary people in the world? Aren't we human and have rights in life and to have fun?!" my wife wondered and asked me waiting to answer her back. Her words were like bill ringing in to my ears but I preferred to keep silent because I did not have an answer.
In the next day I got my salary, which I suppose to be a happy, I spent most of it distributing it to my brothers, parent and house food as I am the only source of income and responsible for about 12 members family. I have limited mount of money left for my son, wife, the car and myself. In the first of January I went for shopping and I bought presents for my child, then for my sick mother and finally for my wife. They were so happy, however I used up all my salary but I was not thinking about anything other than how to give them little happiness.
More Gazans died as a result of Israeli attacks, invasions, and incursions in the night of the New Year where families left in broken hearts leaving their sons.
I wish I could say "Happy New Year Gaza", however bloodshed, blockade, lack of money, shortage of food, medicine, and electricity, have banned me from thinking about "happy" phrase.

Finally I dedicate this message to the world by saying, Happy New Year to all people all over the world, have fun and enjoy your time, appreciate the meaning of fun where because there are people in the world like Gazans can find fun at all. With our soul and Blood we tell you Happy New Year.

Train of Death in Gaza

Hospitals in the Gaza Strip are suffering a great deal shortage of medical instruments, disposables, and delicate tools for serious surgeries. This shortages force hospitals to transfer critical cases outside the Gaza Strip for an immediate treatment; however patients are prevented by Israel to leave Gaza as a result of Gaza siege.
Beofre June 2007, hospitals used to carry out staid surgery as tools and medical equipments were available, yet in the time being nothing is available, no more serious surgeries are taken place in Gaza hospitals due to inhuman siege.
There is lack of ticklish disposables such as "Anesthetic" banned them doing any critical operation. One of examples, is Bassam Harara 35 year's old who wake up conscious during his kidney medical surgery asanesthetic run out. Bassam died a week later of the operation as a result in October 2007. Moreover, several "Cancer Cases" have passed a way as preventing them leaving to get urgent and necessarily treatments. 300 cases are waiting death too for same reasons. Since Jun 2007 About 67 Palestinians have died as a result of.
According to MoH reports that about 300 – 400 cases used to be transferred monthly to get treatment outside of Gaza, while last September about 100 cases only, and much less number in Nov.
In cardiology unit at Al Shefa hospital in Gaza City, Mr. Ali Ahel suffers a critical arteriosclerosis in the heart, blood pressure, and diabetes that might cause to his death any moment in case he did not get out of Gaza immediately to go for an open heart surgery. He is still waiting which put his life in danger. Now, he has been waiting since two months and he been banned but he is still waiting permission to leave either from Gaza or to leave life.
Mr. Ahel is 57 years old from Gaza city, has a family of eight members, and he is the only breadwinner for his children as he was working as a tailor in Gaza.
Doctors at AlShefa hospital said that he is in a very critical conditions and requires immediate surgery0 out side of Gaza other wise his chances of survive are very little
"We can not do anything for his conditions as he requires valve of the heart, and widening the heart artery. This paitent might pass away in the hospital any moment and we are completely disabled to help him." Said Dr. Nasser Al Tatter is the Head of Cardiology Unit in Al Shefa Medical Compound, describing the medical case of Ali Ahel.
Besides to Ali's deadly medical conditions he is also a handicapped person, though he has been denied of leaving Gaza.
"My family has applied to times to the Israeli side in order to let me get my life surgery out side of Gaza but I have been denied twice. Just I can not understand the fact I am denied from leaving Gaza… what a handicapped with all this fatal diseases could do "Ali Ahel Mentioned.
"I am waiting death now however, I am faithful enough of Allah to wait of death if its my fate. For me I am a father o 10 children, the youngest is 6 years old, they all requires a real care, no one of my children is working, even the oldest... I don't know what they will do after my death… Only Allah will be beside them". He said with teary eyes.
Still there is hope carried by Ali Ahel as he applied for permission and expecting an answer in 5th of December wishing the answer this time will positive.
"I appeal all people all over the world to at my case and Palestinians and try to help me; I can not stand pains anymore." He added.

Gazans Message:
Due to the Ministry of Health figures about 400-450 patients suffer from severe shortage in cardiology drugs. The breaking down of some therapeutic and diagnostic equipment in cardiology departments has worsened the situation.
Other needed and urgent requirements for hospitals are; Hem-dialysis machines, Diesel and natural Gas, Cleaning detergents, Foods for patients, Cloth and dressings, Medical Gases, and many other machines and instruments related the Cardiology Units.
As the tragic situation in Gaza, Ministry of Health appeal to the International Community to take an immediate action to put an end to this catastrophe which threatens the health sector to collapse, as reported at MoH minimum appeal to the humanitarian organization at their website.