2 January 2010 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza
Hassan Mohammed Qedeh, age 19On Tuesday evening, December 28, 19-year-old Hassan Mohammed Qedeh was killed by the Israeli military in the village of Khoza’a, east of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. According to the Israeli forces, and subsequently repeated by various media outlets, he was a resistance fighter. However, witnesses in the area, as well as relatives, have confirmed that he had civilian status at the time when he was killed.
Sometime before sunset, Hassan had gone into the area of the border where an Apache had killed two of his relatives, Issa Abu Rok and Muhammad An-Najjar, two nights before, on December 26—both of them members of the armed resistance. According to his brother Ahmed Qedeh, Hassan ventured into the area to examine the place where his relatives had died. Ahmed says that a sniper sitting in a jeep alongside the border shot Hassan in the leg.
Ahmed added, “Hassan treated himself, while the IDF let him bleed slowly for the subsequent two hours, preventing any emergency vehicles, or his friends, from reaching him. Afterward, they shot munitions from a border-area tank, decapitating him.” He explained that “the area where they killed my brother is flat, free of any obstacles that could have blocked their view. The soldiers must have clearly seen that Hassan was a civilian, without any weapons, and shot anyway.”
According to Ahmed, five of Hassan’s friends repeatedly attempted to save Hassan, but came under heavy fire, and were unable to do so. Eventually they were shelled with a kind of gas bomb which caused them to faint.
According to United Nations figures, 59 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by the IDF this year, 24 of them civilians. The number of wounded has been ten times that—220. And the count rises daily.
Hassan’s uncle, Abd Alazeer Yousef Abu Rjila’a, adds that the Israeli army came back to the crime site on the night of the 29th with a bulldozer that demolished 4 dunams of farming land. The man has not only lost three family members in a few days, but has lost his main source of income: most of his olive trees are uprooted and the water tank is destroyed. The man tried to reach his land twice on December 30th, but was forced to keep away as the army fired bullets at him to ward him off.
“Three families are dependent on me and that area: it’s our only source of income. I was already suffering, both psychologically and physically; I have high blood pressure and asthma, but now I can’t even reach my land, so how can I bring food to the table?” says Abd Alazeer Youssef Abu Rjila.
30 December 2010 | International Solidarity Movement
When I locked arms in front of the idling bulldozer, I wanted finances to be the farthest from my mind. As M16- and tear gas-armed soldiers approached us and the Palestinian woman to my right embraced me tighter and my fellow ISM volunteer to my left reached for her medic kit, I did not want to think of money.
That day, we stopped the construction of the Apartheid Wall and the ethnic cleansing of the Al-Walaja village near Bethlehem. When the construction was cancelled and the soldiers returned home, ISM volunteers continued their work inside the village to plan for the next day. Despite our focus on planning, the fear of mounting legal fees and medical funds depleting our desperately stretched funds are too strong a reality to ignore.
The strength that volunteers draw upon daily to complete the demanding and draining tasks of fighting the occupation comes from you. Our work relies on the network of compassionate human beings who believe that justice is both a necessity and a right.
As 2010 comes to an end, the struggle for the liberation of the Palestinian people continues. Consider yourself a pillar of strength for the volunteers of the International Solidarity Movement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Donate today and the impact will be felt immediately by Palestine solidarity activists, from around the globe, residing in Palestine and resisting the occupation.
Despite the real threat of physical harm, deportation, night raids and arrest, activists continue to join ISM and employ nonviolent direct action tactics in the struggle for justice. ISM is one of the few organizations working directly with Palestinians in the popular struggle against the occupation. As the resistance grows, so does the demand for ISM volunteers. We cannot answer the call without you.
Al tiempo que amanece un nuevo año de Resistencia, ayudad al ISM a apoyar la resistencia popular en Palestina.
Cuando cerré mis brazos en frente de la excavadora al ralentí, yo quería que el tema económico estuviera lo más alejado de mi mente. Mientras los soldados armados con M-16 y gases lacrimógenos se acercaban a nosotros y la mujer Palestina a mi derecha me abrazaba más y más fuerte y mis compañeros voluntarios del ISM a mi izquierda le acercaban el kit médico, no quería pensar en dinero.
Aquel día habíamos parado la construcción del Muro del Apartheid y la limpieza étnica del pueblo de Al-Walaja cerca de Belén. Cuando la construcción se canceló y los soldados volvieron a sus casas, los y las voluntarixs del ISM continuaron su trabajo dentro del pueblo para planificar el siguiente día. A pesar de que nos centramos en la planificación, el miedo de incrementar los honorarios de abogados y los gastos médicos que agotan nuestros fondos que estiramos desesperadamente, son una realidad demasiado fuerte para ser ignorada.
La fuerza que los voluntarios sacan diariamente para llevar a cabo la exigente y necesaria tarea de luchar contra la ocupación viene de ti. Nuestro trabajo confía en la red de seres humanos compasivos que creen que la justicia es tanto una necesidad como un derecho.
Al terminar este 2010 la lucha por la liberación del pueblo Palestino continua. Considérate un pilar de fuerza para los voluntarios del Movimiento Internacional de Solidaridad en Cisjordania y en la Franja de Gaza. Dona hoy y el impacto se sentirá inmediatamente por los activistas de solidaridad con Palestina de todo el mundo, que residen en Palestina y resisten contra la ocupación.
A pesar del peligro real de daño físico, deportación, redadas nocturnas y arresto, los activistas continúan uniéndose al ISM y emplean las tácticas de la acción directa noviolenta en la lucha por la justicia. El ISM es una de las únicas organizaciones que trabajan directamente con los Palestinos en la lucha popular contra la ocupación. A medida que crece la resistencia, así también la demanda de voluntarios/as del ISM. No podemos responder los llamamientos sin tí.
A l’aube d’une nouvelle année de résistance, aidez ISM à soutenir la résistance populaire en Palestine
Lorsque je me suis mis, les bras croisés, face au bulldozer qui avançait lentement, j’aurais aimé que les questions d’argent soit le plus loin possible de mes préoccupations. Tandis que les soldats armés de M16 et de grenades lacrymogènes s’approchaient de nous, que la Palestinienne à ma droite me serrait plus fort et que mon collègue d’ISM à ma gauche attrapait sa trousse médicale, j’aurais aimé ne pas avoir à penser à l’argent.
Ce jour-là, nous avons interrompu la construction du mur d’apartheid et le nettoyage ethnique du village d’Al-Walaja, près de Bethléem. Lorsque la journée de construction a été annulée et que les soldats sont rentrés à leurs casernes, les bénévoles d’ISM ont repris leur travail dans le village pour préparer l’action du lendemain. Bien que concentrés sur les préparatifs, la crainte des frais juridiques et médicaux en augmentation qui appauvrissent nos fonds désespérément tendus était une réalité trop forte pour que nous l’ignorions.
C’est de vous que les bénévoles puisent quotidiennement leur force pour accomplir les tâches exigeantes du combat contre l’occupation. Notre travail s’appuie sur un réseau d’êtres humains empathiques qui croient que la justice est à la fois une nécessité et un droit.
Tandis que 2010 se termine, la lutte pour la libération du peuple palestinien continue. Considérez-vous comme une force pour les militants du Mouvement International de Solidarité en Cisjordanie et dans la Bande de Gaza. Ce que vous donnerez aujourd’hui aura un impact qui se fera sentir immédiatement parmi les militants de la solidarité qui sont en Palestine et qui résistent à l’occupation.
Malgré les menaces réelles d’atteinte physique, d’expulsion, de raids nocturnes et d’arrestations, des activistes continuent de rejoindre ISM et de mettre en pratique des tactiques d’actions directes non violentes dans la lutte pour la justice.
ISM est l’une des seules organisations qui travaillent directement avec les Palestiniens dans la lutte populaire contre l’occupation. La résistance grandit, et le besoin de militants bénévoles ISM aussi. Nous ne pouvons répondre à cet appel sans vous.
Mit dem Beginn eines neuen Jahres braucht die ISM Deine Hilfe für die fortgesetzte Unterstützung des zivilen Widerstandes in Palästina
Als ich Schulter an Schulter vor dem wartenden Bulldozer stand, wollte ich zu allerletzt an Finanzielles denken. Als mit M16 und Tränengas bewaffnete Soldaten sich uns näherten und die Palästinenserin an meiner rechten Seite mich fester hielt und meine Kollegin von der Internationalen Solidaritätsbwegung (ISM/International Solidarity Movement) zu meiner linken nach ihrem Verbandszeug griff, wollte ich nicht an Geld denken.
An diesem Tag hielten wir die Konstruktion der Apartheidmauer und die ethnische Säuberung des Dorfes Al-Walaja bei Betlehem auf. Als die Bauarbeiten abgesagt und die Soldaten nach Hause gegangen waren, setzten die Freiwilligen der ISM ihre Arbeit im Dorf fort und planten den nächsten Tag. Obwohl wir uns ganz auf die Planung konzentrieren wollen, sind unsere finanziellen Sorgen angesichts steigender medizinischer und gerichtlicher Kosten, die unser Budget bis an die Grenzen belasten, eine Realität, die wir nicht länger ignorieren können.
Die Stärke, die die Freiwilligen täglich benötigen, um die anspruchsvollen und Kräfte zehrenden Aktionen im Widerstand gegen die Besatzung auszuführen, kommt von Dir. Unsere Arbeit stützt sich auf ein Netz von Mitmenschen, die davon überzeugt sind, dass Gerechtigkeit eine Notwendigkeit und ein Recht ist.
Das Jahr 2010 geht zu Ende und der Kampf für die Befreiung des palästinensischen Volkes geht weiter. Dein Beitrag ist unverzichtbar für die Unterstützung der Freiwilligen der Internationalen Solidaritätsbewegung in der Westbank und in Gaza. Mach Deine Spende heute und Du wirst sofort und unmittelbar die Bedingungen für palästinensische Solidaritätsaktivisten aus der ganzen Welt verbessern, die in Palästina leben und gegen die Besatzung Widerstand leisten.
Obwohl Mitglieder der ISM unter der konkreten Androhung von Verletzungen, Deportationen, nächtliche Razzien und Festnahmen stehen, sind Aktivisten immer neu bereit, zur Internationalen Solidaritätsbewegung zu kommen, um sich an den gewaltlosen Aktionen im Kampf für Gerechtigkeit zu beteiligen. Die ISM ist eine der wenigen Organisationen, die in unmittelbarer Zusammenarbeit mit Palästinensern am weitverbreiteten friedlichen Widerstand gegen die Besatzung teilnehmen. Je mehr sich die Widerstandsbewegung verbreitet, desto mehr ISM – Freiwillge benötigen wir. Unsere Beteiligung ist ohne Dich nicht möglich.
Al termine di un altro anno di resistenza, aiuta l´ISM a sostenere la resistenza popolare in Palestina
Nel momento in cui ho incrociato le braccia di fronte a quel bulldozer immobile avrei voluto che l´aspetto finanziario fosse lontano dalla mia mente. Mentre soldati armati di M16 e gas lacrimogeno ci avvicinavano e la donna Palestinese alla mia destra cominciava a stringermi piu forte e il mio compagno dell´ISM alla mia sinistra afferrava il suo kit medico, io non avrei voluto dover pensare al denaro.
Quel giorno, riuscimmo a fermare la costruzione del muro dell´apartheid e la pulizia etnica del villaggio di Al-Walaja vicino a Betlemme. Dopo che la costruzione del muro fu abbandonata e i soldati fecero ritorno a casa, i volontari dell´ISM continuarono il loro lavoro nel villaggio facendo il piano per il giorno successivo. Malgrado i nostri progetti sull´aspetto della pianificazione delle attività, la paura rispetto alle sempre crescenti spese legali e alle sempre piu esigue risorse mediche cominciarono a diventare un fatto troppo importante per essere ignorato.
La forza da cui i volontari attingono quotidianamente per portare avanti il compito estenuante di combattere contro l’occupazione viene da voi. Il nostro lavoro si basa su un network di persone che credono che la giustizia sia una necessità e, nello stesso tempo, un diritto.
Anche col finire dell’anno 2010, la lotta per la liberazione del popolo palestinese continua. Considerati un pilastro della forza cui attingono i volontari dell’International Solidarity Movement nella Cisgiordania\West Bank e nella striscia di Gaza. Se fai una donazione oggi stesso i volontari internazionali residenti in Palestina resistendo all’occupazione ne sentiranno immediatamente i benefici.
Nonostante la minaccia reale del poter essere feriti, della deportazione, delle retate e degli arresti notturni, altri attivisti si aggiungono all’ISM adottando tattiche di nonviolenza attiva e diretta nella lotta per la giustizia. L’ISM è una delle poche organizzazioni che lavorano
direttamente con i Palestinesi nella battaglia popolare contro l’occupazione. Al crescere della resistenza, cresce la domanda e il bisogno di attivisti MA non possiamo rispondere a questa chiamata senza il tuo aiuto.
Direniş yeni bir yılına girerken Uluslararası Dayanışma Hareketine desteğinizle halkın yanında olun!
Önümdeki buldozere elimle dayanırken parapul işlerinin aklımı kurcalamasını istemezdim.
M16 lı gas silahlı asker bize yaklaşırken, Filistinli kadın ve ISM’li arkadaş yardım çantasıyla bana yaklaşırken gene parapulu dert etmek istemem.
O gün için Ayrım Duvarının inşaatını durdurmuştuk, Beytüllahim kenarındaki El Vilaye köyündeki etnik arındırmaya karşı durmuştuk. İnşaat ara verince askerler geri dönünce ISM gönüllüleri olarak köyün içinde faaliyete devam ettik, müteakip günleri düşünmeye başlamıştık. Planlara odaklandık ama tıbbi yardımlar ve gündelik faaliyet masrafları da korkutuyordu: Kaçınılmaz gerçekler.
Gönüllülerin işgale karşı verebilecekleri mücadele gösterebilecekleri direniş sizlere bakıyor. Bizim yapageldiklerimiz bir çevreye dayanıyor. Adaletin hem bir ihtiyaç hem de bir hak olduğuna inanan insanların çevresine.
2010 yılı geçti ve Filistin halkının kurtuluş mücadelesi devam etmekte. Kendinizi ISM’nin Batı Şeria ve Gazze Şeridindeki gönüllülerinin dayanağı addediniz.Bugün desteğinizi gönderin yarın bunun Filistin için dünyanın her yerinden gelip işgale karşı direnen insanlar neznindeki etkisini göreceksiniz.
Fiziken hedef almalara, sınırdışılara, gece sorgularına rağmen gönüllüler ISM’de bulunmaya ve şiddet-dışı doğrudan eylemlerle adalet arayışına devam ediyorlar.
ISM, Filistinlilerle birlikte doğrudan halkın içinde işgale karşı direniş veren yegane kuruluştur. Direniş büyürse ISM gönüllüleri de artacaktır.
28 December 2010 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza
Mahmoud Mousa Mohammed Al Sirsik, age 19
This morning Mahmoud Mousa Mohammed Al Sirsik, aged 19, was going about his daily business, collecting stones with his horse cart in the border area, east of Gaza City, when Israeli army jeeps entered the area. Seeing the danger approaching, Mahmoud tried to run away, but found himself immobilized as the army trapped him in a rain of bullets to his left and right. One bullet hit a nearby object; a piece of shrapnel bounced back and pierced the young man’s nostril. The injured Mahmoud managed to hide for half-an-hour while the shooting from the jeeps continued and were even reinforced by a tank crossing into Gaza.
“I was sure they were going to arrest me. The tank kept moving in on me– it came as close as 20 meters. At that point I felt I had nothing to lose anymore, so I ran away as fast as I could. Bullets were still passing me by at both sides; it’s impossible to say how many they fired in total,” states an overwhelmed Mahmoud.
One of his relatives interrupts him sternly: “I heard it! It must have been close to a hundred! They wanted to kill him.”
The Al Sarsik family of 16 is dependent on Mahmoud and his brother to provide income by collecting rubble. Terrorized by today’s events, Mahmoud claims he will not take up work as a scrap collector ever again. He hopes to find another job, but it is Gaza’s scarce job opportunities that drive people into despair and force them to take up this kind of hazardous work.
Today’s attack exemplifies yet again Israel’s escalating assault on workers in the border area: since the beginning of November, approximately 40 people have been injured in the buffer zone: the no-go zone as declared by Israeli military that runs along the Gazan side of the border in a swathe 300 to 500 meters wide. However, according to the United Nations, this “high risk” zone stretches up to 1000-1500 meters. The total area amounts to 35% of Gaza’s arable land. According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, more than 84 workers have been injured and ten have been killed by the Israeli military since January 2010.
Shot with live ammunition at a demonstration protesting the israeli assault on Gaza inNabi Saleh. The bullet entered through the thigh to the abdomen. Died of his wounds in Ramallah hospital two days later.
22. 10 December 2011:
Mustafa Tamimi, age 28
Evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva after being shot in the face by a tear gas canister at close range during the weekly protest in Nabi Saleh on 9 December 2011. He died from his wounds.
21. 1 January 2011:
Jawaher Abu Rahmah, age 36
Evacuated to Ramallah hospital after inhaling massive amounts of tear-gas during the weekly protest in Bil’in on 31 December 2010. She died of poisoning the next morning.
20. 5 June 2009:
Yousef ‘Akil’ Tsadik Srour, age 36
Shot in the chest with 0.22 calibre live ammunition during a demonstration against the Wall in Ni’lin.
19. April 17, 2009:
Basem Abu Rahme, age 29
Shot in the chest with a high-velocity tear gas projectile during a demonstration against the Wall in Bil’in.
18. December 28, 2008:
Mohammad Khawaja, age 20
Shot in the head with live ammunition during a demonstration in Ni’lin against Israel’s assault on Gaza. Mohammad died in the hospital on December 31, 2009.
17. December 28, 2008:
Arafat Khawaja, age 22
Shot in the back with live ammunition in Ni’lin during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza.
16. July 30, 2008:
Youssef Ahmed Younes Amirah, age 17
Shot in the head with rubber coated bullets during a demonstration against the Wall in Ni’lin. Youssef died of his wounds on August 4, 2008.
15. July 29, 2008:
Ahmed Husan Youssef Mousa, age 10
Shot dead while he and several friends tried to remove coils of razor wire from land belonging to the village in Ni’lin.
14. March 2, 2008:
Mahmoud Muhammad Ahmad Masalmeh, age 15
Shot dead when trying to cut the razor wire portion of the Wall in Beit Awwa.
13. March 28, 2007:
Muhammad Elias Mahmoud ‘Aweideh, age 15
Shot dead during a demonstration against the Wall in Um a-Sharayet – Samiramis.
12. February 2, 2007:
Taha Muhammad Subhi al-Quljawi, age 16
Shot dead when he and two friends tried to cut the razor wire portion of the Wall in the Qalandiya Refugee Camp. He was wounded in the thigh and died from blood loss after remaining in the field for a long time without treatment.
11. March 15, 2006:
Khaled ‘Issa Khaled ‘Attiyah, age 18
Killed by gunfire while hiding with three friends, waiting to throw stones at passing army jeeps during a demonstration in the village of Karbatha al-Misbah.
10. May 4, 2005:
Jamal Jaber Ibrahim ‘Asi, age 15
Shot dead during a demonstration against the Wall in Beit Liqya.
9. May 4, 2005:
U’dai Mufid Mahmoud ‘Asi, age 14
Shot dead during a demonstration against the Wall in Beit Liqya.
8. February 15, 2005:
‘Alaa’ Muhammad ‘Abd a-Rahman Khalil, age 14
Shot dead while throwing stones at an Israeli vehicle driven by private security guards near the Wall in Betunya.
7. April 18, 2004:
Islam Hashem Rizik Zhahran, age 14
Shot during a demonstration against the Wall in Deir Abu Mash’al. Islam died of his wounds April 28, 2004.
6. April 18, 2004:
Diaa’ A-Din ‘Abd al-Karim Ibrahim Abu ‘Eid, age 23
Shot dead during a demonstration against the Wall in Biddu.
5. April 16, 2004:
Hussein Mahmoud ‘Awad ‘Alian, age 17
Shot dead during a demonstration against the Wall in Betunya.
4. February 26, 2004:
Muhammad Da’ud Saleh Badwan, age 21
Shot during a demonstration against the Wall in Biddu. Muhammad died of his wounds on March 3, 2004.
3. February 26, 2004:
Abdal Rahman Abu ‘Eid, age 17
Died of a heart attack after teargas projectiles were shot into his home during a demonstration against the Wall in Biddu.
2. February 26, 2004:
Muhammad Fadel Hashem Rian, age 25
Shot dead during a demonstration against the Wall in Biddu.
1. February 26, 2004:
Zakaria Mahmoud ‘Eid Salem, age 28
Shot dead during a demonstration against the Wall in Biddu.
Three others, all minors or mentally disabled were killed just for being in proximity of the Wall:
December 19, 2006:
Du’aa Naser Saleh ‘Abd al-Qader, age 14
Killed by gunfire in Far’un when she approached the Wall with her friend.
July 8, 2005:
Mahyoub Ahmad Nemer ‘Asi, age 15
Was shot by a private security guard while he was in his family’s plot, about 200 meters away from the path of the Wall.
January 22, 2005:
Fatah a-Deen Muhammad ‘Ali al-Khuli, age 20
Killed by gunfire near Habla (Qalqilya district) when he approached the Wall. al-Khuli was mentally disabled.
28 December 2010 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza
A demonstration commemorating the beginning of “Operation Cast Lead” was held Tuesday in the Gazan city of Beit Hanoun. Families of victims were in attendance, as were 5 International Solidarity Movement activists. Two years have passed since the Israeli attacks on Gaza, which killed over 1400 people in just 23 days. The vast majority of victims were civilians, including 350 children, according to the United Nations and other major human rights organizations.
The Local Initiative demonstration began at the railway street in Beit Hanoun, near some of the most horrendous attacks which occurred during the land, air and sea bombardment of Gaza. The group of around 40 continued into the ‘buffer zone’ to within 100m of the Israeli border, holding flags and photos of children killed two years ago. During the 23-day attack, none of Gaza’s 1.5 million inhabitants (including 800,000 children) were safe.
Beit Hanoun was not spared this horror, and stories from the attacks continue to haunt survivors. Abed Hamdan carried a banner with pictures of his youngest brother and two youngest sisters, Ismail (9), Haia (12) and Lama (4). While marching towards the border, demonstrators stopped at an intersection with al-Seka Street. At approximately 7:45am on 30 December 2008, Haia, Ismail and Lama were taking rubbish to this intersection when they were hit by two missiles launched from an F16 fighter jet. According to the children’s uncle, their bodies were found in three different locations, each about 50 meters away from where the missiles hit. Relatives ran with Lama and Haias’ bodies to Beit Hanoun Hospital, but the girls had died at the scene. Ismail sustained shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and chest, and had several broken bones. He died the following day in Al Shifa Hospital, in Gaza City. According to witnesses, the Hamdan children had been directly targeted by the Israeli, US-made F16 jet.
demonstration in Beit Hanoun
Lama carried after attack
Abed with Lama
The demonstration passed a collapsed building, where a father described being the lone survivor from his family after the building was bombed. The group then proceeded into the ‘buffer zone’, the strip of land along the Israeli border where attacks continue, injuring and killing countless farmers and rubble-collectors and depriving many of their livelihoods.[1] Demonstrators gathered in the ‘zone’ for speeches, under surveillance from the Erez Crossing watchtowers where Israeli snipers frequently shoot at demonstrators.
Local Initiative co-ordinator Saber Al Zaaneen spoke about the devastation still felt two years after the Israeli military’s attacks. “We’re here to reject the Israeli-imposed ‘buffer-zone’ that takes away so much of our farmland, and in defiance of the 23-day Zionist aggression 2 years ago, horrors once again visited upon us the Palestinians of Gaza, told to the world by the United Nations Goldstone Report.[2] The burning and bleeding under the rubble of the killing from the air, land and sea will never beat us. Long live Palestine, our steadfastness is strengthened by the memory or our loved ones, the hundreds of children murdered while the world watched on their television screens. We emphasize our legitimate right to resist occupation, and use all methods of struggle and fight until the end of Israel’s inhuman siege and bring our eventual liberation.”
International Solidarity Movement activist Adie Mormech expressed the urgency required for the international community and solidarity movements to act.
“The world is now aware of these well-documented crimes against humanity, the massacres, occupation, ethnic cleansing and siege of the Palestinian territories – all collective punishment[3] and serious violations of the 4th Geneva Convention. We cannot stand for this. We cannot allow Lama, Ismail and Haia to die with no justice to them or their family, or the families of the 1400 others massacred in the Israeli attacks. So where is the action? Where is the compensation? Where are the peacekeepers? Where are the sanctions on Israel? How many will they kill the next time, perhaps soon, if nothing is done about the 4 year medieval siege of Gaza or the murder of hundreds of Palestinian children? It is up to international civil society to do all they can and to boycott, divest and sanction from the Israeli Apartheid regime.”
The demonstrators returned to Beit Hanoun, with talk of more violence ahead and the prospects of another impending Israeli assault on the Gaza. Israel’s blockade of Gaza continues unabated, despite being denounced by the European Union, The Red Cross and all major human rights groups as collective punishment, illegal according to article 33 of the 4th Geneva Convention.
On 2nd December 2010, 22 international organizations including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Save the Children, Christian Aid, and Medical Aid for Palestinians produced the report Dashed Hopes, Continuation of the Gaza Blockade[4] stating that there had been no material change to the devastating effects of the siege, and calling for international pressure on Israel to unconditionally lift the blockade.
The Hamdan family remains in ruins from the loss of their 3 youngest children. When their father, Talal Hamdan, spoke of their deaths in his home, there was still a quiet disbelief in his voice at what had happened to them. The family’s sorrow is unending.
“We’re just a simple Palestinian family”, Talal said, sitting in the garden of his home which is two kilometers from the ‘buffer zone’. Before the war, he and his wife spent their evenings watching the children playing in the garden, in the spot where he sat. “There is no life anymore. The children are now usually nervous, argue a lot, my eldest son has given up work and my other son Abed has stopped bodybuilding for which he used to train for competitions.” The family finds it impossible to deal with the terrible loss. “Haja was such a smart girl,” her father remembers. “She was the first in her class, danced dabka, and was able to read the whole Qur’an.” For his remaining four daughters and two sons, a small sum of money initially came from the Palestinian government. One of his daughters received psychological help from Doctors without Borders. The help only lasted two months however, and only reached on of an entire community stricken with grief.
Talal and his wife continue to sit in front of their house in the evening, watching their garden. However their world is now very different, like many others in Palestine. When asked if he had a message for the world, Talal shook his head. “I just want people to know that they were innocent children being killed, who never did anything wrong in their lives”.
