Crisis in Gaza

Yesterday in Connecticut, we had the honor to hear from the father, mother, and sister of 10-year-old Abir Aramin who was murdered by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in occupied Anata, Jerusalem, Palestine. We also heard from Israeli refusenik Yonatan Shapira. Abir’s father Bassam Aramin was jailed in Israel starting at age 17. When released he and Yonatan cofounded Combatants for Peace which combined Israelis and Palestinians who now advocate nonviolence and justice. He and others continued with the group even after his daughter was murdered in front of her school and while walking with other classmates, friends, as well as her sister (who gave us a heart-wrenching account of what happened and who spoke movingly about how Palestinian Children want to live like other children). There is no symmetry between occupied and occupiers, oppressed and oppressors; the occupation must end and human rights restored. This is understood by leaders of this group ( http://www.combatantsforpeace.org/ ), as well as by the group that is arranging the US tour and raising money to build a garden in the name of Abir (The Rebuilding Alliance http://www.rebuildingalliance.org/ ). We can only hope that this tour will bring people to act. While the killing of Children in the West Bank abated in the past few months (in order to advance the Israeli political agenda of domesticating the Palestinian Authority leaders), the situation got worse in Gaza. 92 children were murdered by the IOF since Abir's murder exactly a year ago and most were in Gaza. Today we face a major catastrophic situation unfolding in this concentration camp otherwise known as the Gaza Strip (home to 1.5 million Palestinians, 70% of them refugees). A very short message from a resident in Gaza reminded me with the call we heard from Jerusalem during the massacres by the Crusaders or other calls in history: "Wa Mu3tasmah...". It was simply: “Dear all: This is going to be short, as short as possible: At least 80% of Gaza under darkness. Not only the lights but every thing related to electricity. It is expected to have hundreds or even thousands of people dead if this situation continues. What can we do with this WAR CRIME? Bassam M. Nasser, Gaza, Palestine" Ofcourse that is still an understatement. Already dozens have died for lack of medications. Some are already hungry and 70% live below the poverty line thanks to the Israeli murderous siege (benignly referred to as "collective punishment"). A European colleague candidly noted in an email that Gaza now is new concentration camp “conceived as such” and “needs a new Nuremberg trial.” For those who know history they know that large scale deaths at concentration camps only occurred years after they were inhabited by thousands of inmates (communists, gypsises, homosexuals, Russians, Jews, Poles etc). Let us not wait for this progression, let us not wait for the day when Israelis parade before mass graves in Gaza. But what indeed can we do with the continuing Nakba in Palestine (60 years of mayhem, ethnic cleansing, destruction etc.)? Read about the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza http://www.freegaza.ps http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/BBA4E18B-E72F-4AB2-A1B4-26612DEFEAE3.htm We think we also have 60 years of heroism, sacrifices, acts of justice, and yes also lots of acts of kindness. That has always made the difference that prevents total annihilation and keeps the hopes of liberation, justice, freedom alive. So if you are like us outraged by these and others tories you hear, then do something. Below is from a US Citizen asking fellow citizens to act but if you are not in the US, please do similar actions with your government and the media: If you are an American TAX PAYER you are culpable in these crimes against humanity and silence is complicity! WRITE and TELEPHONE THOSE WORKING FOR YOU IN WASHINGTON AND DEMAND THAT THIS CARNAGE END! It is the PEACEMAKERS who are the children of God, NOT those that starve, bomb, torture and occupy others! President George W. Bush (202) 456-1414 president@whitehouse.gov White House Comment Line: (202) 456-1111 Fax: (202) 456-2461 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (202) 647-6575 Any Senator (202) 224-3121 Any Representative (202) 225-3121 E-Mail Congress: visit http://www.congress.org Embassy of Israel, 3514 International Dr., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202) 364-5515 AND WRITE TO/CALL THE MEDIA AND DEMAND THEY COVER THIS HUMANITARIAN DISASTOR AND ONGOING WAR CRIMES. Media contacts: http://www.pmwatch.org/pmw/contact/media.asp http://capwiz.com/adc/dbq/media Ask Journalists to interview Palestinians; there is no shortage of those (e.g. in the US, here is a listing of many Palestinian Americans: http://imeu.net/news/palestinian-americans.shtml ). ======== Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD http://qumsiyeh.org http://justicewheels.org