The Mass Destruction of Gaza

It's now Saturday late afternoon afternoon. I'm sitting in the hotel garden drinking a mango. A gin and tonic with lime would be nice but the mango's delicious. Time passes so quickly here and the days are so full it's difficult to keep track of when things happened or what day it is.

Yesterday was beyond being emotional.
How people can destroy homes, lives, gardens.... everything is beyond me. The destruction is unbelievable! Massive piles of concrete, metal and rubbleubble that had been homes, schools, businesses all reduced to rubble. At times whole areas were destroyed; at others one building had been targeted, leaving a large hole filled with it's remains. Large buildings often weren't totally leveled leaving enormous slabs of concrete jutting in many directions. They almost looked like sculpture.

One area we visited was near the Israeli border. Initially it was bombed, followed by tanks and troop carriers. When their mission was finished the soldiers returned on their way to Israel. Homes that had been partially destroyed before were bulldozed. Landmines were carefully hidden in the rubble; when people returned to find no house left standing and when searching for possessions would be blown up by a landmine. By the time the soldiers were finished animals, gardens, orchards and houses were all carefully, deliberately destroyed The Israeli reason, creating a buffer zone. Why not create it on their own side of the border? How the Israeli soldiers can be so cruel and inhuman is beyond me. They are SICK!

These land mines are stamped "Made in the USA." How can we be a party to this? Is the almighty dollar worth more than childrens' lives? How long will our government continue to wear blinders when dealing with Israel?


A number of the former residents had brought tents to the area and would "visit" their old neighborhood during the day.
We spent time with three families and heard their stories. The planes flying overhead was nothing new, nor were the bombs but this time it was different. They came and didn't stop. As people tried to run for safety snipers indiscriminately shot at them; men, women, children, old people, it made no difference. Some were killed others wounded. We heard of young girls being shot even though they were waving white flags. Listening to people tell their stories was heart wrenching. I felt I was intruding into their most personal space and wondered if I should be there, wanted to be there.... they seemed to genuinely want to talk; I listened as the interrupter relayed their experience.

We met a woman about my age had lost three family members. She'd lived in the same house all her life. It was bombed beyond belief. She was now living in two rooms with 19 relatives and coming back each day to sit in her tent next to the remains of her house and wonder WHY?. Every single person we talked to asked "why" over and over again and usually ended their story by saying "Why? We just want to lead a life in peace."

Many of the children had vacant expressions on their faces and eyes that had no sparkle (that wasn't true of all the children) One of the exceptions occurred in a refugee camp where the children were flying a kite and making another. I went over to watch. After a while they motioned for me to take control of the kite which was soaring beautifully in the bright blue sky. How could I refuse? My only fear was loosing it to the sky. They tried showing me how to let the string out, (they were using a stick and pieces of string tied together). I couldn't get the hang of it, which they thought was hysterical. What a joy to have a bright fun moment, especially with children! It was just what I needed to return to life rather than having my mind and heart hovering in the rubble and destruction.

We visited a home where 11 people, an extended family, lost their lives, many in the house itself. Their house was hit by a white phosphorous bomb; which burns and keeps on burning. Sniper fire picked off people as they tried to escape. The family continues to live in the house, with large holes from the bombs, scorched walls and harrowing memories. The families matriarch, who lost her husband, brothers, children and grandchildren, can't stay in the house because of the trauma but comes every day and walks through it. Perhaps the most tragic story involves one of the children, a little girl, who was severely burned over almost her body by the white phosphorous. She's had treatment in Egypt but needs much more. Her mother was unable to survive the 3rd degree burns and died in Egypt. Which the family can't arrange or afford. How can anyone justify using such a chemical? I'm not positive but I believe international law classifies it as an illegal "weapon". I've checked it out: white phosphorous is not "illegal" it is generally used to form a smoke screen or defoliate an area. It's not "designed" to be used in heavily populated areas. Sounds a bit like napalm. Does Israel not know of laws it should abide? Do they believe they are justified and "above the law?" I believe they are below the law....further below than I ever imagined possible. To make matters worse the white phosphorous can look "dead" but when it's touched ignites again. Naturally children are attracted to it and often become badly burned.

We met with John Ging, head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA our "sponsors" for the trip. He's Irish and has been in Gaza for 31/2 years. His take on the siege is that the international community (US) needs to put political pressure on Israel to lift it. He has obvious respect and admiration for the Palestinians. UNRWA has responsibility for the refugee camps; from what I saw they could be doing a better job with them. They run schools and provide other services for people who were defined as refugees in 1948 and their offspring. 60 years is a very long time to live in a refugee camp. He's seeing changes, more political leaders are visiting Gaza. Most are expecting a Gaza they do not find. They find Gazans are normal people not terrorists as they are portrayed. The "logic" behind Israel's siege is seen as illogical, cruel and inhumane. The problem will not be solved with more humanitarian aid. It is a political problem needing a political solution. The US, my country, needs to take a good look at the facts, international law and the Geneva Convention and stand up for what if right and just.

New York times corespondent Taghreed El-Khoolary came for breakfast yesterday. Her beat is Gaza, she's the only full time reporter here and is connected to the Middle East bureau in Jerusalem. She's an amazing person, strong, very bright and up on every thing in Gaza. We were lucky to have contact with her. She was shocked by the extent of the Israeli assault in Dec. Jan. She talked about the fighting between Fattah and Hamas and how very damaging it is to Gaza. Much of what she said was off the record. She too believes a political solution must be found.

It's almost midnight and I need to sign off.