Dear Gaza

Great Salutation from your daughter,
to the sea that used to embrace us together each friday
to the sun that used to burn our skins to make us of the same color,
to the oranges that killed our thirst,
to the shoulders and hands we used to exchange.
to the Gaza I know

From Beit Hanoun...recent pictures few days after the operation was over

Women and children 'killed in their sleep' in Gaza

Israeli tank shells landed in a residential neighbourhood north of Beit Hanoun early today, killing at least 18 people in their sleep.Palestinian hospital officials said there were several more injured.According to witnesses, all those killd were women and children.Hundreds gathered outside the Kamal Adwan hospital weeping as bodies arrived.Witnesses said that many of the dead arrived in their sleeping clothes.Four hospitals are treating the wounded across Gaza.Khaled Radi, a health ministry official, said of the 18 dead, seven were children, and 13 of the dead were from the same family.
Irish Examiner.com

Article: A brutal Taste of the Future

A brutal taste of the future
The assault on Beit Hanoun is a terrifying example of what lies in store for Palestinians
Sami Abdel-Shafi in Gaza City
Wednesday November 8, 2006

The initiation of Avigdor Lieberman - widely regarded as an outright racist - into Ehud Olmert's Israeli government seems to have already brought a taste of things to come. For the past week, the Gaza Strip city of Beit Hanoun has been made a ground zero by the Israeli army. By yesterday, more than 260 Palestinians lay dead and injured, with 53 fatalities - women, children and ambulance drivers among them. Read More

Left Beit Hanun...but never leave Gaza

After the massive attacks on Beit Hanoun...i m scared, but really want, to go see what remained from this miserable town.
Israeli troops left Beit Hanoun, but remember; that the tanks have only moved to the borders on Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza and they went to invade more areas elsewhere. The Israeli incursions go on and on..even if you dont hear about some "Women" phenomenon, or 57 killed..there is more to come. Now, in most of Beit Lahia,...a little bit to south of Beit Hanounm and the eastern part of Jabalia another close by town, all in the northern part of Gaza Strip. In addition to the threat on the souther part, Rafah is waiting for its turn, expecting a similar misery of a big invasion. Such invasion to the south maybe kept to the last phase..it will be the desruction of the areas along the border. Rafah got used to house destruction on top of poeples' heads without sending any signals for evacuation. The talk was lately on bombing the border becasue it is the source of weopn smuggling ..this is true to some extent. But..what israel did after the withdrawal but wittnessed and encouraged this weaopn smuggling into the Gaza Strip through Egypt...Gaza is truely full of weopons..that are used mostly in internal confrontation. Dont say..well its your fault Gazans to let that happen..because Israel truely played it nicely and correctly..this is the goal..to reach this stage where Gaza should be kicked into the Sea...and trust me..i m not a conspiracy theory admiror..but if it seems that way..forgoive me but you have to understand the reality here.
The reality that isgoing beyond conventional occupation and colonial oppression...way beyond.
Would any american elections matter in the Palestinain- Israeli problem..i doubt it. Still, i m following closly the developments of the voting today ..but i will have to get some sleep and because of time difference results wont show till the morning of my time. But i think while watching CNN and reading the google news articles on elections about the significance of this elections..it may be significant a little bit for Iraqis who are really mad about their situation.... But for Palestinians...would it matter?? Simply ..No.
and then i remember..that when palestinians kidnapped Gilad Shalit..and the big Gaza operation was declared by Israel to get back the soldier...hundreds were killed..and it is still goin on ..and the borders were closed for the longest time..about a thousand poeple in Gaza and West Bank got arrested..and ..While al this ..Israel went to war in Lebanon..and IT IS OVER,.....Why would it be over in the palestinians territories..? I mean..a whole war took place and finished was really bad and intense but it ended! our situation , that was highly connected with the lebanese story (which i disagreed with, i mean drawing the connection with gaza situation) of the kidnaping of Israeli soldiers by Hiszbullah WAS JUST ANOTHER PHASE or Round of the endless GAME?!!

Left Beit Hanun...but never leave Gaza

After the massive attacks on Beit Hanoun...i m scared, but really want, to go see what remained from this miserable town.
Israeli troops left Beit Hanoun, but remember; that the tanks have only moved to the borders on Beit Hanoun in the north of Gaza and they went to invade more areas elsewhere. The Israeli incursions go on and on..even if you dont hear about some "Women" phenomenon, or 57 killed..there is more to come. Now, in most of Beit Lahia,...a little bit to south of Beit Hanounm and the eastern part of Jabalia another close by town, all in the northern part of Gaza Strip. In addition to the threat on the souther part, Rafah is waiting for its turn, expecting a similar misery of a big invasion. Such invasion to the south maybe kept to the last phase..it will be the desruction of the areas along the border. Rafah got used to house destruction on top of poeples' heads without sending any signals for evacuation. The talk was lately on bombing the border becasue it is the source of weopn smuggling ..this is true to some extent. But..what israel did after the withdrawal but wittnessed and encouraged this weaopn smuggling into the Gaza Strip through Egypt...Gaza is truely full of weopons..that are used mostly in internal confrontation. Dont say..well its your fault Gazans to let that happen..because Israel truely played it nicely and correctly..this is the goal..to reach this stage where Gaza should be kicked into the Sea...and trust me..i m not a conspiracy theory admiror..but if it seems that way..forgoive me but you have to understand the reality here.
The reality that isgoing beyond conventional occupation and colonial oppression...way beyond.
Would any american elections matter in the Palestinain- Israeli problem..i doubt it. Still, i m following closly the developments of the voting today ..but i will have to get some sleep and because of time difference results wont show till the morning of my time. But i think while watching CNN and reading the google news articles on elections about the significance of this elections..it may be significant a little bit for Iraqis who are really mad about their situation.... But for Palestinians...would it matter?? Simply ..No.
and then i remember..that when palestinians kidnapped Gilad Shalit..and the big Gaza operation was declared by Israel to get back the soldier...hundreds were killed..and it is still goin on ..and the borders were closed for the longest time..about a thousand poeple in Gaza and West Bank got arrested..and ..While al this ..Israel went to war in Lebanon..and IT IS OVER,.....Why would it be over in the palestinians territories..? I mean..a whole war took place and finished was really bad and intense but it ended! our situation , that was highly connected with the lebanese story (which i disagreed with) of the kidnaping of Israeli soldiers by Hiszbullah WAS JUST ANOTHER PHASE or Round of the endless GAME?!!

85% of the Agriculural Lands in Beit Hanoun were destroyed by the Israeli incurions...

Israel kills 2 Medical Workers ...They were clearly marked..and their vehicles..in Beit Hanoun
BBC- News

On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army declared Beit Hanoun a closed military zone. All residents were ordered to stay indoors. The Israeli army issued a warning through two local radio stations (“Freedom Radio” and “Youth Radio”) after they occupied the airwaves for a few minutes.

The town of Beit Hanoun, which lies only a few kilometers from the Israeli settlement of Sderot on the other side of the Gaza-Israel border, has 28,000 inhabitants.
The Israeli army conducted a large-scale offensive in Beit Hanoun at dawn on Thursday. It combined air and ground forces, including infantry, armored corps, tanks and engineer corps forces.
According to Palestinian sources, this incursion is the tenth into the town of Beit Hanoun since the Israeli army “left” the Gaza Strip, last August 2005.
The death toll of the Israeli Operation Autumn Clouds has raised to 54 So far, in repeated incursions and aerial attacks, 260 have been injured, including 38 in a critical condition.. It continues to rise.
Security sources said that Mazin Shabat, 38, was killed when an Israeli sniper shot him near the Erez crossing point, north of Beit Hanoun. Shabat had been arrested by the Israeli forces in the area, but was released a short time afterwards, only to be shot by a sniper, just minutes after his release. His relative, Zahir Shabat, was also critically injured.
Isra'a Talal Nasser, 15, was shot in the head by Israeli forces, yesterday.....More

Israeli fighter jets strike children on way to school; 15-year old killed, teacher critically injured more

Quick update..

More than 42 killed in Beit Hanoun in the forth day of the operation. about 230 injured....at least 30 of them are in critical conditions.
* Thousands of men in Beit Hanoun are under arrest all in "school-prison" one of those was released and ...was shot while walking away from the "prison"...two were injured. (Last Hour news)
* ISraeli army invades tens of houses of Beit Hanoun, snipers are set to kill any walking creature...

Third day of the Incursion in Beit Hanoun

This is where Beit Hanoun is..... (Map)
The current operation is called Autumn Clouds...and is considered the biggest and most aggressive in the last six months. . Beit Hanoun, like most areas of the Gaza Strip, has gone through tens of incursions...this one is one of the significant ones..
To read a report about this situation in Gaza and especially on Beit Hanoun and the women's resistance. Click here..BBC Report
Here are some pictures of Beit Hanoun today











As of this hour..the number of palestinians killed today is 12. in the three days of theoperation the total of number killed is 28 . (According to local stations)

(Article) The politics of the Gaza Operation

Nov. 2, 2006 1:30
The politics of the Gaza operation
By ANSHEL PFEFFER

Nothing has been left to chance in this latest operation, not only on the operational-military side. The IDF took care to also secure its media wing in advance and prepared public opinion for another round of warfare which would also involve unavoidable casualties on our side. Click to Read article

What is going on in the other side...Israel?

Well, i dont really know. Israelis and Palestinians dont see what they do to eachother. The Palestininan Hand-made rocekts is the topic that is being couragesly debated among Palestinian,,,and now you can easily hear very harsh comments by Palestinians in the streets about these rockets.
1- It is not useful as resistance tool...(if we want resistance)
2- It lands on people...residential areas..although Palestinians believe that its the land stolen and occupied by force, still it is causing harm to kids and women..and here we are becoming like them (Palestinaisn are becoming like ISraelis)
3- Most importantly...and rationally ..it is just causing so much harm to Palestinains!!! because it is faced by a whole big army and sophisticated weopons and planes and spying equipments..so WHY CANT WE STOP THESE ROCKETS??

Interesting statement by the "IDF" there is no gurantee to stop the rockets after these attacks. ! THEN WHAT IS the SOLUTION. TALK>>>!! NEGOTIATE!!! BE A LITTLE BIT FAIR to these imprisoned pressured GAZANS! IT IS SIMPLE.

Now..what do you expect after this huge attack on Beit Hanoun..and all the statements by the ISaeli government that they want to expand and intensify the operations in Gaza Strip....WOULD YOU EXPECT PEACFUL REACTION? WOULD YOU EXPECT A NICE WELCOMING PARTY?? If you understand what it is like for a tank to pass by your street ...onlyu pass by not USE THE TANK?? I ASK YOU TO AnSWER RATIONALLY AND HONESTLY?
% were injured from the Israeli side from the settlement called "Sderot" near Gaza.. and still the revenge is decalred for more rockets.! and we all know that most of palestinians almost have nothing to lose under these circumstances.

Of course it is not going to help make things calmer...?

Mass Arrests of Beit Hanoun Males.

Israeli forces have, on Thursday afternoon, transferred the males of Beit Hanoun aged between 16-45 in a convoy of large trucks to unknown destinations. Read on Maan News

Israeli forces attack Beit Hanoun.. agian. (ongoing operation for the 2nd day)

Israel's ongoing offensive on the north of the Gaza Strip has killed a further five Palestinians on Thursday, bringing the death toll over the last 48 hours to 12. A 75-year-old man died of a heart attack after an Israeli missile hit his neighbour's home, injuring six members of the same family. There have now been over 70 injuries. At least twelve of the injured are in a critical condition, including four-year-old Bara'a, who is in a coma. A large number of the injured are women and children. More

Yisrael Beitnu in government (Isra'eel Baituna- Arabic)

Ali Abunimah wrote this article that is essential to read at this time because it has the basic information about Avigdor Liberman...His party that just got in the government of Olmert. Would this work? Cant we look at least the same in Extremism.??..or there is still no need to even have a look on injustice?

World silent as fascists join Israel government
Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada, 24 October 2006
In a frightening but long expected move, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert has brought the Yisrael Beitenu party into his coalition government. The party's leader, Avigdor Lieberman, is to be vice prime minister and, as "Minister for Strategic Threats," a key member of Israel's "security cabinet" in charge of the Iran portfolio.Yisrael Beitenu is a dangerous extremist party with fascist tendencies that has openly advocated the "transfer" of Palestinians, including the transfer of Arab towns within Israel to a Bantustan-like future Palestinian entity. It has made clear that a Jewish supremacist state is more important than a democratic one. ...Continue Here.

another incursion and another ...

another five were killed yesterday....in Gaza
This evening, Shelling and rockets bombing Beit Hanoun...again but from a different direction...
Today, Gaza Skies had some interesting ...traffic..Some from God...which were thunder and rain..some from israel..with F16s and Apache planes...and the palestinian smaller bullets in the air or beterrn families and parties...
I cant really keep up with news..but just the a quick note about the disturbing event that took place earlier today..the kiddnapping of the Spanish photographer of the Associated Press..What a Mess!
by the way...this is not a Hamas thing...

Another note...interesting report that can be really critical if true and will cause to further escalation..maybe to the good or maybe to the bad..either way..i m not hopefull. Abbas ordered the deployment of 20,000 security men to take care of the situation in the Gaza Strip. So far, Abbas has denied this order..but several security commandors confirmed. According to the Haaretz Report of today.

Later...

the Eid of misery..

Yesterday early morning an incursion started in the northern areas of Beit Hanoun, North of Gaza Strip....about 7 Palestinians were killed and 40 Palestinians were injured and 0 Israelis. "Revenge" expressed afterwards by Palestinian resistence movements after the killing of one of their leaders (Islamic Jihad)

Thousands of Palestinians (Gazans) are spending the Eid on the border, Stuck- between Gaza and Egypt.....Sleeping on the sand and sometimes some carton boxes...

Today...minor mess

One cant describe the high noise and air pollution in Gaza these days.....
regarding noise, today, for some reason, it was so disturbing...and on the way..from an office to my house i wittnessed about 3 accidents in the streets..."People are going crazy today" the driver said...

Almost every public employee and all registered unemployed got a small amount of money to be able to survive and get some "candies" for the Eid - el fitr feast- i m sure not many could even think of candies. The security forces were the only ones who didnt recieve any money...so, for the second time...tjose were the ones demonstrating in the streets by closing some streets with trees and burning tyres. Gaza didnt need more black dust to cover the left windows or the so far white walls...but this is not the case anyway..they have the right to be angry! and many know that they are being used for pressure.
Abbas was in Gaza refused to meet with the PM Hanyyeh...(so maybe not-talking not-meeting will result in something!?) The Eid is on monday- the day after tomorrow..if those didnt get money..i would assume its a smart enough plan..no? Is this how Fatah kicking out the gov. ? well..the gov isnt doing anything to help itself..but also with getting 42 million from the US state department and encouraging security forces when using them to turn gaza into a new version of chaos...would this be the option!?

i wonder...and i may not understand much of what is going on around me..

Israel armored vehicles maneuver inside the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli tanks and infantry took up positions on the Egyptian-Gaza border (AP)
At a Funeral..(AP)

One of the respected at the Hamas Gov't

Ghazi Hamad
If you have been following the news and what is being written about the Palestinian latest crisis, and you see this name, I would recommend you read ...
Ghazi Hamad, we are discovering this person recently with a great deal of respect. Simply because he respects himself and his people. He admits the mistakes and is strong enough to fight the traditional perspective and cross the .."lines!" Finally...
Take a look at what he wrote in Al Ayyam Newspaper (Palestinian Local Newspaper) that piece was mentioned in the article "Abbas considering technocratic gov't" of the Jerusalem Post,

.....In a related development, the spokesman for the Hamas-led government on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on armed Palestinian groups, holding them responsible for the continued state of anarchy and lawlessness.
"Has violence become a culture implanted in our bodies and our flesh?" he asked in an article published in the PA-funded daily Al-Ayyam newspaper.
"We have surrendered to it until it has become the master and is obeyed everywhere, in the house, the neighborhood, the family, the clan, the faction and the university. We want to get rid of this lethal disease - cancer - that has destroyed our brains and paralyzed our hearts."
Hamad pointed out that 175 Palestinians have been killed in internal fighting since the beginning of this year. Addressing the armed groups, he wrote: "Please have mercy on us. We want to get rid of this monster that is living amongst us. Please don't kill the hope that's left in us."

22 Palestinians killed in Gaza in the past Two days

I haven't been able to write to update you on the situation in Gaza. Simply because everything is continuing as is. Israel has been intensifying the attacks, also, Amir Peretz the minister of defense has ordered the army to go on and execute more attacks.
In the past two days, and according to Aljazeera, Reuters and others there has been several incursions taking place in the North of the strip , in Beit Hanoun, in the south of the strip, in Khan younis, and some random targets in the city of Gaza.
I cant tell you that i have been personally affected by any of this, because of the confusion we are living in without realizing the extent of this confusion. I hear everyday hundreds of bullets shooted in the air, between fatah and hamas, between families and so on. I hear several explosions that I don't know whether it is internal or from Israel. But, I heard the planes being active in the skies of Gaza city, as it is active anyway in the rest of the strip. Yesterday and the day before, we were worried just from the sounds of the plane. Although we are so used to it.
Now. With another round of rumors and talking about re-invading the Gaza strip, sometimes I react as, "maybe this will save us" but there are always the really bad things that I don't want to think of.
I remember theses days in Ramallah in 2002, when people were so done with rumors saying: "why don't they invade the city and get this over with, we are done with the waiting" but ....Those moments ended and the invasion was ....A war.

that is it for now..
* the picture is from Reuters on Oct 14th, Rafah, Gaza.

Italian TV: Israel used new weapon prototype in Gaza Strip
By Meron Rapoport, Haaretz Correspondent
An investigative report to be aired on Italian television Wednesday raises the possibility that Israel has used an experimental weapon in the Gaza Strip ........ The weapon is similar to one developed by the U.S. military, known as DIME, which causes a powerful and lethal blast.. More

Not an internal Palestinian matter - By Amira Hass

"what happens when you imprison 1.3 million human beings in an enclosed space like battery hens."

Gaza. A proper desciption of what is it like ..now

Sami Abdel-Shafi: The strife of a people stripped of dignity
The conflict in Gaza is led by ordinary people, sickened by the indignity they are made to suffer
Published: 03 October 2006

.....Israel has brought a new phenomenon to life in Gaza: "The strife of the undignified." This conflict is led by ordinary people who, whatever their convictions and professions, have been sickened by the severe indignity they have been made to suffer in their daily lives.
.....
.....The strife of the undignified is neither about the imposed financial bankruptcy of the Hamas government, nor about big hopes that a Palestinian national unity government would substantially alleviate the current financial strain....

The Independent Newspaper: online edition click here

Attention to the coming obstacles..to face Palestinians

The Sad Stroy of My friend Sam

By: GERSHON BASKIN
THE JERUSALEM POST
Sep. 25, 2006

I have been spending hours during the past couple of weeks trying to help a friend. Well, he's not really a friend, we hardly know each other. more...

Internal Clashes..

How bad is it going to be? Where is this heading?
First, I would like to identify some of the major (obvious) players.
Hamas new force that was established few months ago under the Ministry of Interior.
All others: Fatah (old gov) security forces.
Both have tons of weapons
Both claim that they don't have money

It has been like that since the beginning of the demonstrations in the streets that struck the Palestinian streets after 4 months of not paying the public employees

The Whole structure of the Palestinian government (Ministries, Security forces...Etc.) is based on the majority of Fatah. Fatah was not explicitly known for discriminating when hiring its employees, however, it was very corrupt with whoever is there.
Hamas, since elected, wants to prove its being, and so, started adding to the public employees hundreds of pure Hamas members. Although, there is no money to pay the old or the new ones.

The problem has many factors:
1- Hamas is now taking the bigger positions in the institutions of course because it is elected to govern. Almost everyone down the pyramid is fatah, or got closer to fatah because of the salary issue. When i visited a couple of ministries, one like Ministry of Education, i know several employees there, they haven't been involved in political affiliations, but now it seemed much clearer that they simply "Hate" Hamas. A head of a department there said to me: " Things are getting worse and worse, I used to have several projects at the same time for the schools from donors all over the world. Today, I can barely find a pen and paper to work in the office, and I am in a ministry of education".
2- The concentration of Fatah members in the security forces, and their varying relationships with the "Al Aqsa Brigades" and all the other smaller ones, have been intensifying this tensions. Fatah members became party members in their profession rather than being policemen or security guards or whatever. Thus, the latest interesting turning point here in Gaza, was that the police and the presidential forces and all the others, (they are 17 type, by the way) were the ones who closed the streets the day before yesterday and blocking the traffic because they were demonstrating against the government! So what is this called exactly? Mahmoud Abbas criticized this in Al-Jazeera interview three days ago. even the demonstrations have been so obviously divided among the Fatah(s) and Hamas(s) to the extent that Hamas started arresting those who don't "obey" and who don't go to do their job instead of striking, and Fatah is forcing the employees out. if you go to the people who are not directly affiliated with anyone you would notice that it is not that organized as a real mobilzed movement that comes from within the peoples' beliefs. The other fact is that, right after any big demonstration a partial payment is suddenly paid and people start running at the ATM machines! So, to an extent it is working, even the way it is done, by using people, fighting, and creating just chaos in the streets, it gets the money out of the PA box! So why not then keep doing this again and again?
4- There is a historical hatred, I mean the word Hatred between Hamas and Fatah. I have always wondered about this, but it is true. Since I was in undergraduate in Ramallah, Fatah used to say in the elections " we can deal with the devil but not Hamas" Hamas on the other hand, they dislike everyone. But this dislike grown along with he previous positions that the PA (Fatah) at Arafat's time against Hamas. Many argue that Arafat was keeping things balanced and he used to be "good" to all, it is true but it was a very temporary solution that was just building up towards more tension between the two. On the other had, the small leftist parties, were mostly closer to Hamas politically (Only) because they shared the disagreement with the peace process and the Oslo agreement in particular.
Ok..Back to what is going on here...
Yesterday , I leave the house at 8:30 going to my volunteering missions... And I see a bigger group of armed men at the square near the house. It is a relatively big square that connects 5 streets. I see some in blue and others in black..It was confusing..! I see big beards and ones without. So I ask what is going today? I was told that the Minister of Interior (Hamas) gave orders to the force (3000 executive force from Hamas) to spread around the Gaza strip..Especially the intersections. Normally, the ones who stand at the square are the President's (Abaas) forces, just because the square is very close to the president's office and his house. The image was pleasant as we drove by. The two were talking and smiling...(ones in black and ones in Blue).
At about 13:00 pm. My husband calls, and tells me not et near the house.
Gaza turned into a big confrontation zone with fairly sophisticated kinds of weapons. Especially our square, that is usually the most "peaceful" one had the most intense clashes.
I had to stay at my mom's house, where the Israeli artillery is ! haha...it was safer.
i came back home at night..The area was extremely dark, I had to literarlly get out of the car and let the driver run before we are caught under the fire of ours.....

Now...9 funerals will take place. I hear them on the microphones...I don't know what their cause it anymore...Either for Hamas or Fatah. 100 were injured. 9 were killed. And funerals are usually expected to result in clashes.

The "Threat Letter"

Here we go again. News do not seem to move any of our nerves anymore. A threat sent through the Egyptian intelligence to the "leader" Mesha'al" in Damascus to liberate the prisoned Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. The threat is again..To give orders to the Israeli forces to go into the Gaza strip with unusual methods of ground offensive. I cant tell you much about reactions, because I barely knew about this news, and when I did, haven't seen much reaction from people.
A threat of a "big, creative, invasion" is no longer a surprising story. It has been said many many times by Israeli leaders. To clean up Gaza. Most of us here think that this will not happen for many rational reasons.There are more weapons in Gaza than the Israeli army would carry for offensive, maybe not the sophistication or the armed vehicles,"my exaggeration maybe, but this is the feel from here and what we see everyday and every hour".
I say..Whatever. But. There is an obvious irresponsibility, and maybe intention to keep the pressure and the situations unsolved in Gaza. Whether it is from Mesha'al or from the bunch here, from Fatah or Hamas, or both. A Gazan is not thinking now of his/her experience with governance or democracy, and not thinking in the process of change of power. He/she is fighting any change by imposing the personal/family/private equation.

The Israeli military court in the West Bank have released the PM deputy. and they are thinking about releasing more of the Legislative council's representative soon. Does that mean that the new government will be formed and the Israelis agreed to the terms discussed. Hamas didn't. They changed their minds while Abbas was at the United Nations in NY. Why all this is happening? Hamas leaders are not respecting their people. They are not even realizing that they are responsible for a whole society not a political party!

Note on Hasan Nasrallah. I was resisting to watch his speech in the festival of his victory. but i ended up watching every bit of a second. I was resisting because of shame, not because Palestinians couldnt do resistence well,,,if any. but because of the respect and honor he has and present to people, even to his enemy.

I cant really see anything positive coming. Maybe short term solutions. but even that, i hardly could see it.

Thanks to Shulamit Aloni...

Thanks for those who have been asking about me, and asking why i haven't been writing on the blog. It is just that there isn't a way to describe the situation. It needs stronger phrases, more philosophy rather than counting numbers. We all got tired from counting numbers, of pple killed, injured, arrested, or numbers of rockets, bombs, explosions...Planes.
This article by Aloni, made me feel good that I could post something at the blog. I just thought of thanking her, and encouraging readers to read it. Especially those who are unable to understand the Palestinian story.

No wonder they hate us - By Shulamit Aloni
Time to talk peace! Israel's leaders must change mindset, engage in dialogue with Palestinians.
In a few months, we will mark 40 years of "enlightened" occupation by our famed army in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip. Israel pretends to be an enlightened state and signatory of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which rules that "The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies" (Israel ratified the Convention in 1951.)

Going Too Far.

I thought I would not be in a position to write about what is wrong with (us), because i never could vs what is wrong with Israelis and their occupations and aggressive actions. The time has come to talk a little but more about what has been concerning all of us here, especially in Gaza with the deep frustration, anger, and the chaotic daily life. Where are we going.?? I wonder.
Many Palestinians started, when getting angry about the Palestinian Authority, saying that "we wish the occupation is back...We were much better off than that dealing with the corruption, chaos and compromises with Israel on negotiations. Now...It is even worse, if Israel was a reasons for many problems and tensions that are taking place in the Palestinian society/system/whatever you call it, then the question is...When do we blame ourselves, and when should we criticize our actions. Most importantly..Who is we? I am confused. Many of my friends and relatives and including myself don't not relate to what is going on..However, many are changing some of their norms to be able to face the situation. Hundreds of groups filled with weapons...Are the ones who identify this society? The nice things of a small/closed town have gone and are being replaced with the most cruel and most unfair norms and values. We are losing ourselves.
Many have the interest to support these types of situations, support the groups, and make it the way you deal with things and business. If it is conspiracy what is leading now this discussion..I believe there are many tendencies in the society to behave according to how it is behaving now.
I always thought of staying away from this country is betrayal..Very romantic nationalistic..Now this is called stupidity. Well, that is normally the case. Why sacrifice when there is no confidence in any move you make. And I want to say something here about sacrifice..The people are willing to die literally from anything when they see some achievements taking place. We have passed this stage , and now we are fighting for survival. Gaza, is the crime. Gazans are the criminals and victims stand in the line waiting for their possible end. Palestine is lost, palesine doesn't belong to anyone, but belongs to everything and everyone. Not many people will understand what I am trying to describe here, because only the ones who are living in Gaza now..Know. It is not a place of conflict, or peace, it is not a marginalized piece of earth that is poor and full of diseases. It is a new experience in History and geography that I would invite many to learn about.
As I am still learning. But I would leave it and give up the learning very soon.
"Forgive me if i dont make sense"

Gilad Shalit's B-day is tomorrow! what a piece of info

GSH is the soldier prisoned by Palestinian resistance.

Mabrouk to Fox Journalists

I am glad this is over. I wanted to mention something about that stupid event. Now there is no need to. What is really making me worry is those new factions that are being created. Identity is seriously being threatened, whether we like to admit it or not. Gaza is expected to develop more of these many undefined loyalties and identities. Although many don't accept how Fox news work, but those were working amongst us.
If you are really interested to know the opinion here on this issue, every single person I saw was saying the same thing "this is stupid and doesn't make sense"

I need to say this...And I am laughing..I couldn't but laugh about the news that said that the Journalists accepted Islam....! I mean...I don't know. ut it is funny and many are laughing and talking about it as an amusing piece of news.

"Mabrouk: means: congratulations

From walls and blocks to the chains of tanks

Back from Rafah crossing..After stories and adventures. Got in by a miracle.

Their second night at home after the indescribable trip back from Egypt, there was an invasion close by their house.
At 11pm, I call them just to make sure things are ok, (there is 10 min distance by car from my house and theirs) mom said ...That she noticed some tanks on the border moving towards the military bases/crossing near us. They were far away but one could tell that something might happen. I hung up with her...Not taking this piece of info so seriously. I go to finish my day..With some work on my embroidery..And I turned on the little radio that is packed of local radio stations that can tell you the little details about what is going on in Gaza...When they happen.
The radio station started with this very known piece of music that comes before a "breaking news". The news was confirmed...Tens of tanks are moving along the east of Gaza..From the very north of the middle of the Strip. More movement was taking place close to our home there. I called mom, and I heard her voice so different than it was like 15 in earlier..And I heard the bullets coming from the Apache plane. Emergency status was declared....At least in my house. Me, the radio, and my embroidery that I kept on making the same mistakes while working on it again and again! The piece of cloth could not take more mistakes, as a man living near the border was screaming on the radio...With his big family that has at least 20 children. Thro four families live in the same building. Israeli tanks didn't even act as if there is people. They managed to hide and run away from the bulldozer destroying some parts of the house. And mom slept in the corridor...And then moved to her bed as the light came up.
I went to sleep and woke up at 5am...called her. They were fine. I went on with my regular day schedule.

The issue is not safety, really. It is many other things somehow related to this threat to your being. It is the exhaustion resulted from anxiety and fear that you experience each time you go to bed and you fear a bomb under it. This is simply what it is. It is the fear, anxiety, but mainly humiliation. Humiliation is what kills you,,,without realizing, because you face events one by one and you get excited sometimes, and you laugh you cry you care you don't..All those. Facing these noises and facing these scenes cause great feeling of disability of any humane element in you.

Rafah maybe today...?

For the 60 time maybe to hear the rumor. Rafah will reopen tomorrow. Now, it should be working, no one knows till when would it be able to operate. Palestinians yesterday attacked the crossing after threatening to bomb it if all parties don't agree to reopen it.
From Israel...The Europeans have to take the instructions.
From Egypt, the art of laziness and carelessness, and sometime evil towards Palestinians.
from Palestine..A mixture of corruption and carelessness...

My friend who managed to leave during the few hour reopening last week..Had to jump from the top of a bus to catch his suitcases. He ended up in the Egyptian airport prison because it is the law! If you are Palestinian and don't have anything to do in Egypt and you are a man between the age of 18-40 you simply should not be there. This was emphasized recently towards youth. This friend is on his way to Germany to do his Masters. And his Visa starts only on the 28th and his flight from Cairo is on the 29th. He remained in prison of the Egyptian airport for four days until he found out that his legs are almost broken from that move from the bus on the crossing.
He was taken to a hospital, that Egyptians have made for Palestinians to make them stay and not be able to "run away": and also have a shelter.
This friend spent exactly 24 hours at the crossing...Between the different phases procedures.
However, here you can only blame Palestinians for be the cause of this problem because of mess on the Palestinian side,,,thousands of people want to get out....How can you make it work? But you would also say..If those people were not deprived from their simple right to go to their families and buisnesses for about 2 months...They wont need to create a mess or cause problems.
Just imagine the trap...You go to Gaza...Be aware you may never come back..Or it may take a long while., you plan to visit a place outside of Gaza...You should be prepared to spend more than double the money you had on hotels or any kind of place you could stay at...For another journey of going back home.

Today, I expect my mother to be able to get in. I don't want to believe it till I hear her voice from the Palestinians side of the crossing.
Thousands want that day ..to pass smoothly. thousands are praying to get their kids out to schools, go back to their families on either side, save what remained from their buisnesses.

What should I do..?

It has been a while since I wrote here on the blog. The more i see people and interact with my surrounding the more I feel that I can't do anything.
Daily life....The little things...

• Gaza is very hot in the Summer...Very few people dared to swim after the terror that Palestinian family faced on the beach about 2 months ago...The beach is almost empty even on Fridays.(weekend)
• Gaza is very hot in the summer, Very few people have air-conditioning in their houses..If they do...The electricity is very limited..
• Gaza is very hot in the summer, very few people get regular supply of water...Because of problems originally existed from Israeli settlments and Palestinian mismanagement. Now a third reason is electricity ,,if the area gets its turn for water supply that means the municipality got electricity power...The area or the houses don't have electricity..So the water can not be pumped to the houses. It is either this or that, but in reality you don't get either one.
• Gazan employee cant get air-conditioning in the office, or even start up a computer because of bad network or limited supply through generators...
• Thousands have finally hoped to leave Gaza through Egypt to go to their schools, work, and families abroad. Yesterday it was the rumor that the Israel's have agreed with the European observers to reopen the Rafah crossing. Friends have left their houses in the middle of last night to reserve a place or a seat on the bus that transfer people from the Palestinian side to the Semi-Palestinian Semi-European (All checked through Israelis in the back of windows you stand in front of) and then Egyptian side....This trip, by the way, is beyond anyone's imagination..You cant but experience it to really know what it is like. And it gets harder every few months. Because my mom is still stuck for more than 45 days in Egypt, leaving from a house to the other a hotel to the other....I am following the news of the crossing more carefully. Have you ever thought of not being able to leave a geographical area not because you don't have money or your health doesn't allow you to travel...But because of ...Other reasons...Or other guilt.
• I started working for a local NGO (non-governmental organization), and I have started working on some project proposals that tries to get emergency assistance to those who have seriously harmed by the recent Israeli incursions. I met one person from Rafah...(very south of Gaza Strip), he is from a village called (Al-shokeh) whcih is at the very east and south of Gaza strip on the border. The guy seemed to be very decent and respectful...And he came to me saying ...I am not asking for money or food for my area...But I am only asking for media attention. He said..."Not many people in Rafah know what is happening with us" about 20 houses were demolished the past few weeks, and 17 killed, we have one school, Israelis have been shooting at the school that has become a shelter for those who lost their houses."
• Since I started to work with this ngo, I have suffered from the electricity problem so much. The office doesn't have a proper generator and buying a new one will cost lots of money that this little ngo cant afford. Especially with the high price of fuel. There is some sort of schedule to the electricity, for example, if there is electricity supply at 9 am that means it will stay for another 6 or 7 hours..If there is not, that means it will come at around 5pm. Most of the days, we go to work after 5pm and stay till midnight, in addition to few hours in the morning for meetings and phone calls. What kind of productivity do you expect..?
• about half of the Gazan population haven't gotten salaries for the sixth month now..Only two days ago..There was an exceptional act by the government that could provide a certain amount of money because it is schools time. Schools will start in 10 days ..Or so.

The Observer: Qana was a mistake/target

....One Israeli commander.. called the Qana bombing a 'mistake' and was unable to explain the apparent contradiction in the IDF's position, ...He said he had seen the video of the attack, and admitted: 'Generally they [Hizbollah] are using human shields ... That specific building - I don't know the reason it was chosen as a target.'

From b'tselem : in Beit Hanoun

20 July 2006: Israeli Soldiers use civilians as Human Shields in Beit Hanun

B'Tselem's initial investigation indicates that, during an incursion by Israeli forces into Beit Hanun, in the northern Gaza Strip, on 17 July 2006, soldiers seized control of two buildings in the town and used residents as human shield. ....

I met 'Aza over coffee today for the first time...and after watching the waves of the Mediterranean of Gaza and the Israeli ships that completed the image...I saw this Soldiers use 'Aza al-Kafarneh as a human shield during an IDF operation in Beit Hanun, July 2006
'Aza al-Kafarneh, mother to two
I live in the al-Kafarneh neighborhood, next to the a-Nasser mosque in the center of Beit Hanun. My family has twenty-one members, eleven of them children. We live in a four-story building. Click on title for more. ....

Today

- 3 houses bombed in Beit Hanoun. North of Gaza
- Tanks are around Rafah -south- but got out from the areas invaded few days ago.
- Hundreds are in Schools living their and getting United Nations meals (UNRWA) because of the latest incursion of Rafah. Some left their homes, but most of those peoples' houses were destroyed completey.
- Crossings are still closed.
- Yesterday, The speaker of the Palestinian Parliment was arrested (kiddnapped) by the Israelis and today was sent to hospital after torture in prison (as some news reported). remember that 8 ministers and more 20 of the PLC (Legislative Council) were kiddnapped in the begining of the operation (June--)

---lebanon..

I couldn't help this ..I was just finishing the previous post about Gaza, and I just saw hundreds of pieces of people all over a big area of land...That used to be their Houses..!!!!! 33 in Lebanon. Just now!!!!! Pieces.. burnt!

Anyone wants to say anything about mistakes better go to another site..

3 days old...and many others..

- In Rafah: 11 killed in the last 24 hours during the ongoing incursion of El Shokeh in Rafah (South of Gaza), One of them was a 3 day old girl that was carried by her mother when she was running away from the shelling at their house. The girl died in her mom's hands.

- Yesterday in Gaza City: 2 Homes were bombed, one by an F-16 plane and one by an Apache Helicopter. Families were warned of the bombing of their houses. Now it is a regular activity that doesnt bring any serious attention even to those warned!

- Everywhere, Gazan's are barely managing with the Electricity problem and the high price of fuel that gets in to Gaza from Israel every week or so. There is some food everywhere. And guess what! For the first time i taste that great taste of fruits! so we wondered, then someone told me that Israel is not selling much and we finally got the good stuff. Because usually, we get the least qulity of their fruits and vegetables. Anyway, i am not so proud to get those Israeli fruits but in Gaza, there is no Alternative for anything. Gazans are not able anymore to grow fruits because land is bolldozed and we no longer have trees.

-More leaflets seen yesterday, and i guess they were saying the same statements , something more like staying away from "terrorists"

Crossings Update (Gaza to the outside world)

The Rafah Crossing (between Gaza and Egypt-south) is the only crossing that Palestinian took some control over after the disengagement in August of Last year. There is a memo of Understanding that the crossing operates upon. A specific number of European observers have to be at the crossing to monitor its operation. Israel imposed some regulations to make sure they agree on who gets in and who doesn't. For example, when you go from Gaza to Egypt and you reach the security check area it is a very long process but the important part is that the Passports have to be checked and cleared by the Israelis through Palestinian personnel and by European observation. Now, since the 28th of June the Crossing was completely closed because of an order by Israeli security to the Europeans. Simply, Israel tells the Europeans not to go to the crossing to do their job, so they don't and then, the crossing is closed. During, the past period of closure, 500 Palestinians were stuck between both sides of the crossing. These are usually men who are approx. Between the age of 18-40 these have to be transferred. About 10 Palestinian died in this crossing in this period of closure because most of them are patients who get medication from Egypt or sent for urgent operations. This problem was solved when a group of Palestinian (Aqsa Brigades) from Rafah attacked the crossing and liberated those 500 people. During this period thousands were waiting on the other side either in Egypt or right off the border in the Egyptian side. There was an agreement to re-open the crossing for two days for those who are stuck right after this attack. Thousands managed to get in after more than 20 days of waiting.
Hundreds, if not more, are still stuck in Gaza and have families outside, or have admissions in Universities are waiting for a re-open from this side (Gaza to Egypt), The news came out yesterday that it will be open today and tomorrow only for those cases who have visas or are admitted to Universities. I know at least 3 people who were ready to leave and were on stand-by for a long time. It was not opened. The latest news is that there will be no re-opening in the coming days.
Eretz Crossing (North) has a full Israeli control since it was established! In the 90s. Gradually this has become like an International Crossing. There has been a closure imposed over the original closure. This simply means that before the operation some International organizations, businessmen and foreigners were able to request a permit and use it! After the operation, like any operation, all permits are no longer valid. In this case, there are several arrangements of what is called "coordination". Very few organizations can do that. Some like USAID, United Nations, and President's Office (Palestinian). It depends on the level of this double closure.
Anyway, there were many coordination(s) made with the Israelis especially by the American Embassy and other European gov. Institutions. All were cancelled today.
My friend, that I have her story under the" rains and friends" was promised to leave two days ago because she has a coordination that was made by miracle thru American Embassy, she actually went and passed but again was turned back to Gaza. Yesterday she tried again (American Embassy) and finally, today, they were told that all coordination(s) were cancelled.
Many diplomats are not able to leave.

200 homes were warned last night to be bombed in Gaza

i just learnt that 200 homes were called by phone by the ISraelis to be bombed soon. One i know of from a friend, a United Nations employee who has nothing to do with any political activities beyond the accepted. A "normal" civilian. Anyway..these houses are located in Gaza City. Information was reported from family members of the houses to the palestinian police to make sure that there re no other phonecalls are being made by any palestinian as jokes! That is funny but sad in the same time. Some started to joke around by calling using a certain number to show as "private call" and say that they are the Israeli Defence Forces...this was solved and now all calls that are coming from private calls are from Israel.

after 2 am

Ok, it is after 2 but when I went to bed it was about 12:05, I was even chatting to a friend in the US that I didn't want to to talk to because he is one of those who believe only in what Fox brings him and I was watching live on Jazeera the big operations taking place in south and middle of Lebanon, it was frustrating..at about 11:50, i heard a relatively loud F-16 flying over Gaza. i waited ..for 15 min nothing happened. I even thought of posting something on the blog saying that I am waiting for a bomb. Anyway, just about few minutes ago, with the little radio next to me, I jump with a tone of breaking news of the local station and some kind of an explosion in the background. It is funny that the rule now, is that your are better off sleeping while bombing, because you will not have the same effect or shock. You might be surprised that this is true. We are on public electricity now! Great! And my husband was still out. The first thing I jumped to do is call him and make sure he is not moving and he is Ok.
Really strange noises I am hearing now after some rockets. Two rockets (big ones sent from the north) were hit on the beach of Gaza City, this is not common by the way, it is strange, It is the "port or the acting port area" where fishermen have few boats and some stay there over night. This is just 2 min walk. One, at least, rocket was sent from some kind of plane to a house (previously warned I think) in El Bureig Camp in the middle area of Gaza strip. Last thing here, is that artillery is bombing in the north, but this is normal, and just now it was found out that the ships are bombing the beach! We see the ships during the day usually, and there is a strict closure on the Beach since the beginning of the operation and sometime before. No one can go fishing at all. Some sneak in a couple of meters in, maybe that is why the are was bombed.
Will find out later..

The plan...

Israel set war plan more than a year ago Strategy was put in motion as Hezbollah began gaining military strength in Lebanon

"Of all of Israel's wars since 1948, this was the one for which Israel was most prepared," said Gerald Steinberg, professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University.
......
More than a year ago, a senior Israeli army officer began giving PowerPoint presentations, on an off-the-record basis, to U.S. and other diplomats, journalists and think tanks, setting out the plan for the current operation in revealing detail. Under the ground rules of the briefings, the officer could not be identified (from article)

Articles and Comments

Articles...
Hezbollah's human shields
TODAY'S EDITORIALJuly 31, 2006
Israel is being vilified by opportunistic politicians and the international media over the air strike that killed 56 persons early yesterday in the Lebanese village of cane....

Israeli morality paid in blood
WASHINGTON — What other country, when attacked in an unprovoked aggression across a recognized international frontier, is then put on a countdown clock by the world, given a limited time window in which to fight back, regardless of whether it has restored its own security?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are they talking about? these are their homes. Hezbollah doesn't hit from the Houses, they have plenty of space to launch their rockets from other than their peoples' houses. Remember one thing...The Merwaheeen massacre a week ago...when the Israelis warned the people in village that they will destroy it completely, what happened was hundreds ran away to go the United Nations Emergency forces, and were told that by the UN we can not protect you and we are not aware of anything regarding this warning. These people decided to leave and used buses and cars that were available to go up north while the Israeli planes were bombing the roads.....Those buses were bombed! About 28 were killed! Did you hear about that......Till now some bodies can not be taken out of the seats of the buses because they are burnt! While the Red Cross tried to reach this road,,their car was bombed (the red cross one).
In Qana.These people because were warned they went to the sheltery families in the same house were hiding from the Israeli raids.....Israel bombed the shelter by a smart missile (sent from the US few days ago)! Did they bomb any of Hezbollah locations in Qana? No.
rememberr that Israel did the same thing in 1996 when bombed the UN shelter. And killed more thana hundredd ... the said "we didnt know".
I don't like to post pictures because they really hurt anyones' feelings. I had enough seeing those pictures at Al-jazeera.And I wonder if any were shown in any other channel. I prefer these days not to know..Because whenever I watch the CNN international, which is supposed to be much better than the one in the US (local) I get much more depressed.

It is not because it is unfair to present such claims, or lies to the world. Becausee wars "are expected to" have lies. But if the newspapers in the US talk in the same exact tone of Israeli defensee" Forces, What would you expect from anyone in this region to say or act!? I am not asking Americans who believe Fox or Washington Times or even the Washington Post to change their minds...I just want them not be shocked when they hear about "angry people out there".

Demonstration in Gaza..Now.

(Modified) A Huge, and very loud, demonstration is taking place now in Gaza City. I could only take few pictures with my simple camera of some parts of it. That is best i have. It is 9:30 pm here and there is mostly no electricity in the area.

Islamic Jihad is leading this demonstration, as it started heading to the Palestinian Leginslative Council, some of the crowd diverted it to the UNSCO (United Nations office) and some attacked the building and broke desks and windows of UN cars. Several cars with speakers were playing different types of recordings some are speeches by Hassan Nasrallah and some national songs. Demonstration is calling for more resistence actions as a reaction to the latest Israeli crimes in Lebanon, especially in the south(Qana)

Qana..

I cant even stand any of the statements that concern "both sides" I cant stand "peace", negotiations". Sorry, if you expect me to be rational...
Olmert is so proud and celebrates with Rice the Qana acievement.
What is wrong with those people. Did you know that 35 of them are children. do u know that it was a big house and the 58 were sleeping! 50 raids...Qana recieved
So, If you like Hibollah...you are bombed? Is there any other explanation!?

Qana of 1996....100 civilians in shelters were burnt
Qana of 2006 ....about 60 ....in their houses. the first hour of July 30th

Did you see reporters crying live? in the 1996 one and today's!

According to Israel: They are victims of Terror!
Total deaths since the begining of this war in Lebanon 700 and 2000 injuries
News about this massacre:
Moms search for dead children
Analysis: A second Qana Massacre? (BBC)

Leaflets from Israeli Occupied skies...

Samples of Leaflets sent by Israeli Planes To the Residents of the Gaza Strip, signed by the Israeli defense Forces. In Arabic. These are few days old. There are many more were sent in different areas of Gaza. Mainly on the border areas.
I will try to translate

1- To the Residents of Gaza Strip: As a result of continuing terrorist attacks and continuing rocket launching from The Gaza Strip, The IDF will intensify its operations against weapons and munition stores and military supplies and will intensify the operations against the members and bases of terror who/which put the residents of Gaza and Israel in great danger. Do the Residents of Gaza strip have to keep on paying a high price because of the actions of those who (swagger) to solve the Palestinian cause? They are practically causing great losses under the false (mottos/claims) and "true/proven promises" similar to the ones Nasr Allah made to the Lebanese people and those that Hamas made to the Palestinian People.

Note: "true/proven promises" referring to the name of the operation by Hezbollah when it captured the two Israeli soldiers.
IDF: Israeli Defence Force


2-To the residents of The Gaza Strip: during the last few days, the IDF did operations against the people who executed terrorist actions and who helped them in launching the rockets and helped in military supply. These operations will continue as long as Gilad Shaleet is kidnapped and as long as the launching of rockets continues to be directed at the State of Israel. The IDF has different methods of fighting that hasn't used yet, but if these terrorist attacks continues, the IDF will consider using those as appropriate. Remember that calm brings calm, and this way you would be able to live a graceful and a safe life you and your families. IDF command.

Results of the past three days

Some of the areas had incursions or were bombed in the past 3 days...this is what i have
1- Family was warned 3 minuets before the Israeli planes hit the house.
2- Area of Shugayyah/Sha'af in Eastern Gaza had an incursion lasted for 3 days and resulted in



about 20 deaths, and few hundred trees were bolldozed.The last one is a house was attacked and family (40 pple) was kicked out and the Soldiers used it during the incursion...Used sand from the House! by pulling their floor out and they brought their food with themm..and thats garbage.

Few Apache Rockets

After flying over the Gaza strip...2 at least of the Apache helicopters raided about 9 times on difference areas in Gaza. I saw 3 of them. Three colorful balls of light stroke the clear skies of Gaza and went to accomplish another mission. I insisted to wittiness this time. So I waited not so long after I heard them flying on top of us, while we were having dinner in front of the TV with family and friends. Some went to call their homes,,making sure it wasn't the target next to them, or the house across the street, some received calls to make sure it wasn't us or across the street from us. I watched and went back. Simple news of simple events. It is amazing how humans adapt to things. Without spending more than 2 minutes talking about the whole round, it passed just like a regular phone call or a walk in the backyard.
In the background, people are not able to sleep, or even go to their rooms. Hiding in fear of random bullets crossing their trees and windows, in east of Gaza. More rockets took their way there to bomb few houses. And,,some injuries are reported. A child was killed. after a 24 hour that took 28 lives in that area.
I Will take off, and sleep for a bit.. Before any expected targets receive their bombs.

To Israel

Listen you... :
You think you are powerful...Yes you are..
You think you are great..Maybe in a way..
You think you are winning..Maybe by numbers of deaths you are causing, number of sufferings you are creating and by the number of lives you are controlling
You think you can stay like this...Maybe, but for sure not for a long time.
You think life will will treat you well after all this because you are chosen from above...You are stupidly mistaken.
You are growing the most powerful weapons in our hearts. You are killing yourself by your own bullets. I am not saying this as a cliche of an oppressed.
No... It is true. Because you can not handle anything close to what you are imposing on others. This may sounds funny...You may laugh...

You may laugh because believe it or not. I am more peace loving than any of your confused Peace Prize Winners..I have understanding to happiness and love more than all of you combined, because I know what is means to be in a War and you apparently forgot.

Quick note

Honestly, I can't write anything tonight. It has been a long day. I didn't do much though...Just too much news. Briefly, In Shegayya, my first home..They started a partial invasion last night and went back and forth...Bombing some houses, and killed so far 25...
There are two things going on here. One; is the leaflets they are sending through their planes, that tell you if your houses or building will be bombed soon. The second, is the regular operations that includes some bombings and shelling and removal of the rest of trees around the border areas. They worked on some last night and now they are moving with some tanks into Eastern Gaza from the crossing (Nahal Oz) and (Karni) these crossings are usually used for products not traveling. They are next to each other in the north/east of Gaza. Now the areas targeted (Jabalia Refugee Camp, Shegayyia and to some extent Beit Lahia) all in the north and east of Gaza.
You know this silly plane called....hmm never knew the word in English will look it up and write it here. It is the one that takes pictures and monitor the movement on the ground. This has a sound of a bee. and it affects the satellite image. So if it is there, it is kind of annoying. Guess what? Only few months ago..This stupid plane started to actually targed people and bomb them.
It drops the bomb right straight on the target, while the Apache has to be away a little bit and has to have an angle to hit.
You know this not silly plane called F-16? This just hit a house that was evacuated few minutes before. Man....You know to bomb a house in a crowded residential area with a F-16 means at least 5 houses around that one will have at least broken windows, and broken door frames and will have sharp and killing debris. Doesn't sound that bad..Does it?
I don't want to follow more on news...I am sure the night will continue as long as the several silly planes are around.

Later

Update..Lebanon and here..

Just in case you are not following with the news from Lebanon and Gaza Strip; here is a brief update.

First, I am facing a problem when following the news. The huge amounts of information that is being presented at the various Arab Channels have caused a certain mind situation. I would sit in front of the TV, when electricity is available, and I would watch more than a half hour report from different sites in Lebanon. This happens three to four times a day at least. To note here that I have no job, and not a very active social life here in Gaza. So the news is not only important to me but also one of the only things that I would spend time on. However, if I am asked after one of the newscast what was the news about...I assure you..I won't have any accurate information. So, I think why do I have a blog that I started because of these wars and because of my concern that people outside should know some of these stories and news that they don't have access to. As I am watching now!...I see through Al-Jazeera channel the bombings in Beirut (Al Dahyyeh El Janoobyyeh) The southern part. The Smoke is covering the city of Beirut and the noises can be heard through the live cast the reports saying that so far F-16 planes raided 23 times. Back to the problem, in the normal day since the attacks on Lebanon, I don't get to know what is happening here in Gaza...Which is to an extent understandable because the situation in Lebanon now is much worse as we all here see on the TV's. But, I don't see what happens in Gaza on the news because by the time the news bulletin gets to Gaza situation I would have no brain capacity to absorb more. So, I see it in reality or hear about it from People. A quick reminder here to put you in the picture of the perception of events in Gaza by Gazans, it is no longer an issue when you hear artillery or bombings. It is not that people don't care, but can't care more. . .
Yesterday I was driving in Gaza going to the edge of the southern part; where I saw the broken bridge hit by an F-16 in the beginning of this operation, and going to the very east of Gaza where I heard artillery and met with people who told me that they were expecting an invasion when they saw 30 tanks moving towards them, some evacuated their children and elderly members of the families. There was no invasion. There is a continuous secret battle between the special forces (who are Israelis go in the Palestinian areas will a Palestinian look wearing as Palestinian civilians attempting to catch some of the resistance men or spy on them) and the resistance. This can happen any second throughout the nights and bullets would be flying through the trees of your backyard if you live on the Easter part of Gaza, where my parents live. The third station was the north, I went to see the house of my aunt which is located on the very beginning of Beit Hanoon, a town in the very north/ and east in the Gaza Strip. While driving around the other broken bridge, that was bombed by F-16 not less than 4 times through the past few years,I saw my aunt's house that is empty now after it was mostly destroyed because of several invasions to the area. I heard something but I couldn't know what is it, the windows are closed and the music is loud in the car...(trying to enjoy the drive) and then I see the smoke right in front of me, in three spots one after the other were artillery on Beit Lahia between the houses. Those were the bombings that later in the news I learnt that 5 Palestinians were killed in Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoon. The Israelis gave orders through the Red Cross to evacuate about 15 residential buildings (about 15 floor each) in Beit Lahia called (Abraj el Nada) . This sounds really humane when they tell you to evacuate because we want to destroy your house!! The problem is that they are destroying their houses and the buildings and also killing people..The shells are not very smart..Or maybe they are when they kill some here and there everyday...It depends on the Israeli calculation of required deaths among Palestinians that day.
Today. A house in Shegaiea (east of Gaza) The Israeli forces called the man on his mobile telling him to evacuate and that the plane will destroy his house in few min. This actually happened. The house is completely destroyed now. The family didnt have time to take their belongings. not even the important ones.

In Lebanon, A family was killed (7 of one family). I heard and read some reports from Human Rights Watch about the types of munition used by Israel foces in Lebanon; here I quote from the web site:

"Cluster munitions are unacceptably inaccurate and unreliable weapons when used around civilians. They should never be used in populated areas."
Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch

To read more about this go to:

http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2006/07/24/isrlpa13798.htm

In Sour, the Israelis have been bombing the villages around Sour. Some towns are completely seized by the bombings taking place on the roads. There were families trying to evacuate (who have foreign passports) managed to coordinate with the Embassy and the Israelis but there was no transportation. Tens of cars were bombed ...On the road so there is no enough cars to take them. In addition, the difficulties faced on movement between cities and villages; the Ambulances and The Red Cross cars were unable and still are to find the injured civilians and the dead bodies. There are many (unknown number) who are still under their destroyed houses and have no access to go anywhere.

And..Condi thinks that she will achieve any Middle East she likes??? Come on..with all the respect to her sophisticated education and career before being in this position. She needs one beginners' course in Human nature and wars. Hope she will learn somehow.

Later,

** Note: Birzeit University have urged the shops in Ramallah to go on strike because of Condi's visit. It worked. She may realize how important she is.

Lebanon- The Associated Press

From: Haaretz.com

The spirit of the King David Hotel
By Tom Segev
The terror attack on the King David Hotel in Jerusalem was in its day the equivalent of the Twin Towers; yesterday was its 60th anniversary. There are two historic plaques at the hotel, one of whose wings was used by the British Mandate authority. On one of the plaques, which has been hanging there for some time, a few words note the terror attack: "On July 22, 1946, the Etzel underground bombed the southern wing." The action is attributed to Etzel alone, but there is no condemnation. "Underground" generally has a positive connotation. The unveiling of the other plaque this week was meant to cap an academic conference held at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center on the issue of who is a freedom fighter and who is a terrorist. It was quite a week to clarify such a question. They can be distinguished by organizational affiliation, goals, targets, means of combat and mode of operation. They all assume that a freedom fighter is a good person and a terrorist is a bad one. Nearly every terrorist defines himself as a freedom fighter, and vice versa: freedom fighters are usually defined as terrorists. So was Begin. He invested a lot of effort to convince history that he was not a terrorist. Among other things, he emphasized that his organization did not harm civilians. There's a thesis that could serve as an historic lesson from a moral standpoint: not harming civilians. The new plaque identifies the perpetrators of the attack as "Etzel fighters." It's important for them to emphasize that they acted "under orders from the Hebrew rebel movement," in other words, the Hagannah, among others. They called the hotel switchboard, the editorial offices of the Palestine Post, and the French Embassy (presumably they meant the consulate) "to prevent casualties." In other words, they sought a terrorist attack without casualties, but something went wrong. Twenty-five minutes went by and then "for some reason" the British did not evacuate the building "and as a result" 91 people were "regrettably" killed. There were 28 British, 41 Arabs, 17 Jews and five others. To emphasize the military aspect of the operation, the plaque notes that one of the Etzel people was killed "in an exchange of fire."
Full article: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/741434.html

On the borders..

Invasion or what this time?
What will the army do? I mean the Lebanese Army. The past two days, the minister of defense in Lebanon was giving really strong and reasonable statements, at least in my opinion. It may not be a surprise for an army to decide to defend its nation from any invasion. Lebanon is under attack, and the Lebanese army is not known to be very strong, however, the minister confirmed that the Israel's will pay a price if they dared to enter Lebanon.
going a bit far from this intense environment in front of the TV channels and the spirit of nationalism that these channels have been injecting in its audience, I remember ....Many occasions when leaders said similar and even more exciting statements in times of threat of a war. But...In actual wars..It didn't work for many reasons that I don't want to discuss here.
this fear in me..I am sure is in many peoples' minds and hearts.

After learning a bit about surprises in conflicts and wars. One important lesson I am trying to remind myself of is that there is almost nothing that can be the "end of the world" I mean, in my imagination, many may share this with me, that if the word "War" is said..It means ...That is it! But it is not like that..Maybe in huge wars long time ago in History it has been perceived like that. It is sad to think that way believe it or not. Because you as a person, or as a family, could no longer have a life, a home, .....All what you may think of .
Now. This applies to moments like this. Now, I am watching the Lebanese Channels because they are casting live pictures from the borders in tea south. The Israeli Tanks are moving inside Lebanon ...Especially from the village of "Maroon el Ras" I also see a breaking news saying " there are clashes between the Hizbollah fighters and the Israelis".
This may not be "IT". The Israel's said they will do limited operations. This is the style these days. You call it an "operation" not a "War" well, I don't want it to be called a war for one reason, that is; Israel is not facing a real regular army. But, I want it to be called a war, because it is BIG!
it is hurting people in silence. In a limited scale. Is there a small or big operation when people are killed?? Simply,killed?
I hope I am clear on that one.



* Israeli planes raid on the town of Zrayreh and the town of Lebaya, and Hasbya (6:56 pm)

The Rains and Some Friends

1- She moved from Gaza to the West Bank to study her Bachelor degree in English Literature, then wasn't allowed to have a permit to move back and forth from Gaza (her home town) and the West Bank. This stayed for 4 years. Later, she decided to work and then to do her masters, as she did, successfully, and was honored by the Best University in Palestine and was asked to teach at the University. During her work in the West Bank town of Ramallah, the Second uprising took place to make movement even more complicated so she couldn't see her family, which is one hour and a half away from where she lives, until 7 years later. When she did...Summer Rains surprised her. She was planning to see them for a day or two before leaving the country for further studies. She is in Gaza now. And since the operation "Summer Rains" was imposing a complete siege on the Gaza Strip, she is facing a threat to lose a scholarship to complete her PhD in the United States and she is also away from work and her personal belongings. This may not sound very bad..But it is. Living in an area where you can not plan for anything over any period of time is simply not a normal one. She was wondering..: is it always like this for Gazans..? Do we have to choose between our career, studies, future and our families..??
Her life has been always around similar questions...Since she moved for the first time for education..
Now...Hardly dimplomats can come in or go out of Gaza. She is trying her best. She already missed a necessary training course that she should have had in the West Bank before going to the U.S. She has not got her visa yet either. She should be starting her program in less than 3 weeks....Believe me ...It will be a miracle if she makes it under the current situation.

Plus, Gaza was never her place. She has only very few friends. I am lucky to be one of them. There is not much that you can do in Gaza, anyway, to keep yourself busy..Well, maybe there is. But not anything positive or entertaining. Only if you are really addicted to the noise of bombings.
I will miss her, we are spending some good time together, but I wish she can leave as soon as possible..
suffering is not only dying or bleeding...It is also seeing your future wasted and your life is extremely uncertain.

2- He came to visit his family from the U.S to Gaza, and has to go back to finish his program that started a year ago. He is stuck here, of course. He lost a cousin the other day when an F16 raided on a house...The people who were killed were not Israeli targets. There are so many mistakes these days ..:)
He was starting to build a positive relationship with American community in California. From California to Gaza, wasn't an easy shift for a vacation. I wonder how angry he is and i wonder if he is not looking forward to go to America, where you are either good or bad.. especially if you are from this area.
*The U.S. is sending more special missiles and bombs.
There is a limit to making a distinction between politics and people.

Today In Eastern Gaza..

I woke up in my relatively peaceful area of Gaza City...Started to gather news of what was being shelled or bombed early morning and during the night.
I turn on the TV and after seeing some of more frustrating news about political and diplomatic talks. I heard the news that 4 were killed by artillery in Shigayyah in eastern Gaza..I knew the family name, and I knew these are our neighbors at my parents house. I was getting more nervous as I dial the number of their relative who lives across the street from the house at the edge of Gaza. I tried to figure out what kind of noise did he have while speaking on the phone. As I asked...Who were they...? He said: "Yes, they were my relatives, three men (brothers) and a 3 year old child. It was a mistake". " ....I didn't know what to say, but Allah y3eenkom.." He said" it is Ok, what can we do..? But tell me if you need anything".
I couldn't help it...As soon as I hung up with him, I started crying. And I thought,...It is getting closer and closer. ..

the second thing I thought of was...What if ..? What if? My mother was there? What if a closer friend was also a target ..Or a mistake..?

Americans and the War Coverage...!

I spent a year and a half in the United State in Washington DC. The last place I want to be in during this war. I was avoiding the idea of going to the States but because of the same reasons that make me avoide it and because I got a good opportunity for education, I decided to go. I have taken so many sessions by the American agency that was responsible for taking us to the United States on Culture Shock, and American Cultural orientation. They gave us almost all kinds of information about this dramatic change that wel would be facing when leaving the Palestinian Trritories going to the U.S.. There was no problem in dealing with all that....I was alienated..Because I was in a place where people talk a lot (A LOT) about my problems and my area's political situation....Without relating to any of those....
I wished they knew nothing, I wished they didn't recognize where I am form...
When asked where I am form...I would say " I am Palestinian" so that I wont go so fast into the debate of whether Palestine as a state exists or not..
That wasn't the problem, however, there was a great need for people recently coming to the US to update the Americans and even the Arab community about the current situation. This is alienation. You are part of the discussion, many wants you (me) to talk, but they are so irrelevant with their percpective and their basic knowledge of events their comments or questions can be sometimes harsh and disrespectful. This, of course, doesn't apply to all experiences. There were many people who were very aware of the injustice going on in the territories.

News in America ...Doesn't tell you what happened to Palestinians..It only does when there are internal problems and when they are "terrorists" which is the "expected role" by most of the American audience.
My home in Gaza. (my parents' house) was under attack one night...By F-16, while I was in Washington DC. Thankfully it was the backyard...No losses in lives. There were several people killed that day...And I woke up 7 hours ahead of Gaza local time, turned on the TV and tried to see any newscast in the three or four channels i get through my basic digital service, nothing was there...Nothing.
I couldn't be Ok..And say, well, it has been like that, why am I surprised..? I talked to many people that

"Breaking News" Chapter 2

What is more awful than not having your voice heard..?


The Israeli operation in Lebanon started a week ago. The first day, there was equal coverage of events in Lebanon and in Gaza Strip. Starting from the second day, situation got much worse in Lebanon..And is still getting worse than Gaza. However, this change from being the first in news to the second end up taking us to the comparisons that we all go through in different areas of conflict. Such as comparing how bad the situation that you experience or how close were the people killed are to you. Which has the higher or highest number of people killed or injured? And How huge is the destruction by Israel. Here, of course I am talking about Arab News channels that we follow as much as we have electricity power at home. I mentioned earlier that the local news channels in Gaza are doing very well in covering almost all of the stories in Gaza. The second day of operation in Lebanon had put Palestinian stories a little bit out of the main picture of the news. This sounds to be a competition, a negative one, because obviously we compete in how bad our situations are. This is not the point. The Effect that I am concerned about when doing this is important. I mean who watches Aljazeera outside, if we are lucky, will not be able to draw a direct connection between the operation here and there, which is what PM Olmert insists upon doing.
Last night, just like usually , the vessels were shooting at the beach of t middle Areas of Gaza, as the Apache and Tanks were moving slowly into the area from East and West. I clearly heard the shooting from the see (naval vessels) and some distant explosions and shooting. I turned on AlJazeera..Nothing was there to say that there was an incursion in the middle area. And things are getting serious there. Well, there are two points here should be raised, one is the Israel is getting better and better in making you feel that you are fine as long as it is not your street, because "we have targeted operation against targeted areas", in addition; it is much easier, and cheaper to stay away from the operation of a big invasion. The Summer Rains started with more of a psychological war and then an actual one, maybe not as overwhelming as people expected. But it depends where you are, at the end of the day. I am not trying to say that things are Ok, not at all. I am saying that Israelis are very clever in making us feel that this is the usual, that we got used to through the past 5-6 years in Gaza, especially. And you really can't stress out about every single spot of the Strip when there is an operation taking place. It is just Human ability, you cant worry more especially that it has been 5-6 years.
Back to the news. There was nothing on Al-jazeera, because it was a "minor invasion". However, the first day of Summer Rains; there were 4-6 reports on the borders watching every single movement of tanks or supplies brought to the Israeli forces. That coverage was great but was a little bit too much because it just helped, unintentionally, to scare the hell out of Gazans. I will not forget that night, that the reports were coming to describe how many tanks and other army vehicles are being transported to the borders of Gaza when it got under a complete siege. But I will not also forget how many Sonic booms we had that night from the great invention of F-16. I couldn't sleep that night at all, there was no electricity in Gaza at all that day after they destroyed the power plant.
to learn more about the Fighting Falcon visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F16
to learn about Sonic booms..http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=184

I mean by "nothing mentioned" on Al-Jazeera is that there was no "Breaking News" Khabar Aajel!

Summary of today; (From Al Jazeera)
9 killed in Palestine (6 in Al Maghazi Camp- Middle Area of Gaza Strip) and (3 in Nablus in the West Bank)
bulldozers destroyed some buildings for the Palestinian Authority (Ministry of Interior and Security Forces buildings after they were hit a couple of years ago by F-16 in Nablus. The arrested Tens of the members in Security forces ( the ones we thought are accepted by Israel vs. The Hamas force) They were forced to take off their clothes in the open area outside the building. The three men killed the Israelis still keep their bodies..Not wanted to give them back.

Local News;
Tanks on the Eastern road of Gaza were shelling last night and this morning no injuries reported.
Rafah Border reopen for the second day after 20 days of closure. That closure caused in the death of 9 people waiting at the crossing between Egypt and Gaza. Now there are about 10,000 people trying to get in, few thousands came between today and yesterday.

Hope didn't miss much..

"Breaking news" Chapter 1

I have noticed that there is a difference in the perception or the concept of Breaking news in the West-represented by the US here- and the Arab news channels. The word : Aajel; means something happening now, or has just happened. Don't expect this to have any news that is more than 2 or 3 hours old. A breaking news has a different meaning as I learnt from CNN and on general the media in the U.S. It means the current event or the most important news for the day. Maybe ....This is because there is no need for this extent of urgency in conveying news when things happen one at a time.
Since the operation started in Lebanon, I have been spending time on Al Jazeera and other news channels more than on anything else. It is fascinating to me how news become news in those agencies of even local news stations in Palestine. Sometimes, the movement of One military vehicle on a border in Gaza or elsewhere becomes news..And requires a reporter to go in the middle of the night to stand next to his/her camera focusing on this piece of a land or piece of a sky. Last night, after being saturated with news in Lebanon and stressing out about Lebanese being killed in the Merwaheen massacre that took place in agreement with the United Nations Emergency Forces in Lebanon, some apache planes started flying over the strip followed by 3 big explosions. This is not the point anymore, I went crazy finding something that can tell me where the hell was that! Usually, local stations in Gaza find out about everything that happens and get you the news, sometimes not very accurate in the beginning, this time there was nothing. I couldn't even find those stations. And then..I heard a reporter with a shaking voice talking about the violation of Media rights and freedom of expression! What ! Are we talking about this now? I thought. Then I find out that the station broadcast was interrupted by the Israelis somehow...It got too technical that I didn't try to understand. What I understood..S that beat Hanoon was under another incursion and the explosions were from tanks (arterially).

I wake up learning that there were 4 killed in this incursion .....
During the day..And at this particular moment ...The shelling continues.

Now; Hassan Nasr Allah..Just spoke on TV and he actually appeared live. (maybe not live but very recent recording). And he said something to the extent of; "well, we did what we did in Haifa because we were patient and our patience ran out after killing tens of civilians that have nothing to do with our forces...."
the G8 just released their position on this war...By saying: both should stop their operations.
well, it is fine for the G8 to say that...And you know what....It is ALSO fine for the Saudis and Egyptians and the Jordanians to SAY WHAT THEY SAID. It is no longer a surprise.
I liked a comment was mentioned by a Lebanese citizen was interviewed in the street of Southern Beirut saying " Israeli is our enemy, and I don't know why we are still suspicious about this fact"

summary of the day:
Hezbollah: will do whatever it takes to respond to the Israeli attacks
Nasr Allah is Ok
Israelis in Tel Aviv worried; 9 killed in Haifa
Tens of rockets were hot to northern cities of Israel (Palestine 48)
Number of civilian killed in Lebanon 113
Gaza: 4 killed in Biet Hanoon
and they are still bombing,. The F16s passed by us today but didn't do anything yet..Which makes me worry more...!

take care,
wherever you are...

......