Tweet
It would be convenient to blame the compelling and imminent US presidential election for the lack of attention to news of Gaza. But how, then, to rationalize the other 51 weeks of the year? The "Dignity" docked at Gaza on Wednesday, bearing medical supplies, Israeli lawmakers, and human rights activists (including 1976 Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Maguire). The International Red Cross reported last week that no medication have been reaching Gaza, due to the blockade on food, fuel and medicine imposed by Israel since June, 2007. Organizers report they hope to make monthly supply trips to help Gaza’s 1.5 million residents. Israel barred 100 international health workers and academics from entering Gaza to attend a medical conference organized by the Gaza Community Mental Health program, focusing on the effect of the blockade on mental health needs of residents. They coped by holding a virtual conference: video linking between Gaza City and Ramallah. Finally, Toronto has just concluded its first Palestine Film Festival yesterday. It featured the first film written and directed by a Palistinian woman, Annemarie Jacir. The interview below is of Suheir Hammad, star of the film (and herself a poet), who speaks of her thoughts of Palestine and Israel, and the many worlds contained in that locale:
(Cross-posted at JustPeaceNow.)
3 Comments
Dugg!
Isabel Kershner of the New York Times..Oct 29
Ashraf Khalil of the LA Times..Oct 30
These two had short articles on the arrival of the SS Dignity. Surprise, surprise, MSM is MIA.
The best title of all the reports from Gaza has to be this one:
“Nam, Nehnu Nastatyeh!” is Arabic for “Yes, We Can!”
http://freegaza.org/index.php?…..1501ed8fe0
The blockade of Gaza was broken by the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty. After threats and a harrowing 37 hour trip, the boats landed at Gaza on August 26/08. The last few hours of the voyage, was one of great fear for the crew of these boats and the internet world that was following them live. The Israelis jammed their communication equipment. So, no communication and no navigation equipment working. The crew did not know if they would be attacked and the internet watchers did not know if they had been attacked. Thankfully, the Israeli gov’t decided to let them land safely. Likely because the world was watching and the internet started contacting governments etc. as soon as the communications stopped from the boats. The SS Liberty was named in honor of the USS Liberty.