From Gaza, with Love

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

QUEING FOR 3 HOURS TO GET 2 GALLONS OF FUEL FOR MY CAR



12th of february 2008
one of my days under the seige 
it is so stressfull not to be able to drive my car , as iam like everybody in Gaza ,we are  controlled by the lack of petrol that enters Gaza via Isarel ,i hurried up to one of the few stations that got petrol today , to my big surprise i found my self in a long que of cars waiting to get petrol , and i had to wait long 3 hours  , before i managed to get 2 gallons of fuel , enough to keep me going for another 2 days , if i rationalised using my car , and that means i will be only driving my car inside gaza city , or park it and walk in a limited areas , SO HERE IAM AGAIN PRISONER IN GAZA iam unable to visit my sister in Khanunis i can go to the Red Crescent clinic but not to the hospital , many people parked thier cars and walk , or use public cars if they can find one !!!!!easily !!!!!!, basic routine practises became so difficult and time consuming ,leave alone the effect of that shortage of fuel ,on our hospitals in particular and public services in general , electricity still big proplem , patchy power is the role !!!continous blackouts makes me  feel very low and in a very cold winter it is a curse .
life continues from one day to another , despite of my mind pisimism i still have the optimism of detremination (Gramchi), and in that context a lot of positive activities are  going on in Gaza ,to empower the community and to stand by poor and margenalised , as a sign of resistance and refusal of injustice , and searching for peace that is based on justice 

very tired and exhausted , drained and thinking of the world silence ,i send my love to you all who think of us as freedom and noble cause  fighters NOT VICTIMS 
Mona 

posted by Mona_Elfarra at 11:21 AM

10 Comments:

  • I live in the West Bank, and I grumble and complain every day over how Israeli policies have messed up my life. But when I read your posts and think of what the people of Gaza are going through, I feel positively ashamed of my self. Ya Rabbi, ease the burden on the people of Gaza and help us all!

    By Blogger alajnabiya, at 2/12/2008 1:37 PM  

  • Hi Mona,

    My name's Tasneem and I'm an editor for Arabian Woman Maagazine. We would love to feature you in our Awesome Women profile... in order to do so, we would need a biography that highlights your career and basic personal information as well as a couple of high resolution pictures. We will of course include your blog address for our readers to be able to read your writing also.

    Please get back to me as soon as possible on: awwriter@azherinfo.ae

    Thanks!

    Tasneem

    (P.S I couldn't remember my blogger password so I had to log on via a colleague's account)

    By Blogger Desert Princess, at 2/12/2008 5:16 PM  

  • As a physician you must be all too well aware of what continued stress can do to you, psychologically and physically. Take care of yourself, Mona, and bless you.

    By Blogger fjb, at 2/14/2008 7:12 AM  

  • I remember when I was about 10 years old, in the early 1970's, there was an oil embargo by Arab countries against the U.S. The lines at the gas stations were very long. People were waiting for hours to get gas, and sometimes after the long wait there was nothing left. Although I was a child when that happened, I have some understanding of how you must feel Mona. I have read similar stories from Iraqi friends, as well. Since the U.S. invasion, supplies of gas and electricity have been very short. Clean water is a big problem too.

    A few days ago, I watched a speech by the Palestinian Prime Minister on TV. He was in America taking part in a peace seminar. I was very impressed by his intelligence and his moderate positions. Well, I know that he really only represents the West Bank Palestinians, but I think he would like to represent the people of Gaza too. He spoke against the collective punishment of Gazans by Israel. I agree with him that this collective punishment will not accomplish any constructive objectives.

    I am reminded of the historical lesson of Germany after WWI. The Germans were punished collectively by the victorious allies. They were forced to pay crippling war reparations that ruined the German economy. German people were desperate and starving. Hitler promised them better lives and better times. I think there are some similarities between these desperate Germans of the 1930's and today's desperation among Palestinians. Hamas promised people better lives and so people voted for them. Continued oppression will only breed more extremism.

    It is so very ironic that Israelis, knowing so well what the Germans did to Jewish people, should turn the tables and become oppressors themselves. Israel has been walking a very immoral path ever since it occupied the Palestinian Territories. It must find a better way!

    By Blogger David, at 2/14/2008 7:28 AM  

  • Dear Mona,

    I am an Israeli and I moved to Holland 6 years ago due to the never ending situation in our area.
    I have read your discribtion of a day in your life with great compassion but also with desperation as I have not the slightest idea how this terrible situation can come to an end. We are in a vicious circle (from both sides). Many of my countrymen and women ofcourse just want peace and a normal life for themselves and their children. Many if not most do not want to occupy the West Bank or any other piece of land.We are however very scared for our existance both as a country and as individuals. My daughter lives not far from Dimona and last week there was a suicide attack there, this scares me to death.
    I am quite pessimistic and do not forsee a quick solution if any.

    By Blogger Marianne, at 2/16/2008 3:17 PM  

  • How can we on the outside help without being part of the conflict?

    By Blogger marsha, at 2/18/2008 6:46 PM  

  • Mona..
    I am a palestinian living in Jordan. Whenever I watch the news, or read accounts of what is happening in gaza...I feel so helpless and so useless!

    By Blogger The Iris, at 2/20/2008 8:55 AM  

  • Mona...
    I am a palestinain living in Jordan. Whenever I watch the news or read accounts of what is happening in Gaza like your posts.. i feel so helpless and useless... you ARE such noble fighters!

    By Blogger The Iris, at 2/20/2008 8:56 AM  

  • Hi again. Thank you for publishing my comments. I commend you for your open mind, and your willingness to admit that there is more than one side to the tragedy of Gaza and the West Bank.
    Your continued use of the terms "siege" and "occupation" when describing Gaza's situation has prompted me to suggest a website that is enlightening about the use of those terms. I hope you will read it:

    http://www.zionism-israel.com/log/archives/00000491.html

    I thank you for your blogs. Here in the West, there is not enough true information coming out of Gaza.
    Your lives are almost incomprehensible to us. I am full of sorrow that you and other Gazans are living through such a time. I hope that your leaders will soon come to their senses, and allow peace to come to you all, who so richly deserve it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2/24/2008 5:58 AM  

  • You support Hamas, you are a Jew hater who wants Israels destruction. Please don't ask for anyones sympathy, as long as you and the rest of the Gazans support Hamas, you get what you deserve. If Israel was run by Arabs, they would have exterminated all the Gazans by now and no one would care because it would just be one bunch of Muslims killing another.

    By Blogger Jakester, at 3/15/2008 6:57 PM  

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