From Gaza, with Love

Friday, August 19, 2011

Gaza this morning

Gaza this morning –19th of August 2011-8am
8am
Shattered glass , destroyed a big building (city library under construction) close to Rosy women beauty center, where I can see many broken windows, and people cleaning the rubble and the shattered glass, while I was on my way to check on the red crescent society, which is close to Arafat police headquarters building. It was not hit, as I have heard in the local radio news last night. I have received a phone call from a friend in the north (Beit Hanoun and Jabalia); he says there is continuous (artillery shelling) in the north and east of Gaza.
I do not know what is next! Is it an alarming attack? Is it a start of large scale operation against Gaza? I cannot predict or analyze but it is pretty obvious that the Israeli government intends to divert internal turmoil into Gaza civilians under the immoral pretense of security, they hit targets and terrify civilians, my main concern now is how to coordinate with other health providers, the emergency health services, while we lack basic medications and supplies in most of the health facilities
I could not sleep last night so many people in the city could not, I was thinking Israel will never be secure or safe by hitting Gaza or building more settlements or confiscate more land. Our Palestinian cause is a noble cause that is based on justice and rights as guaranteed by so many UN resolutions, unless the world really has been changed into a big jungle, where the most powerful controls, as the world seems so now. But this is not the end of the battle towards peaceful just world, the continued movements against injustice in many Arab countries will make the change, and inside Israel itself, too.
ps
Theresa I have mentiones in my previous release
Theresa, a master student in Public Health, has finished gathering data to implement family planning program. She will write a recommendation for the Red Crescent Society on how to implement joint husband-wife counseling.
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Gaza under Israeli military attack

Gaza -August 18th -1am
Dear Freinds
I am ok.
They have started shelling Gaza City and different parts of the Gaza Strip. The first attack was so close to my building, the F16 hit Almuntada; they have also attacked the north of the city. Already 6 people have been injured and one killed(6 were killed few hours earlier on ). I can hear and see the emergency vehicles on their way to the site of the shelling. My computer is not working so I am using Theresa’s laptop - bad timing. It is sad to see the families below the building in panicking and running outside of the sea resort. The second shelling was against the police building (Arafat police headquarters), so close to the Red Crescent building. The operation is expected to be accelerated and the UN has evacuated its employees. I am trying to calm down while receiving many calls from friends and family checking on me. I have asked Theresa to leave to the west bank tomorrow; she was due to leave on Sunday. I am relieved it is the end of her visit, and she has accomplished her practicum.
Netanyahu exports the internal Israeli political turmoil to an external situation.

With love and solidarity
Mona