Here are some videos I took yesterday...
This is when we first arrived at 6:30PM, my mom instantly started crying, remembering her suffering when she was forced to leave Majdal when she was a child in 1948 and an adult in Gaza in 1967 when Israeli forces ocuppied Palestine. She is in the background crying on Palestinians who still receive donations and who are still living as refugees after 60 years of Diaspora. The creation of Irsael was built on the ruins of the Palestinian People, a nation and people that existed for thousands of years, long before the British Lord Belfour promised the Jews a nation in Palestine
Children, the young, old men & women, Christians & Muslims, the Police, everyone was helping in a very organized matter to upload the donations into the truck
More donations
Tonight the temperature will go down to (-1 C or 30 F) and tomorrow night it will be (-4 C or 28 F) and my heart is with those Palestinian civilians who do not have anyone to put them in shelters or to protect them, they are simply innocent civilians caught up between the fire. I envy the injured civilians in Israel as they have a government and country protecting them and keeping them warm in shelters. And I believe Israel as a Democratic nation has the responsibility to protect civilians in Gaza or else how can the only Nuclear country in the Middle East not be able to get rid of Hamas?
In Arabic: Gaza & the International silence
The Arab World has also folded an eye on the Palestinians and have been satisfied with releasing condemnations to Israel and a few announcement s that Israel must stop this aggression. Yeah right, what kind of pressure will these Puppet states put on the International community and Israel! Meanwhile, on the other side of Gaza strip border, Egypt remained its border crossing blocked except for letting in some medicines and taking some of the injured to be treated in Egyptian hospitals, but blocking Food & Power supplies and Aid from several organizations to enter Gaza. Egypt has blocked Aid from Qatar, Libya and other countries claiming that Fatah has requested so and that it will open the borders when EU monitors are installed in the borders in Gaza. Husni Mubarak is a disgrace for Egyptians who have always offered sacrifices to the Arab countries and to Palestine. It is time to remove those thug leaders like Mubarak, Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and the king of Saudi Arabia.
I will leave you with this picture, a gift from the civilized democratic nation of Israel to the Palestinian Children on the eve of the New Year, all from one Family!
May Peace be upon this land, may we all learn to coexist!
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38 comments:
Thank you everyone in Jordan who helped make this happen. Bless you all
A hug to your mother. InshAllah she will be alive when this tragic story comes to an end. God willing. God bless all the hands and hearts who made this work last night. InshAllah all of those with good intentions will continue to do everything they can.
God bless you Ali, and your mom
Oh God Ali! Your mom made me cry this morning!
Kinan, thanks I know you are helping out there at your end in Dubai.
Nicole, thanks, its a joint effort and shows how much people are ready to give and be part of Palestine
Kinzi, thanks
Smart American, oh sorry, how was your protests?
My heart breaks for your mother; what a horrible thing to see history repeat itself in your lifetime. I know she has no idea who I am, but please tell her for me that I shall light a candle for her in the hope that the light brings her solace. Please tell her that this American thinks she is very blessed in the children she raised. Namaste.
Ali thank you for putting up these videos and showing us the other side. Now if I seem to be difficult toward this horrible situation, it is due to my frustrations with Hamas and not all of the Palestinian people. Sometimes that may not be clear but I wish to make it so now.
I hope the aid gets to those who need it and that the violence ends soon.
I also send my best to your mother and family and hope your mother sees a day that none of us can imagine right now. A day where we coexist in peace.
Ali,
I'm so sorry about your mother and everything that's going on.
But I want to know your opinions about 1948. I'm unclear about what happened. All I've read is that Britain wanted to make two states...a Palestinian and Jewish one, but the Palestinians were not okay with this.
What really happened?
The Jews had no where to go in those years. No one wanted them...a few refugees went here and there, but no one wanted big chunks of them.
Where do you think they should have gone?
Was the problem that there were too many Jews in Palestine? They were given too much power? Palestinians were forced to leave their home because the Jews needed somewhere to live?
The reason I ask this is I'm thinking because of global warming, we might have millions of refugees looking for homes.
What happened with Israel/Palestine might happen again. Governments might force people to leave their homes so they can make room for refugees.
How can we make room for refugees? How can we make them feel welcome (after all the crap they've been through) when we ourselves feel invaded and are losing our way of life?
What if the bad Israeli's have their way and expel all the Palestinians from the land. What would the Palestinians do? Where would they go? What if no one wanted them? What if Britain said, "Hey, New Zealand is one of our Commonwealths. You guys can all go there. We'll split the islands up and you can have part of them."
Do you think the Kiwis should welcome the Palestinians and make adjustments. Or should they fight to keep the Palestinians away?
In your eyes, what went wrong with the creation of Israel? What should have been done differently? How could this whole mess have been avoided...from the very beginning? If you could go back in time to 1948, how would you fix things so both the Jews and Palestinians were okay?
Hi Dina
You ask very good questions.
The number of Jews in Palestine in 1948 were less than 11% of the total population.
The British created an Israeli State in the heart of the Arab World in order to divide it and rule it better.
The USA, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe closed its ports to ship carrying Jews escaping the Holocaust in Germany. No body wanted them for historical, religious as well as political reasons.
I will send you more after I cook dinner as my Husband DOES NOT COOK :)
If I, as a British, told you that "refugees" from China have to take your hosue, shop, farm and more than half of the USA because thier God said so, would you do it?
This was 1948!
American,
No I wouldn't do it simply because they said their god told them to do it.
But if they were refugees from a terrible atrocity and had no where else to go? Yes, I would feel it's my duty to welcome them in.
I can't say I'd like it.
I can't say it wouldn't stress me out.
But as the Pete's Dragon song says. "There's room for everyone in this world if everyone makes some room."
The problem in 1948 is the British helped Jewish refugees while creating Palestinian refugees. And it seems many of the Arab nations weren't welcoming towards these refugees.
The Palestinians and Jews are both very rejected peoples. They should stop hating each other and start loving each other. They have something in common. No one really wants them.
Anonymous,
I never knew that was the reason why they created the Jewish state. I always thought their reasons were more noble...helping the Jews.
Your reason probably makes more sense though. If it was just about helping the Jews, why not take them into England?
Dina, you are starting to understand the whole mess. I beg you to read the book Bible and sword! It made me undertand the mess!
There was never a noble cause!
There was only abuse of both peoples!
Wish Jews and Palestinians would understand that they both were and are victims!
Could Hamas do something to protect the Palestinians while the Israelis are attacking?
Are they expecting more attacks?
Maybe they could keep the Palestinians in safe places? Enforce a curfew? Keep them away from buildings that might be targets...anywhere that the Israeli army might assume Hamas militants maybe.
Has Israel purposely attacked any buildings that would traditionally hold average civilians? Houses? Preschools? Playgrounds?
I know they hit some mosques and a University because they thought it held the militants who were building the rockets.
Maybe they could TEMPORARILY shut down any mosque or university that they imagine Israel might find suspicious.
Hopefully, this will end soon and people can go back to their normal lives.
But in the meantime, maybe Hamas can work to keep the Palestinians away from the line of fire.
OR do you think Israel is purposely targeting civilians. I mean it could be true. Hamas has hit houses, kibbutz, kindergartens, a shopping mall, a cemetery, etc. I can't assume Israel would be any different. OR are these rocket things completely random? I don't know much about these weapons? Can you actually aim them at specific targets?
Anonymous,
Yeah. I wish that too. I wish they'd learn to get along.
Maybe one day.
Well, the British and Americans used to hate each other. Now they're best buddies.
Maybe that will happen with the Palestinians and Israeli's. Maybe their grandchildren will be astonished to know that the Jews and Arabs used to be enemies.
I think one of the problems is outside forces come down so strong on both sides. I just talked to a right-wing Christian who thinks the Palestinians should all drown in the sea. I see other people (non-Palestinians) who put ALL the blame on Israel.
I think this divides the Palestinians and Jews even further.
It reminds me of when my parents used to fight. Once there was a huge one. My sisters took my dad's side. I took my mom's. It made things even worse.
Maybe we should lock up all the Palestinians and Israeli's in a giant room with no weapons. Tell them we'll let them out once they work it out.
Never ending isn't it. So sad. All I can do is hope for a better future.
Salam,
Happy new year
Gaza is the most desly populated area on the face of earth. They have no shelters and no place to hide. Israel kills 10 innocent civilians to kill one Hamas leader!
How barbaric!
Anonymous,
Actually, I think Macau has the highest population density. It has 44,000 people per square mile. Gaza Strip has around 11,000 people per square mile.
But I didn't realize that Gaza had no houses, schools, hospitals, etc.
So, is it just a bunch of people roaming outside???? Are they all homeless?
That's awful. Things are worse than I imagined.
I thought Gaza had homes and buildings. I didn't know so many of the people were homeless.
They have homes but no underground shelters!
But, would you leave your home and you and your kids live in a tent or move to Canad to let Refugges in?
Anonymous,
Have the Israeli's been targeting homes? How many of the 400 people that died were in there homes at the time? I know there was at least a few, but was it the majority?
As for moving into a tent? Would I be given any options? Would someone come over and simply say "Leave your house now. We're giving it to the Chinese people?
That's what I'm trying to understand about 1948. I don't have a clear picture. Were the Palestinians simply scooted out of their house. "Good-bye. Leave your house behind. Good luck finding a tent!"
Did the Palestinians have any choices--move to a new house in what was supposed to be the Palestinian state? Move to another Muslim country.....
I wouldn't mind moving to Canada. But I'm personally not attached to my house, my state, or my country.
I'm not very territorial.
If the Arabs/Palestinians didn't want to give up Palestine for holy/religious reasons. Did they ever offer to give up another piece of the Middle East to the Jews? Maybe the Palestinians could keep Palestine and the Jews could have had Jordan or something. Maybe a chunk of Egypt?
In terms of religion, the Muslims have a LOT of land. The Jews have a country that's smaller than New Jersey.
It seems the Muslim would binds together strongly to fight against Israel. Why didn't they bind so closely together to find nice homes for the Palestinians so the Jews could have a tiny little county of their own? OR why didn't they offer up another piece of land?
Yeah, I don't know if I'd want to give up my home to a Chinese family. I might be a little sad. But I would work hard to make sure these sad persecuted people had SOMEWHERE to live. And if they had to live in my house and I had to move to Canada....well, I guess I'd go out and buy myself some good mittens and a scarf.
Or maybe I'll move to your country. Where do you live??? Do they have nice beaches there?
Hey everyone, I'm an American studying and volunteering in Amman. It was great helping out and I was very touched with how many donations were received with such short notice and in such a short period of time.
All the dead people in Gaza where bombed while in their homes except for three emergency personnel and about 40 police officers who were sleeping in there barracks!
A mom and her family were taking shelter in a mosque and her five daughters died when it was bombed!
Problem with Americans is that they do not see the images. Go to Al Jazeera English on you tube and see what the rest of the world is seeing. Also know that all Israel's weapons come from your tax money! This is why so many people blame the USA for this carnage!
Dina, thanks for sharing your views here. the situation in Gaza and the occupied terrotories is very complex and someone needs to visit to understand the issue of the illegal settelments that are built on palestinian farm land. Israel has not only hurt the kids and families in Gaza but did alot of damage the past 60 years, things that can't be forgotten since my mom's generation. The problem here is not Hamas rockets or the loss of civilians from the Israeli side which is something I do not support at all. Killing civilians is not right, simple.
But Israel has put Gaza in a Ghetto where Palestinians do not control their airspace (shelled by Israel many years ago), their waters (even fishermen cant go fishing), borders, fuel supplies. so even if Israel has withdrew from Gaza it still controls everything there, and I ocnsider that a siege. This situtaion has been there for years. As for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, they are ristricted from movement, road blocks everywhere and ofcourse the aparthied wall that is ripping Palestinian topwns and cities. If you go to Bethlehem, you will see that this mostly Christian Palestinian city is surrounded by a 10 meters conceret wall and the city is sealed from the outside world. Palestinians in Jerusalem are having difficulties in renewing their residency IDs from the Istaelis and if they do, they are not allowed back in again. All this injustice happens in thier own land and country where they and their fathers and great great grand fathers were born. See, the conflict is very complex.
Ok I'm boring everyone now with this long post ;)
Anonymous.
That's horrible. I think it's very wrong to target civilians. Actually...personally I think it's wrong to bomb ANYONE. Just my personal feelings.
Although the Palestinian terrorists have targeted civilians before as well. Am I wrong?
Haven't buses of civilians been bombed?
Can you say that Palestinians are innocent of ever targeting civilians?
Greg, thanks for checking my blog,. God Bless you for your work. I didnt see you there but ofcourse the place was packed with generous people. By the way, the donations are still on at any Aramex shop and the Jordan River Foundation in Abdoun near the new RJ building.
Dina, I just answered your question ;) Ofcourse targeting civilians is wrong, sometimes people living in such hopeless conditions when youth who lived their all life under occupation and injustice and have seen their houses getting blowed by Irsaeli army, are easy to get recruited by extreme groups. Give them hope, show them peace and they will not go blow themselves. I dont see why Israel cant see what Peace activists see inside and outside Israel, end the occupation and the violence will end. Is it that difficult?
SJ, me too
Pak, all the way from Malaysia, thanks for checking my blog. Do you blog in English?
Ali,
You're never boring!
Yeah. I hope they end the occupation. Do you think that would put an end to all the extremists? I hope so.
Thanks Dina, but Im a slow blgger in the weekend and today im off ;)
Extremist are fighting either for thier idology or political agenda or are led by outside countries. dont give them a reason to kill and they will not find any one to support them. May seem like a naive idea but i see it's worth it?
check out this web site and you will know how Palestinians left!
http://www.deiryassin.org/
and this
http://cosmos.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/php/event.php?eid=244
and this is a list of all that took place in 1940's
http://www.allaboutpalestine.com/massacre.html
A great read for Americans
http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081231/OPINION/14430087/1080/NATIONAL
since am in the video's
inside the truck :)
did we met ??
;)
Oh My God! I just saw these imagies for the first time. Our Media hardly showes any thing. I will find a rally in my area and join. Thank for sharing. Tell the whole world!
Ali,
It is great the work that you and others are doing to help the Palestinians. I am still waiting for my friend to send me the pictures of the Protest in LA. I know that she is having some trouble getting them sent. Anyway keep up the GREAT WORK that you are doing and here is a couple of links to blogs that you may want to check out.
http://thehollytree.blogspot.com/
This is the friend of mine that went to the Protest in LA.
http://1158munich.blogspot.com/
This is a very good friend of mine who has lived in the ME for several years.
If you check their profiles you will find email address's for them.
Anonymous, wow you are so resourceful, Arabs need more like you!
Qabbani, oops I guess I missed you ether between all this huge crowd, khalas next time wallah la adwer 3liek. I met Naseem there.
American, CNN international has been covering Gaza crisis very good and I'm surprised, I wonder if CNN America does the same?
Chet, wow more true voices there, I salute them and all Americans
This is so heart breaking. I can't imagine living under those conditions. I have friends who frled Lebanon many years ago and can never go back-they're house was bombed. God bless you all and stay safe.
jj
JJ, so imagine yourself, you cant hide in shleters as there are none in Gaza, hospitals, schools run by the UN, mosques are bring bombed. Airport closed, sea blocked, borders blocked for the past 2 years and there are no power or medical supplies. Those people cant even sleep at night, cant imagine a child living like this, Ill feel sorry if my dog or cat was there
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