Truth-Telling

When you exit the security terminal to enter into Gaza, you face a large no-man's land to cross on foot. A good 100 meters across where no one is allowed without security clearance, so the space is completely empty before you reach vehicles and people off in the distance. There are always a few Palestinian men waiting to help carry luggage across. It's the only work they have. We always let them carry everything, even a light briefcase or purse, so they will have earned the shekels we're going to give them anyway.

Walking across this space - a bombed out road of ruts, holes, rocks, and barbed wire - is a good chance to hear the truth from these men about what's going on in Gaza.

Here are some truths I learned during my fourth visit there on Wednesday.

...the blockade and restrictions that were in the news a few weeks ago continue. At that time there was a flurry of attention and outrage in the media. Then, the world got distracted with something else and lost interest, but nothing changed about the restrictions. Gaza has been shut up and squeezed since it was declared hostile territory last summer and with each new episode the restrictions just get ratcheted up and attain a new plateau. In case you're wondering, things get worse for the people, not better. Electricity is cut off for some time every day. There is no pattern to it. So a load of clothes may be have to sit in the washer for a day or two until the power comes back and laundry can be finished. No one keeps any food that has to be refrigerated - when food is available. Hospitals have generators but they need fuel which is also restricted so only some services can be run at any time; for example, no heat or sterilizing if we have to run the operating room

...foods continue to be restricted - you know, those pesky security risks from milk and bananas. Prices have risen 2, 3, 4 times for the foods available.

...at the hospital we visited in Gaza City we met a girl who had surgery to remove the shrapnel in her leg from a recent Israeli attack. Have you noticed that the injuries and fatalities from these attacks are always reported as "10 militants and others were injured in the attack"? I guess she was an "other". I guess she was collateral damage to get these "militants". Her photo is in the slideshow. She is smiling because she was to be discharged the next day; she likes school and is anxious to get back.

...another girl in the photos was burned on her head. With no electricity, more people are making fires to heat water for baths, for example. This girl was burned when some of the hot water fell on her

...the chapel at the hospital was bombed a few years ago. An F16 (Made in the USA) came in low and released its missile. There is a hole in the ground inside the chapel just beside the altar. We had a service in the chapel. Eucharist at an altar beside a bomb crater is a different kind of experience. There are photos on the right.

...Hamas is usually not responsible for the rockets launched into Israel. Sometimes it's teenagers who are paid by others to shoot them off. Groups or individuals other than Hamas are mostly responsible. Sometimes the kids just do it on their own. Have you ever known a teenage boy who did something reckless and thoughtless? These are some of the "militants" who go with the "others"

The stated purpose of the siege on Gaza is to force the people to overthrow Hamas. This will never happen. Never. Ever. The more severe restrictions get, the more the people of Gaza resist. You and I would do the same. It's a cruel irony that the US government officials who go around the world shooting off their mouths about democracy and God's intention that all people should be free are supporting a policy that is trying to kick a race of people into submission, as though they were stupid, unruly animals.

Gaza is a Rwanda in-the-making. I hope some of you will be goaded into some action to try and prevent this.

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Psalm 22)