Palestinian Journalist Remembers Israel's Assault on Gaza

Palestinian Journalist Remembers Israel's Assault on Gaza:

"One year ago this weekend, Israel began its 22-day assault on the Gaza strip. Dubbed “Operation Cast Lead,” 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed in what was Israel’s deadliest attack on Palestinians. We look back on Operation Cast Lead with Palestinian journalist Sami Abu Salem who was in Gaza during the assault."

One year ago this weekend Israel began its 22-day assault on the Gaza strip. Dubbed “Operation Cast Lead,” 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed in what was Israel’s deadliest attack on Palestinians. As protests were held around the world to mark the first anniversary of the assault, the Egyptian government is blocking solidarity activists from entering Gaza to take part in the Gaza Freedom March.

On Sunday Egyptian security forces detained two groups of international activists who were preparing to join the march. Meanwhile Egyptian authorities have also held up a humanitarian aid convoy led by British lawmaker George Galloway.

As we look back on Operation Cast Lead, we turn to Palestinian journalist Sami Abu Salem who was in Gaza during the assault. With the borders sealed, international journalists could not enter Gaza and the world relied on the work of Palestinian journalists like Sami and Al Jazeera, the only international network that was already in Gaza before the military operation began. Democracy Now! producer Anjali Kamat traveled to Gaza in March of this year. She met Sami Abu Salem at his home in Jabalia refugee camp. He recalled the first day of the bombings, which began with coordinated airstrikes by 60 war planes across the Gaza strip, killing over 300 people, including 238 police officers, in a single day.

Sami Abu Salem, Palestinian journalist in Gaza. Special thanks to Jacquie Soohen of Big Noise Films



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