Shoes for Gaza

Shoes for Gaza:

"'Shoes for Gaza' a Facebook campaign started by an ANERA donor made it possible to purchase shoes on the local market in Gaza for preschoolers who need them. Visit www.anera.org/gaza for more information about Gaza."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Difficult Ramadan in Gaza - 04 Sept 09

Difficult Ramadan in Gaza - 04 Sept 09:

"For the last eight months, Abu Hassan and his family have been living in a refugee camp after their home was destroyed during Israel's war on Gaza.

Since the war ended in early January, life has been a daily struggle for many families like Abu Hassan's - their situation now made even worse during the month of Ramadan.

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin visited one such camp where even the simple act of breaking fast has become a daunting task for hundreds of refugees."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Israeli navy hits Gaza fishing boat Aug 31, 2009

Israeli navy hits Gaza boat:

"http://www.euronews.net/ Israeli navy strikes Palestinian fishing boat, setting it ablaze and leaving one person wounded."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Focus on Gaza - Gaza's economic crisis - 1 May 09

Focus on Gaza - Gaza's economic crisis - 1 May 09 - Part 1:

"The Israeli siege is strangling Gaza's economy, and many of the businesses that were managing to scrape by were destroyed by the recent war. A look into the economic consequeces of Israel's blockade and the war on Gaza."

Part 1


Part 2


Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Israeli siege and war destroyed Gaza's industrial backbone

Israeli siege and war bring Gaza industry to standstill:

"Yousef Al-Helou Press TV Gaza"



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

UN: Israel Hinders Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Gaza: Humanitarian aid remains below what is urgently required:

"United Nations, 18 march 2009 - Daily Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary General. According to a report by the office of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the overall levels of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza remain below what is urgently required."

Excerpt from FIELD UPDATE ON GAZA FROM THE HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR 10-16 March 2009

"Access into the Gaza Strip / Crossings

Commodities Import
A total of 671 truckloads of goods including 121 from humanitarian agencies (18%) were allowed • entry into Gaza this week compared to 1080 last week, representing an average of 121 truckloads per open day compared to a daily average of 246 received in the third week of July 2008.

The imported commodities included: food (520 truckloads, 68%), medical supplies (16 truckloads, • 2%), hygiene/cleaning supplies limited to chlorine, tissues, diapers, (84 truckloads, 11%) and non-edible consumables such as blankets, mattresses and, for the first time since 28 October 2008, clothes (33 truckloads, 4%). 14 truckloads containing education/stationery supplies and 4 truckloads with agricultural raw materials (fertilized eggs) were allowed entry.

No livestock, industrial/electrical appliances, vehicles/ transports, packaging applications or • construction materials were allowed entry.
Items banned by the Israeli authorities last week included jam, biscuits and tomato paste, resulting • in 498 boxes of USAID cargo and 2,488 boxes of World Vision cargo stopped from delivery to Gaza. According to COGAT, food parcels containing these foodstuffs, as well as tea, sweets and date bars, will be rejected in the future."

Click here to read full report (.pdf)



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Bethlehem: Christmass 2008

Bethlehem: Christmass 2008:

"A short film featuring a Palestinian Christian family during Christmas of 2008. The film is fully produced by IMEMC video Production Unit.

bethlehem, christmas, 2008, nativity, church, Ayyad, Beit Sahour, Christians, Palestine, Palestinian, Israel, wall, occupation, family"



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Palestinians in Bethlehem face eviction - 24 Dec 08

Palestinians in Bethlehem face eviction - 24 Dec 08: "Palestinian Christians living in Bethlehem could be spending their last Christmas in their hometown.

They live next to Jewish settlements and that means they also face the constant threat of eviction by the Israeli authorities.

Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh reports."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Gaza and the World - So this is Christmas?

Gaza and the World - So this is Christmas?:

"Australians for Palestine and Women for Palestine offer a video that calls attention to the extreme humanitarian crisis in Gaza at a time when Christians are celebrating their most festive religious holiday - Christmas. Underlying the frivolity of Christmas shopping, eating and entertainment, is the destitution, misery and hopelessness that millions of Palestinians under occupation and in the refugee camps, face every day. Gaza endures the worst of it. The war is not over for them. Those who have allowed these crimes
against humanity to continue, also have the power to change direction and
demand freedom for the Palestinians and work for peace and justice. We can help them make that change. Speak up to end the siege of Gaza and the occupation of Palestine.

The video is accompanied by the music of John Lennon, Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band - 'Happy Christmas (War is over)'.

The video was created by Sonja Karkar as a not-for-profit initiative to highlight the tragedy of Gaza and stop people in their tracks as they spend and feast, so that they might demand an end to the crimes Israel is committing against the Palestinians. It is not too late to make your protest by writing to your country's politicians, the media, the Israeli embassies and consulates, companies that trade with Israel. Join a Palestinian solidarity group to learn more about the issues and to give momentum to a growing movement worldwide that sees a just peace for the Palestinians.

Visit our website for more information http://www.australiansforpalestine.com

FOOTNOTE: A special thanks to setfree68 who suggested the song for "Gaza in Crisis", which inspired me to create something specifically for the song. SK "



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

GAZA 2008

GAZA 2008:





Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Full border closure deteriorates the humanitarian crisis in Gaza

Full border closure deteriorates humanitarian crisis in Gaza:

"PressTv Report"

Related News:
Statements of UN High Commissioner regarding the siege “anger” Israel
Source: IMEMC
Date: November 18, 2008

Israeli was “angered” by the statements of Navanethem “Navi” Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; as she called on Israel to immediately lift its blockade over the Gaza Strip as this siege violates the international and humanitarian law.

Pillay issued a statement from her office in Geneva urging Israel to allow the entry of food, medicine and fuel into the Gaza Strip and called on Israel to restore electricity and water supplies.

In her statement, Pillay said that Israel is depriving 1.5 million Palestinians from the basic human rights and called on Israel to halt its air strikes and invasions to the impoverished Gaza Strip.

She also called on Palestinian fighters to stop the firing of homemade shells into adjacent Israel areas.

The Israeli ambassador to Geneva, Aharon Leshno-Yaar, was angered by the statement of Pillay and accused her of being “shortsighted and repeating blatant information”.

He said that Palestinian groups fired more than 170 homemade shells in the past ten days.

The Israeli ambassador also denied that Israel is cutting essential supplies to Gaza.

On Monday, Israel allowed only two trucks loaded with foods and medicine into the Gaza Strip.

International human rights organizations said that the two trucks are not enough and will not alleviate the food shortages in the Gaza Strip.

Israel is still barring fuel shipments from reaching the main power plant in Gaza forcing the residents to go through repeated and extended blackouts.

Since November 4, the UNRWA has been unable to provide essential services to more than 750.000 refugees in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli restrictions and the illegal siege.

Nearly 270 patients, including women, children and elderly, died in the Gaza Strip due to the siege as Gaza hospitals ran out of basic medical supplies and equipment while Israel is barring the patients from leaving the Gaza Strip for medical treatment elsewhere.



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Gaza's nervous wait for aid - 13 Nov 2008

Gaza's nervous wait for aid - 13 Nov 2008:

"Trucks carrying basic supplies are waiting to enter the Gaza Strip, ending an Israeli food blockade which has lasted more than seven days.

Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros reports from Gaza, where the constant shortages are taxing the emotional and physical health of the Palestinian residents."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Gaza Again Plunged into Darkness, Hunger as Israel Blocks Fuel, Food to Suffering Population

Democracy Now! | Gaza Again Plunged into Darkness, Hunger as Israel Blocks Fuel, Food to Suffering Population:

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has worsened in the aftermath of Israel’s latest blockade of fuel and food. We speak to Diana Buttu, a former lawyer for the Palestinian Authority, and Reverend Edwin “Eddie” Makue of the South African Council of Churches, a veteran of South Africa’s apartheid struggle. They are on an “anti-apartheid” speaking tour across the US for the next two weeks.

The United Nations refugee agency which distributes food to half of Gaza’s 1.5 million people has warned that it will run out of food in a day if Israel’s blockade of the Gaza strip does not stop. It called the blockade “a physical as well as a mental punishment."

Israel is now allowing limited amounts of fuel after Gaza’s sole power plant came to a halt Monday, plunging the area into darkness. But Israel is still blocking food deliveries and aid agencies estimate the new supply of fuel will run out within a day-and-a-half.

An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that began in June has been disrupted following the imposition of the blockade and Israel’s foreign ministry has accused Hamas of exploiting the situation for political gain. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that a violent confrontation with Hamas was inevitable.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

The Bush administration has strongly backed Israel’s stranglehold on Gaza. It’s unclear whether this policy will change under an Obama White House. Obama’s first major appointment was to select Congressmember Rahm Emmanuel as his chief of staff. On foreign policy, Emanuel is thought to represent the right-wing of the Democratic Party. He has vocally backed Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza and its 2006 attack on Lebanon. Emmanuel’s father, Benjamin Emmanuel, was a member of the Irgun, a right-wing group that carried out attacks on Palestinians in the years leading up to Israel’s establishment as a state in 1948. Benjamin Emmanuel recently made some controversial comments on his son’s appointment. In an interview with an Israeli newspaper last week, he said: “Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn’t he be? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to clean the floors of the White House.”

We’re joined in the firehouse studio by two internationally recognized human rights advocates. Diana Buttu is a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer and used to work with the Negotiations Support Unit of the Palestinian Liberation Organization or PLO. Reverend Edwin “Eddie” Makue is General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches. He was involved in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa from 1982. In 2005 he traveled to the Palestinian territories to monitor the elections. Diana Buttu and Revered Makue are on an anti-apartheid speaking tour across the country for the next two weeks.

Diana Buttu, Palestinian Canadian lawyer. She used to work with the Negotiations Support Unit of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, or PLO.

Rev. Edwin Makue, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches.



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Israel allows some fuel into Gaza | Video | Reuters.com

Israel allows some fuel into Gaza | Video | Reuters.com: "Israel allows some fuel into Gaza
(01:48) Report

Israel has allowed a 'minimal amount' of fuel to be supplied to Gaza's EU-funded power plant, which was forced to shut down after running out of fuel.

But the Israeli government said a week-long blockade would remain. The Jewish state suspended supplies to the Palestinian enclave last week after Hamas fired dozens of rockets into southern Israel following an Israeli raid into Gaza, which killed six Palestinian fighters.

The blockade has led to chronic food shortages. The United Nations said it would have to suspend food aid to three-quarters of a million Gazans on Thursday unless the closures were lifted."



Palestine Video - A Palestine Vlog

Palestinian bee farmers break the siege on Gaza

Palestinian bee farmers break the siege on Gaza:

"Israeli bulldozers razed their farmlands and groves. Beekeepers in Gaza keep their hives next to the border with Israel. The bees fly freely across the border with Occupied Palestine known now as Israel to collect nectar, returning with honey to the besieged Gaza strip."

Israeli settlers attack Palestinians & CPTer

Israeli settlers attack Palestinians:
"10-19-2008"

Related News Item:
Israeli Settlers Beat up Palestinian Reporter During Olive Harvest, Punch CPTer
CPT
19 October 2008
HEBRON: Israeli settlers beat up Palestinian reporter during olive harvest, punch CPTer

On the morning of Saturday 18 October 2008, a group of four Israeli settlers beat up a Palestinian reporter, Abed Hashlamoun, in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron. He required hospital treatment for his injuries.

Hashlamoun had been photographing Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals harvesting olives together in an event organized by Tel Rumeida landowners. Hashlamoun was walking alone through the olive groves when male settlers knocked him to the ground and began beating and kicking him.

Several of the olive pickers heard his cries and ran to help him. One of the settlers seized Hashlamoun’s camera. CPTer Janet Benvie approached the settler and asked him to return the camera, but he did not respond. When Benvie took hold of the camera strap the young man punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground. He then hurled the camera into the rocky field below.

The settlers were still nearby when Israeli soldiers arrived. “I repeatedly asked the soldiers to detain the men who attacked us, but instead they permitted the attackers to leave the scene,” said Benvie.

The Israeli military declared the area a closed military zone, ordered an end to the olive picking, and required the Israeli and international olive pickers to leave the area.

Photographs are available at http://cpt.org/gallery/album261

Hashlamoun was taken to hospital for treatment, but released shortly after. Benvie sustained a cut and bruising to her face, but did not require medical treatment.

Israelis block Karem Abu Salem crossing to stop humanitarian aid to Gaza

1. Israelis block Karem Abu Salem crossing to stop humanitarian aid to Gaza
Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:54:29
Shireen Yassin, Press TV, Karem Abu Salem crossing

Click here to see this Press TV Video - Requires Windows Media


2. Hamas: Israeli pressure not to alter our stance on Shalit
Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:51:46
Ashraf Shannon, Press TV, Gaza

Click here to see this Press TV Video - Requires Windows Media


Related News Item:
Israelis demand the release of captured soldier Shalit
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Source: IMEMC

Scores of Israelis organized on Sunday a sit-in on the Israeli side of Gaza-Israel southern border lines, demanding their government to ensure the release of Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, captured in Gaza for more than two years now.

Demonstrators held their protest at the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing in southern Gaza, blocking shipment of goods and commodities to the Gaza Strip, amidst an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal, media sources reported.

Over the past several months, both the ruling Hamas in Gaza and Israel have been negotiating a prisoner swap deal through Egyptian mediators, for the release of Shalit and freedom of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails.

So far, negotiations have achieved no progress as Hamas insists that Israel must release a list of prisoners with long-term sentences, as well as almost 350 women and a number of juveniles.

Israel has long rejected Hamas's list and has recently prepared a list of its own, yet no breakthrough in Egyptian mediation efforts is yet to be observed.

In June2006, Hamas fighters managed to capture soldier Shalit, during a cross-border attack near the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza. Israel then responded with lethal force, killing more than 450 Palestinian men, women and children, in addition to destroying water, electricity networks and bridges.

Israel continues to hold more than 11.500 Palestinian prisoners inside its jails in Israel or in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian peace negotiators have been long demanding their release, yet Israel keeps up procrastinating. (End.)

Israeli Navy Continues Persecution of Fishermen

Israeli Navy Continues Persecution of Fishermen:

Related News Item

Gaza Fishing
10-17-2008
Source: Free Gaza

Three human rights observers (HROs) accompanied a fleet of four Palestinian fishing boats, as they left the port in Gaza this morning at 07:00.

By 08:15 the fishing boats were proceeding in a southerly direction, 8 nautical miles from the Gazan coast. At this point, an Israeli naval gunboat approached the fishing boats, and began to circle them. A loud explosion was heard, the cause of which is unknown. A HRO close to the gunboat at this time reports that the sound of the explosion was consistent with her previous experience of the Israeli Navy throwing explosive charges into the water next to fishing boats. The gunboat continued circling the fishing fleet for several minutes, as a soldier fired several bursts from a deck mounted heavy machine in their general direction.

At around 09:30, the large Israeli vessel with a high powered water cannon approached. Over the next two and a half hours it fired the water cannon at each of the fishing boats in turn, for long periods. As a result, the fishing boats were incapable of maneuvering properly, and the nets of two of the boats became entangled. One of the fishermen had to dive into the water to attempt to separate them, once the water cannon boat had ceased its assault. One of the HROs whose body was hit directly by the water cannon reports in a text message (at the time of writing, he remains at sea) that he is "OK but body aching like being beaten".

As these attacks were taking place, an Israeli Navy spokesperson – Captain Benjamin Rutland – explained on BBC Radio that the water cannon is powerful enough to cause damage to the fishing boats themselves;

"…it may cause damage to a boat…"

Somewhat paradoxically however he then went on to say that the use of such a high powered weapon

"…minimizes injuries to Palestinian fishermen."

Settlers Attack Palestinian Olive Harvest

Palestinian farmers under attack:
"Abu Dhabi TV 081017
[LinkTV/Mosaic]"

Gazans reduced to poverty by Israeli siege

Gazans reduced to poverty by Israeli siege
Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:59:18
Yousef Al-Helou, Press Tv, Gaza

Click here to see this Press TV News report - Requires Windows Media