Summer Team 05: Tension Grows in Gaza

Summer Team 05: Tension Grows in Gaza

Tension Grows in Gaza
Fr. Peter
Monday, July 18, 2005

"Tanks have massed along the Gaza Border" has been a theme these past
handful of days. Tension grows as Hamas and the Palestine National
Authority have clashed, Israel threatens an incursion into Gaza, and Israeli
settler supporters have joined in a march in Gaza to join the settlers resisting removal and relocation.

Last night one of our young friends in Rafah came over to our place,and
wanted to talk. We have become part of his support. Late the night before, a number of Hamas men in his neighborhood shot rifles at the Israeli gun
tower along the border wall, and the Israeli soldiers shot back. This went on
for hours. Shooting a rifle at a gun tower is about as effective as throwing a
stone. It can be deadly if the Israeli bullet reaches its target. Our young
friend hates the violence on all sides, and wants an end to it. He can't
stop the shooters, who have had enough of the violence of occupation, and I
felt his dread, fear, weariness, and sense of Post Ttaumtic Stress Disorder.

This morning someone commented that there are fewer taxis at the taxi
station down at the corner. That is because the checkpoint in the middle of
Gaza, Abu Houli, has been closed the last four days by the Israeli military
for "security reasons." These taxis are for traveling there and back. They
can't go now.

We went to the gun tower at the wall in the nearby neighborhood to pray and make our presence as internationals very clear: we are here and are not
leaving.

Then we went to Al Aksa University in Khan Younis north of Rafah,
connecting with some staff and faculty and students. We then went to the Abu Houli closed checkpoint to pray and make our presence known. We saw the
lineup of cars, vans and trucks extending down the road. We were told that some have been there for four days.

We went forward, beyond the lineup of vehicles and the Palestinian police
toward the Israeli gun tower. We spoke loudly, urging them to let people go
home. We were given a warning by a young soldier in English and told to leave, but we continued to speak. We were given more warnings to go back, but we continued to speak. We told how one woman in the lineup just had surgery and needs to get home to recouperate in Gaza City, instead of sitting in a hot car in the sun for days. We spoke of how keeping the checkpoint closed only adds to the growing tension in Gaza. We spoke of how we are old enough to be his grandfather, and able to love him like his grandfather. Let people go home, we pleaded.

After a long time, with no success in opening the road, we did go back to
the people and spoke with some of them. One group of women and children
in the hot sun sitting in a vehicle had not had water or food all day. The two of us speaking with them gave what snacks and water we had. Another man
spoke how the family had been there all day. He showed us his seven children, wanting to get home to Gaza City.

Some men, frustrated with the days of waiting, and seeing our inability to
get the checkpoint open, started driving their vehicles forward. Bullets were fired from the guntower, with the warning to stop. They did not proceed, as they showed their frustration. Some said to us "Do you see how we have to live in Gaza?" Yes, we said. We see.

Later in the afternoon we left to return to Rafah, knowing that the people
were still there at Abu Houli, victims of a senseless occupation.