Gaza and humanity versus Zionist ethnic cleansers and their stooges

By David Halpin*

2 August 2008

David Halpin details the torturous effort of people of conscience who are determined to open a humanitarian link to the Palestinians of Gaza whom Israel, its stooges and collaborators are determined to strangulate for daring to exercise their democratic right and choose a government of their choice.

27 July 2008: Exeter Airport – The 2330 hours flight to Larnaka is delayed by two hours. Estimated time of departure now 0140 hours on 28 July. These little discomforts in order that we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people whose “discomfort” started at the point of a gun and with stories of terrible savagery as at Deir Yassin in April 1948! Anything that an outsider suffers in his efforts for justice now is but a speck within the imprisonment, torture, suffocation and life-denial of the Palestinian. About 1 million have been imprisoned since 1948 and some for many years. Currently 11,000 are in prison and about a tenth are there under “administrative detention”, a convenient extension of the perfidious Albion's Palestine Mandate law. About 37 of this human mass are legislators belonging to the Hamas party. A scrupulous election was no bar to stifling a democracy emerging under brutal occupation. In spite of generous offers to include the main opposition party Fatah in government, that attempt at plurality invited the annihilation of Hamas by the engine of destruction and its many subservient nations, led by the USA. Any adherents to Islam must be isolated and driven by goading to division and self-destruction. Thus was the medieval siege laid on Gaza in March 2006 against all morality and all major international laws. 

The Hague Rules and Nuremberg Principles were never enunciated and they do not exist; barbarism is the only rule. Hillary Clinton calls for the obliteration of Iran and wishes for a high speed version of Enola Gay.

My wife Sue and I are joining the shore party for those boats and crews that will sail to Gaza with all determination and much courage to show that the Eastern Mediterranean sea is not owned by the Zionist entity or its minions and that the 12 miles of sea from the skeleton coast of Gaza is in Palestinian ownership. They will also be demonstrating their common humanity and their solidarity with 1.5 million prisoners from newborn to elder, survivors of the Nakba. The crews are drawn from 12 nations, and ages range from the 20s up to the 80s. Among the latter is Hedy Epstein who escaped the death camps when she was taken as a little girl to the US before World War II. No human arrives on this beautiful planet to “dispossess”, oppress and annihilate another. When they get to Gaza (and they will) they will be joining groups which will use their skills. One group has called for musical instruments; a crew member has rustled up a flute, guitar and saxophone.

If it was not for morbid circumstance such happy meeting would be the norm as we gather together in little courtyards to drink mint tea and jig the dark-haired grandchild on the knee. The peace will be the clip clop of the mare taking the precious fish to Beach Camp in blue boxes. In the lulls the waves are heard falling on the shore. Just the sound of children's laughter and great grandpa's resonant Arabic held in rapt attention. Instead the devils are abroad. The unmanned aerial vehicles are up aloft and droning in the haze. One is just to spy and to record; the other has a missile in its womb to liquidate another mother's son  or two or three  who knows?. The high speed patrol boat which roars along the subjugated sea with a “rooster tail” thrice the height of the vessel itself throbs a warning. The 3000 HP plus engine – made in Detroit – is driving water jets which bring its mounted guns to bear at 50 knots or more. Its 700-mile range is assured by 10 tonnes of Arab oil within its tank. In Beach camp there are mothers scratching round for paraffin with which to sterilize the water for the baby's milk. Captain Netanyahu opens the throttle on his boat of death without a fraction of a thought. Eretz Israel cannot take account of those it has impoverished and chained.

Miriam Farhat lies in Gaza's European hospital, her cardiac output low and pain within her chest. She has lost her Hamas husband and several dear sons to Israel. Many call her Palestine's mother and for that deep respect she gained a seat in the February 2006 legislature. The other day she suffered a massive coronary thrombosis and was taken via the Shifa hospital to the European hospital where a procedure failed. A plea to allow her through the Rafah gate to save her in Egypt falls on deaf dead ears. An elderly mother has the Hamas tattoo upon her wrist so she stays against all hard won humanitarian law. The Fourth Geneva Convention is cast aside for almost all the sick sisters of Gaza.

Six miles south from where loving children sit silent round the one who bore them, Khalil al-Niss and Linda Curtis are trying to pass into Gaza at the Rafah gate with 1.5 tonnes of medical supplies they have gathered in Edinburgh. Khalil has a parcel firm and hails from Jerusalem. He has a tale or two to tell. Linda is a nurse at the medical centre in Herriot Watt University. For humanity, and for solidarity with the imprisoned, they determined to drive these vital gifts through Europe to the remnants of Palestine, the. hinge of humanity.

They left on the ferry to Zeebrugge on 10 July. A drive which should have taken five days at the most, took almost twice as long. Croatia forbad entry, so they had to backtrack. The Turkish border police held them for half a day until a valuation of the goods was faxed from the Dove and Dolphin charity under which auspices this good deed is done. They were stopped for 24 hours at the Egyptian border across the water from Aqaba. Thence they drove across Sinai to Rafah for some diplomatic/bureaucratic persecution. Each day they presented themselves at Rafah gate. There was more hope but hopes had been raised and dashed many times before. “They will let you cross now”  so a taxi ride to the gate. “They will not be letting you through there in a months of Jumaas.” Letters with the couple, including one from the Dove and Dolphin charity, vouch for the honest intentions of these messengers. A letter with the names of six Members of the Scottish Parliament has been taken to the Ministry of the Interior. But the Zionist entity, and its dozens of pro-Zionist allies, do not want the siege broken by a small wedge in the door, a small load of medical supplies. They want Hamas to be broken instead; unity is threat.

31st July  Khalil telephones to say that he is waiting at closed gates again on the 11th day in the wilderness. He sounds valiant and samid – steadfast. Media interest is growing and President Mubarak is being asked directly by a Cairo TV station when he will let him through in the 27th year of his presidency. There is a strong rumour that the gates will be open tomorrow so the human tide can start. Linda has to fly home from Sharm El-Sheikh tonight in order to return to her nursing duties, so there will be more unplanned expense. Khalil is not going to go away. He hears story after story of grotesque inhumanity. A child of 18 months sent to Saudi Arabia with his mother for diagnosis or treatment. His loving father was not able to accompany him, being a male and below 35 years of age. The Saudis insisted that the visa be for only one week. That creation of the US, friend of Britain and BAe [British Aerospace – defence and aerospace company] bungs does not follow the Prophet in honouring the child.

The British Consulate in Jerusalem was urged to plead for free passage since Gaza is within its ambit. The polite exchange was followed by an email from me, to which there was no reply. The British Embassy in Cairo was rung and the duty officer expressed sympathy but also some awkwardness. She obviously knew of the case because the suggestion was made that the supplies should be handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent and “they might get through”. “Do phone back after the weekend and speak to a senior officer.” So that was done, and more sympathy. The senior officer was unable to come to the phone. “I will cut to the chase. What international law is being used to bar the entry of these humanitarian supplies and the two humans who convey them through Rafah gate?” “I will have to phone you back.” This press officer comes back with a pat formula which of course has no meaning. “This case is a legal matter between Egypt and Israel.” She intimated that the latter had more of the whip hand but Gazan infant knows that.

The powerful own the law and thus there is no law. And there is no ethical basis for most state action. That Palestinians suffer more and have less 60 years since the ethnic cleansing and occupation of their land proves these points. No justice, no peace.