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Nanjeanne
Nanjeanne's Journal
Nanjeanne's Journal
May 6, 2024
There is 'nowhere safe to go' for the 600,000 children of Rafah, warns UNICEF In Press Statement
With hundreds of thousands of children in Rafah injured, sick, malnourished, traumatized or living with a disability, UNICEF calls for children not to be forcibly relocated, and the vital infrastructure on which children rely to be protectedNEW YORK, 06 MAY 2024 – With the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continuing to deteriorate, UNICEF is warning that a military besiegement and ground incursion in Rafah would pose catastrophic risks to the 600,000 children currently taking shelter in the enclave.
Following October evacuation orders to move to the south, it is estimated that there are now about 1.2 million people sheltering in Rafah, once home to about 250,000 people. As a result, Rafah (20,000 people per km2) is almost twice as densely populated as New York City (11,300 people per km2), and about half the population is children, many of whom have been displaced multiple times and are sheltering in tents or informal and unstable housing.
Given the high concentration of children in Rafah – including many who are highly vulnerable and at the edge of survival – as well as the likely intensity of the violence, with potential evacuation corridors likely mined or littered with unexploded ordnance; and shelter and services in areas for relocation very likely to be limited – UNICEF is warning of a further catastrophe for children, with military operations resulting in very high civilian casualties and the few remaining basic services and infrastructure they need to survive being totally destroyed.
“More than 200 days of war have taken an unimaginable toll on the lives of children,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “Rafah is now a city of children, who have nowhere safe to go in Gaza. If large scale military operations start, not only will children be at risk from the violence, but also from chaos and panic, and at a time where their physical and mental states are already weakened.”
Compared to adults, children are especially vulnerable to the devastating impacts of the war in the Gaza Strip. They are being disproportionately killed and injured, and suffering more acutely from disruptions to healthcare and education and a lack of access to sufficient food and water. Already, more than 14,000 children have been reportedly killed in this current conflict, according to the latest estimate by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of children in Rafah are estimated to have a disability, medical condition or other vulnerability that puts them in even greater jeopardy from the looming military operations in the city:
about 65,000 children are estimated to have a pre-existing disability, including difficulties seeing, hearing, walking, understanding, and learning.
about 78,000 children are infants under 2 years of age;
almost 8,000 children under 2 years of age are acutely malnourished;
about 175,000 children under 5 years of age – or 9 in 10 – are affected by one or more infectious diseases;
almost all children are already in need of mental health and psychosocial support.
Many of these vulnerabilities are not mutually exclusive, meaning that the same child could be both injured and sick, or malnourished and an infant.
“Hundreds of thousands of children who are now cramped into Rafah are injured, sick, malnourished, traumatized, or living with disabilities,” said Russell. “Many have been displaced multiple times, and have lost homes, parents and loved ones. They need to be protected along with the remaining services that they rely on, including medical facilities and shelter.”
UNICEF reiterates the call of the Interagency Standing Committee for Israel ‘to fulfil its legal obligation, under international humanitarian and human rights law, to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations, and on the world’s leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening.’
Underscoring the special vulnerabilities of children, UNICEF is also calling for:
An immediate and long-lasting humanitarian ceasefire. The immediate release of hostages, and an end to any grave violations against all children.
The protection of civilians and the infrastructure that supports their basic needs, such as hospitals and shelters, from attack and military use;
Continued protection of children and their families if they are unable or unwilling to move following an evacuation order - people should be allowed to move freely to safer areas, but they should never be forced to do so.
Safe and consistent access for humanitarian organisations and personnel to reach children and their families with life-saving aid, wherever they are in the Gaza Strip.
- ENDs -
Note to editor:
The data point on children with disabilities is based on results from the 2019-2020 Palestinian Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). This is the latest available MICS survey for the Gaza Strip and does not reflect any changes of this indicator that might have occurred since; nevertheless, it represents a valid lower bound of the incidence of children with disability.
Following October evacuation orders to move to the south, it is estimated that there are now about 1.2 million people sheltering in Rafah, once home to about 250,000 people. As a result, Rafah (20,000 people per km2) is almost twice as densely populated as New York City (11,300 people per km2), and about half the population is children, many of whom have been displaced multiple times and are sheltering in tents or informal and unstable housing.
Given the high concentration of children in Rafah – including many who are highly vulnerable and at the edge of survival – as well as the likely intensity of the violence, with potential evacuation corridors likely mined or littered with unexploded ordnance; and shelter and services in areas for relocation very likely to be limited – UNICEF is warning of a further catastrophe for children, with military operations resulting in very high civilian casualties and the few remaining basic services and infrastructure they need to survive being totally destroyed.
“More than 200 days of war have taken an unimaginable toll on the lives of children,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director. “Rafah is now a city of children, who have nowhere safe to go in Gaza. If large scale military operations start, not only will children be at risk from the violence, but also from chaos and panic, and at a time where their physical and mental states are already weakened.”
Compared to adults, children are especially vulnerable to the devastating impacts of the war in the Gaza Strip. They are being disproportionately killed and injured, and suffering more acutely from disruptions to healthcare and education and a lack of access to sufficient food and water. Already, more than 14,000 children have been reportedly killed in this current conflict, according to the latest estimate by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of children in Rafah are estimated to have a disability, medical condition or other vulnerability that puts them in even greater jeopardy from the looming military operations in the city:
about 65,000 children are estimated to have a pre-existing disability, including difficulties seeing, hearing, walking, understanding, and learning.
about 78,000 children are infants under 2 years of age;
almost 8,000 children under 2 years of age are acutely malnourished;
about 175,000 children under 5 years of age – or 9 in 10 – are affected by one or more infectious diseases;
almost all children are already in need of mental health and psychosocial support.
Many of these vulnerabilities are not mutually exclusive, meaning that the same child could be both injured and sick, or malnourished and an infant.
“Hundreds of thousands of children who are now cramped into Rafah are injured, sick, malnourished, traumatized, or living with disabilities,” said Russell. “Many have been displaced multiple times, and have lost homes, parents and loved ones. They need to be protected along with the remaining services that they rely on, including medical facilities and shelter.”
UNICEF reiterates the call of the Interagency Standing Committee for Israel ‘to fulfil its legal obligation, under international humanitarian and human rights law, to provide food and medical supplies and facilitate aid operations, and on the world’s leaders to prevent an even worse catastrophe from happening.’
Underscoring the special vulnerabilities of children, UNICEF is also calling for:
An immediate and long-lasting humanitarian ceasefire. The immediate release of hostages, and an end to any grave violations against all children.
The protection of civilians and the infrastructure that supports their basic needs, such as hospitals and shelters, from attack and military use;
Continued protection of children and their families if they are unable or unwilling to move following an evacuation order - people should be allowed to move freely to safer areas, but they should never be forced to do so.
Safe and consistent access for humanitarian organisations and personnel to reach children and their families with life-saving aid, wherever they are in the Gaza Strip.
- ENDs -
Note to editor:
The data point on children with disabilities is based on results from the 2019-2020 Palestinian Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). This is the latest available MICS survey for the Gaza Strip and does not reflect any changes of this indicator that might have occurred since; nevertheless, it represents a valid lower bound of the incidence of children with disability.
May 4, 2024
[link:
?height=554&width=720|]
Hostage Families Statement - 'Netanyahu is trying to blow a deal once again'
Several families of hostages, who have announced they will release an emergency statement today at 20:30 Israel time as a response to Israel saying it won't agree to end the war in exchange for a deal that would return all the hostages, have spoken in the Tel Aviv demonstration.
"There is now a deal on the table, that Hamas has signaled it will agree to. But Netanyahu, after Hamas' signals, is once again trying to blow the deal, when he announces twice today while hiding under the guise of a 'top political source,' that Israel won't agree to ending the war. Netanyahu is once again trying to torpedo the only chance we have to save the hostages," said Einav Zangauker, whose son is held at the strip, on behalf of the forum.Danny Elgarat, whose brother Itzhak is held in Gaza, has spoken at the rally on Begin Road in Tel Aviv, and addressed Prime Minister Netanyahu. "Bibi, you can't fool us. You're stalling to please Ben-Gvir and stay in power. You don't care about the 132 hostages," he said.
"Entering Rafah is a death sentence for the hostages ... you can't stay the prime minister with the blood of 132 hostages on your hands," Elgarat added.
Read more from hostage families and full article here:
Haaretz: [link:https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-05-04/ty-article/.premium/israelis-rally-for-hostage-deal-against-netanyahu-govt-amid-reports-of-emerging-truce/0000018f-43f5-d17f-adcf-fbf7bd0f0000|]
Free Link: [link:https://archive.is/4eTPz#selection-1195.0-1205.152|]
Tens of Thousands of Israelis Protest for Hostage & Some Hostage Families Statements
From Haaretz breaking news:
With an exceptionally large turnout, Saturday's protests are taking place across Israel's major cities; Protesters are also demanding early elections. At a rally in Jerusalem, the father of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin said: Politicians must remember, we are fighting for real people
The main demonstration, calling for early elections, is taking place in Kaplan Junction in Tel Aviv, and thousands are participating in it. Alongside it, a gathering organized by the Hostages Forum at the so-called Hostage Square at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
[link:
?height=554&width=720|]
Hostage Families Statement - 'Netanyahu is trying to blow a deal once again'
Several families of hostages, who have announced they will release an emergency statement today at 20:30 Israel time as a response to Israel saying it won't agree to end the war in exchange for a deal that would return all the hostages, have spoken in the Tel Aviv demonstration.
"There is now a deal on the table, that Hamas has signaled it will agree to. But Netanyahu, after Hamas' signals, is once again trying to blow the deal, when he announces twice today while hiding under the guise of a 'top political source,' that Israel won't agree to ending the war. Netanyahu is once again trying to torpedo the only chance we have to save the hostages," said Einav Zangauker, whose son is held at the strip, on behalf of the forum.Danny Elgarat, whose brother Itzhak is held in Gaza, has spoken at the rally on Begin Road in Tel Aviv, and addressed Prime Minister Netanyahu. "Bibi, you can't fool us. You're stalling to please Ben-Gvir and stay in power. You don't care about the 132 hostages," he said.
"Entering Rafah is a death sentence for the hostages ... you can't stay the prime minister with the blood of 132 hostages on your hands," Elgarat added.
Read more from hostage families and full article here:
Haaretz: [link:https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-05-04/ty-article/.premium/israelis-rally-for-hostage-deal-against-netanyahu-govt-amid-reports-of-emerging-truce/0000018f-43f5-d17f-adcf-fbf7bd0f0000|]
Free Link: [link:https://archive.is/4eTPz#selection-1195.0-1205.152|]
April 30, 2024
SNIP
SNIP
WCK - Jose Andres We're going back to Gaza to feed people. Here's what we need from Israel.
This week, we are restarting our operations at scale: We have 276 trucks, representing almost 8 million meals, ready to enter Gaza through the Rafah crossing in the south. We are also sending trucks from Jordan as we push to distribute food into northern Gaza, where the situation is most dire.
SNIP
We expect and insist that the Israel Defense Forces protect and respect the lives and work of our Palestinian team members, just like citizens from other nations.
That sort of treatment has been rare since we have been in the region. For example, though every team member is vetted and cleared before every food delivery mission, our Palestinian team members have been stripped and humiliated by Israeli soldiers while engaged in work that has been coordinated with, and approved by, the IDF.
Our convoys have been held up at IDF checkpoints for hours on end, despite coordination with the Israeli government groups who run point on humanitarian aid.
That sort of treatment has been rare since we have been in the region. For example, though every team member is vetted and cleared before every food delivery mission, our Palestinian team members have been stripped and humiliated by Israeli soldiers while engaged in work that has been coordinated with, and approved by, the IDF.
Our convoys have been held up at IDF checkpoints for hours on end, despite coordination with the Israeli government groups who run point on humanitarian aid.
SNIP
My hope and my prayer are that the names of our seven heroes will be remembered and mourned in Israel, as they are in Gaza, Britain, Canada, Australia and Poland.
Sharing our grief is as human as sharing our food. It’s a small step toward healing and hope in a world that desperately needs both.
Sharing our grief is as human as sharing our food. It’s a small step toward healing and hope in a world that desperately needs both.
April 24, 2024
Happening now in Texas - UT Austin - I'm now getting Kent State flashbacks.
[link:https://twitter.com/RepCasar/status/1783209290473570800|]
[link:https://twitter.com/RyanChandlerTV/status/1783197539824468403|]
[link:https://twitter.com/RyanChandlerTV/status/1783214460280172691|]
Now this I find frightening.
April 24, 2024
Read whole article here: [link:https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-most-important-thing-i-teach|]
Robert Reich on Columbia U
The most important thing I teach my students
And why Columbia’s faculty should issue a vote of no confidence in its president, Nemat Shafik
Apparently, Columbia University’s president, Nemat Shafik, does not share my view. Last week she prostrated herself before House Republicans, promising that she would discipline professors and students for protesting the ongoing slaughter in Gaza in which some 34,000 people have died, most of them women and children.
The following day she summoned the New York City Police Department to arrest more than 100 students who were engaging in a peaceful protest against it.
Can we be clear about a few things? Protesting this slaughter is not expressing antisemitism. It is not engaging in hate speech. It is not endangering Jewish students. It is doing what should be done on a college campus — taking a stand against a perceived wrong, at least provoking discussion and debate.
The following day she summoned the New York City Police Department to arrest more than 100 students who were engaging in a peaceful protest against it.
Can we be clear about a few things? Protesting this slaughter is not expressing antisemitism. It is not engaging in hate speech. It is not endangering Jewish students. It is doing what should be done on a college campus — taking a stand against a perceived wrong, at least provoking discussion and debate.
Read whole article here: [link:https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-most-important-thing-i-teach|]
April 23, 2024
Dr. Salaam certainly knows first-hand what impact mass media has on narrative - and how easily it can be misdirected.
Dr. Yusef Salaam, Exonerated Five & Now NYC Councilman Statement on Columbia Demonstrations
[link:https://twitter.com/dr_yusefsalaam/status/1782843925671055427|]
My experience yesterday at Columbia University stands in stark contrast to the portrayal of the Columbia protests and the protestors by the mass media and several elected officials. In truth, the encampment demonstration is not only peaceful but also profoundly impactful, showing how the diversity of ideas among our youth can foster global peace if embraced wholeheartedly; not stamped out by force or rhetoric.
Dr. Salaam certainly knows first-hand what impact mass media has on narrative - and how easily it can be misdirected.
April 23, 2024
Columbia University Dept of Sociology Faculty Statement
[link:https://twitter.com/dr_tey/status/1782775866881155303?s=61&t=_R0eaN5XDTx3hnl2jyXBTA|]
For ease you can view the u rolled thread starting here [link:https://twitter.com/dr_tey/status/1782774937389875512?s=61&t=_R0eaN5XDTx3hnl2jyXBTA|]
April 21, 2024
Read whole article: [link:https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-rafah-strikes-children-us-aid-package_n_6624c60ee4b0167f7bf53d1d|]
And thank you to the brave 37 Democrats who tried to end this slaughter by voting NO on the Israel aid bill:
Becca Balint of Vermont
Don Beyer of Virginia
Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
Jamaal Bowman of New York
Cori Bush of Missouri
Andre Carson of Indiana
Greg Casar of Texas
Joaquin Castro of Texas
Judy Chu of California
Mark DeSaulnier of California
Lloyd Doggett of Texas
Maxwell Frost of Florida
John Garamendi of California
Chuy García of Illinois
Al Green of Texas
Jonathan Jackson of Illinois
Pramila Jayapal of Washington
Hank Johnson of Georgia
Ro Khanna of California
Dan Kildee of Michigan
Barbara Lee of California
Summer Lee of Pennsylvania
Jim McGovern of Massachusetts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
Ilhan Omar of Minnesota
Chellie Pingree of Maine
Mark Pocan of Wisconsin
Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts
Delia Ramirez of Illinois
Jamie Raskin of Maryland
Mark Takano of California
Bennie Thompson of Mississippi
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
Jill Tokuda of Hawaii
Nydia Velázquez of New York
Maxine Waters of California
Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey
Israeli Strikes On Rafah Kill 22, Mostly Children, As U.S. Advances Aid Package
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight killed 22 people, including 18 children, health officials said Sunday, as the United States was on track to approve billions of dollars of additional military aid to Israel, its close ally.
Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive against the Hamas militant group to the city on the border with Egypt despite international calls for restraint, including from the U.S.
SNIP
The first Israeli strike in Rafah killed a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child, according to the nearby Kuwaiti Hospital, which received the bodies. The woman was pregnant and the doctors saved the baby, the hospital said. The second strike killed 17 children and two women from an extended family.
“These children were sleeping. What did they do? What was their fault?” asked one relative, Umm Kareem. Another relative, Umm Mohammad, said the oldest killed, an 80-year-old aunt, was taken out “in pieces.” Small children were zipped into body bags.
Mohammed al-Beheiri said his daughter, Rasha, and her six children, the youngest 18 months old, were among those killed. A woman and three children were still under the rubble.
Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive against the Hamas militant group to the city on the border with Egypt despite international calls for restraint, including from the U.S.
SNIP
The first Israeli strike in Rafah killed a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child, according to the nearby Kuwaiti Hospital, which received the bodies. The woman was pregnant and the doctors saved the baby, the hospital said. The second strike killed 17 children and two women from an extended family.
“These children were sleeping. What did they do? What was their fault?” asked one relative, Umm Kareem. Another relative, Umm Mohammad, said the oldest killed, an 80-year-old aunt, was taken out “in pieces.” Small children were zipped into body bags.
Mohammed al-Beheiri said his daughter, Rasha, and her six children, the youngest 18 months old, were among those killed. A woman and three children were still under the rubble.
Read whole article: [link:https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-rafah-strikes-children-us-aid-package_n_6624c60ee4b0167f7bf53d1d|]
And thank you to the brave 37 Democrats who tried to end this slaughter by voting NO on the Israel aid bill:
Becca Balint of Vermont
Don Beyer of Virginia
Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
Jamaal Bowman of New York
Cori Bush of Missouri
Andre Carson of Indiana
Greg Casar of Texas
Joaquin Castro of Texas
Judy Chu of California
Mark DeSaulnier of California
Lloyd Doggett of Texas
Maxwell Frost of Florida
John Garamendi of California
Chuy García of Illinois
Al Green of Texas
Jonathan Jackson of Illinois
Pramila Jayapal of Washington
Hank Johnson of Georgia
Ro Khanna of California
Dan Kildee of Michigan
Barbara Lee of California
Summer Lee of Pennsylvania
Jim McGovern of Massachusetts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
Ilhan Omar of Minnesota
Chellie Pingree of Maine
Mark Pocan of Wisconsin
Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts
Delia Ramirez of Illinois
Jamie Raskin of Maryland
Mark Takano of California
Bennie Thompson of Mississippi
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
Jill Tokuda of Hawaii
Nydia Velázquez of New York
Maxine Waters of California
Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey
April 6, 2024
Press Release: Joint Letter to White House on Attack on Humanitarian Workers in Gaza
WASHINGTON (April 4, 2024) — In response to the tragic killing of seven World Central Kitchen team members, six non-governmental organizations operating in Gaza--Anera, CARE USA, Humanity & Inclusion, MedGlobal, Project HOPE, and Save the Children US—have issued the following open letter to President Biden and the National Security Council:
President Joe Biden, United States of America
April 4, 2024
Mr. President:
We write to you as the leaders of US-based NGOs with staff operating on the frontlines of critical humanitarian efforts in Gaza. The majority of us have seen members of our staff killed or injured, and we fear deeply for the safety of our teams on the ground. This week, seven humanitarian aid workers from World Central Kitchen (WCK), including a US-Canadian dual citizen, were inexplicably killed in an Israeli strike after delivering lifesaving food aid to communities on the brink of famine in central Gaza. All seven of the aid workers killed in the strike were traveling in marked vehicles with WCK logos and their coordinates had been proactively shared in coordination with the Israeli government.
Their deaths were entirely preventable, but they are just the latest example of disturbing aid worker casualties in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces. In the past six months, 203 aid workers have been killed in Gaza – more than in any recorded year to date. These include aid workers from US-based humanitarian organizations such as Project HOPE, World Central Kitchen, Anera, and Save the Children. NGO offices and other humanitarian facilities in Gaza have also been destroyed, even when deconflicted.
To support international humanitarian law (IHL), the United States has a responsibility to condemn these deplorable actions and hold the Israeli government accountable for failing to protect humanitarians who are delivering lifesaving aid to civilians. These individuals are protected under IHL, and the attacks undermine principles of IHL that have been in place for 160 years. They must stop. Every aid worker who died dedicated their life to helping others in need, and their senseless deaths are a devastating blow to their families, communities, and colleagues. The hazardous conditions facing aid workers exacerbate the already deeply dangerous and precarious conditions we’re facing in delivering humanitarian assistance to Gazans.
People in Gaza have lived in an ongoing nightmare for the last six months. Over 33,000 people have been killed, the majority of whom are women and children. If people are not dying just from violence, they are dying from malnutrition, dehydration, or disease.
Hundreds of thousands of displaced people are living in overcrowded camps with no access to adequate food, clean water, hygiene, and medical care. Among them are humanitarian aid workers and volunteers helping their neighbors and supporting their own families. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification asserts that famine is imminent, if not already present, and many are already suffering from malnutrition and starvation. People in Gaza need the support of humanitarian organizations now more than ever before.
As a result of recent attacks on humanitarian workers by the IDF, and to reevaluate the threats posed to our humanitarian operations, some humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza have temporarily paused programs. To safely operate and continue providing lifesaving care, we demand assurances that aid workers, including health workers, will be protected and that those responsible for these senseless killings will be held accountable.
We propose that the United States of America demand an independent investigation into these deadly attacks, withhold offensive arms transfers to the Israeli government, establish and maintain unhindered access and operations for humanitarian organizations, and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the region. With so many lives at stake, there can be no excuse for inaction, or for allowing this disastrous status quo to continue.
Respectfully,
Sean C. Carroll, President & CEO, Anera
Michelle Nunn, President & CEO, CARE USA
Jeff Meer, U.S. Executive Director, Humanity & Inclusion
Zaher Sahloul, President and co-founder, MedGlobal
Rabih Torbay, President & CEO, Project HOPE
Janti Soeripto, President & CEO, Save the Children US
April 6, 2024
SNIP
SNIP
Daniel Day Lewis, the actor, writing in 2005 after visiting Gaza for the first time: Inside Scarred Minds
[link:http://www.miftah.org/display.cfm?DocId=6978&CategoryId=20|]
Brilliant actor - brilliant writer. I found this article from 2005 that he wrote absolutely fascinating. And considering it was almost 20 years ago it brings a perspective to what has happened and is happening to Gazans. There are many stories in this piece but I can’t post them all due to DU restrictions. But I really encourage people to read the whole article and reflect on what was happening 20 years ago and is going on now.
Civilians have been the main victims of the violence inflicted by both sides in the Middle East conflict. In the Gaza Strip the Israeli army reacts to stone-throwing with bullets. It responds to the suicide bombs and attacks of Palestinian militants by bulldozing houses and olive groves in the search for the perpetrators, to punish their families, and to set up buffer zones to protect Israeli settlements. It bars access to villages, and multiplies checkpoints, cutting Gaza's population off from the outside world. MSF's psychologists are trying to help Palestinian families cope with the stress of living within these confines; visiting them, treating severe trauma and listening to their stories. Their visits are the only sign sometimes that they have not been abandoned.
Sometimes a family will not leave an area that is being cleared, believing if they do leave they will lose everything. It is a huge risk to remain. Sometimes a house is left standing, singled out for occupation by Israeli troops. The family is forced to remain as protection for the soldiers. Last year an average of 120 houses were demolished each month, leaving 1,207 homeless every month. In the past four years 28,483 Gazans have been forcibly evicted; over half of Gaza's usable land, mainly comprising citrus-fruit orchards, olive groves and strawberry beds, has been destroyed. Last year, 658 Palestinians were killed in the violence in Gaza, and dozens of Israelis. This ploughing under, house by house, orchard by orchard, reduces community to wasteland, strewn and embedded with a stunted crop of broken glass and nails, books, abandoned possessions. As we weave our way towards the home of Abu Saguer and his family — one of several families we will visit today — we are treading on shattered histories and aspirations.
SNIP
On October 15, 2000, Abu was at home with his wife when Israeli settlers emerged on a shooting spree. He and his family fled to Khan Yunis. After four days he returned. He was hungry. There was no bread, no flour. He killed four pigeons and prepared a fire on which to grill them. The soldiers arrived suddenly, about 20 of them, and entered the house. He followed them upstairs. "Where are you going?" he asked. One smashed his head into a door, breaking his nose. They kicked him down the stairs and out of his house. They kicked half his teeth out and left him with permanent damage to his spine. "If you open your mouth we'll shoot you," they said. They left, returning in a bigger group an hour later, to occupy the top of his house, sealing the stairway with a metal door and razor wire. The family has lived in constant fear ever since. The soldiers urinated and defecated into empty Coke bottles and sandbags, hurling them into his courtyard. They menaced his children with their weapons. After two years of this an officer asked: "Why are you still here?" "It's my house," he replied.
SNIP
They're a little tired of being shot at. We travel south from Erez toward Beit Lahiya through the area "sterilised" during "Days of Penitence". That was Israel's 17-day military offensive in northern Gaza that started on September 29, after a rocket fired by the Islamic militant group Hamas killed two toddlers in the Israeli town of Sederot, a kilometre away on the other side of the border. These home-made rockets have a five-mile range, so Israel sent in 2,000 troops and 200 tanks and armoured bulldozers to set up a 61/2-mile buffer zone and "clear out" suspected militants. Days of Penitence killed 107 Palestinians (at least 20 of them children), left nearly 700 homeless, and caused over $3m in property damage.
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