Gaza: where every moment counts

21/06/2012

When I left home today the streets of Gaza were quiet, with many shops still closed as morning wore on. Despite a truce being committed to following talks between Egyptian mediators and several Gazan factions late Wednesday night, civilians remain only too well aware that under ‘Israeli rules’ they are always fair game.

Making the most of every moment

Ask the four dead toddlers killed in the last three days. Ask the six fishermen and their boats kidnapped near Beit Lahiya by the Israeli navy last night. Ask the five dead teenagers, fathers, and workers, and the scores more men, women and children mutilated as they walked in the street, toiled at their jobs, played in their homes this week – wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever you’re doing is irrelevant – you’re in Gaza, and that is reason enough to receive the Israeli kiss of death.

A truce – with Israel? Another agreement? We have seen what that means often enough – think the Oslo Accords – how much of those have been implemented? Think the Karameh Agreement that ended the prisoners’ hunger strike only last month – are all the prisoners out of solitary confinement, as guaranteed? No. As prisoners’ administrative detention has expired, have they been released, or been charged? No. Have prison conditions improved? Ask the sixty guys at Eshel, who were beaten black and blue this week.

While Gaza factions continue to act in good faith, Israel continues to act out.

Al-Qassam Brigades agreed to sign up to the truce at midnight Wednesday, Islamic Jihad politburo member Sheikh Nafeth Azzam said today its military wing the Al-Quds Brigades is committed to a truce, even though two of its members were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Monday, a provocation to which they did not respond.

Despite the proffered truce, Israel kidnapped six fishermen last night, and fired on civilians in Khan Younis and al-Shujaiyeh today.

Naturally, they got a response - al-Mujahedin Brigades and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine- General Command military wing the Jihad Jibril Brigades fired off rockets overnight, and The Popular Resistance Committees' military wing, the Nasser al-Salah al-Din Brigades, sent three missiles over today.

But all this is not enough to keep Gazans off the streets – by evening, the parks in Gaza City were full of families fleeing the heat and the power cuts to mingle, share smiles and stories, talk, laugh, play, and welcome strangers.

After all, it doesn’t matter where you are, who you are, or what you’re doing – you’re in Gaza, and every moment is precious.

ENDS

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