A Personal Account of Commemorating the Gaza Massacre in Nabi Saleh
By Amra Amra
The Palestine monitor, 03-01-2012
Twenty-seven December marked the third year commemoration of the Gaza massacre in 2008, which resulted in the death of over 1400 women, men and children in Gaza. As "Israel" committed seven war crimes that were against international law and with the Goldstone Report's impotence to hold "Israel" accountable, the international community and UN bodies were helpless during the 22-day aggression. Once again "Israel" acted with impunity. Yet this has not silenced those who stand for truth and justice.
A friend from the Chicago Movement for Palestinian Rights contacted me and informed me that they were planning on commemorating the third year since the massacre on Gaza by releasing balloons with the name of each child that was killed. One of the coordinators asked if we could possibly do the same activity in Palestine
With the lack of time and quick coordination, we decided to proceed. We left early Friday morning to prepare for the action-as the "Israel" military usually closes the village because of the weekly protests. We stuffed the balloons into the Ford van and sat anxiously not knowing what to expect. While in the car, my friends and I looked out, towards the side of the road, and noticed a large group of soldiers preparing for the protest and taking orders from the commanders as to which tactics would be used to suppress us this week. As we approached the entrance of the village, we were worried they would stop us at the checkpoint. Quickly, we all agreed on our story: we were attending a birthday party in Beit Reema, a nearby village.
As soon as we reached the village, we were greeted and went to the main house of the Tamimi's. We prepared the balloons and attached the names of the children who were massacred in the Gaza War. While sitting with the residents of Nabi Saleh, I was stunned when talking to the children. Five-year old Samer asked his mom if he would be a martyr like Mustafa Tamimi (who was killed this December when a high velocity tear gas canister hit him directly in the face). These are not normal questions children ask their parents. Yet it has come to be normal questions for Palestinian children living under occupation.
Before the protest even began Linah, Hurriyah, Maath and I were walking in the village visiting the residents. All of a sudden we noticed two "Israeli" jeeps entering the village, kidnapping two international activists. As we looked at the scene from nearby, we then glanced at each other and were speechless, but we all had the same thoughts in our mind. The mere thought of not knowing what to expect and what was to unfold during the weekly protest of Nabi Saleh
Soon the protest got started, so Linah and I began passing out balloons to the children. Yet it was quite chaotic. As we carried balloons with the names of children who were killed, we began approaching the soldiers chanting loudly demanding freedom, justice and an end to the occupation. Unsurprisingly, the skunk water truck approached and began spraying. Soon after, toxic gas was then shot from all directions in excessive amounts.
The entire day was filled with confrontations with the "Israeli" soldiers and the unarmed protesters commemorating the massacre on Gaza. While we held our flags and balloons and chanted with our voices, they suppressed us with their toxic gas, skunk water and brutal tactics.
At one point some of the activists headed towards the spring, which they are prohibited from going to because of the illegal settlement Halamish. Again, toxic gas was used and filled the mountain pretty quickly which tens of protesters were affected by. It was noted that yellow gas was seen, which is a different and more toxic type of gas that has been used in previous protests.
Towards the end of the protest, a large group of us were at the entrance of the village. We were deciding on when to go home when all of a sudden we noticed that jeeps advanced and "Israeli" soldiers started running towards us. As sound bombs were thrown in an attempt to disorient us, we fled to a nearby house and closed the doors and windows. "Israeli" soldiers followed us, but went to the house right next door. As we were locked in the house, not able to leave, we heard the yells of the neighbors next door pleading them not to go in. As we looked out the windows watching the scene, we saw the aggression, hatred and bitterness that were in the eyes of the "Israeli" soldiers.
After a while, the soldiers retreated and we headed back to the main house, drank a cup of coffee and watched some of the clips that were taken that day.
This happens week after week. The fact of the matter is Palestinian villages are threatened from settler harassment and expansion, Jerusalem is being Judaized, Palestinians are harassed at checkpoints, houses in Area C and the Jordan Valley are being demolished, Palestinians rights are stripped as a result of "Israeli" policies and the apartheid regime. Yet, the hope, persistence and steadfastness of the Palestinians is something they can never eradicate.
Let us take a moment to remember those Palestinians who were killed in the Gaza massacre in 2008-2009. Let us remember those Palestinians who have sacrificed their blood for our country. Let us remember the Palestinian prisoners who are confined in "Israeli" occupation prisons. Let us remember the millions of Palestinian refugees. Let us remember the fallen heroes of Palestine. Let us never forgive...Let us never forget.
The Palestine monitor, 03-01-2012
Twenty-seven December marked the third year commemoration of the Gaza massacre in 2008, which resulted in the death of over 1400 women, men and children in Gaza. As "Israel" committed seven war crimes that were against international law and with the Goldstone Report's impotence to hold "Israel" accountable, the international community and UN bodies were helpless during the 22-day aggression. Once again "Israel" acted with impunity. Yet this has not silenced those who stand for truth and justice.
A friend from the Chicago Movement for Palestinian Rights contacted me and informed me that they were planning on commemorating the third year since the massacre on Gaza by releasing balloons with the name of each child that was killed. One of the coordinators asked if we could possibly do the same activity in Palestine
With the lack of time and quick coordination, we decided to proceed. We left early Friday morning to prepare for the action-as the "Israel" military usually closes the village because of the weekly protests. We stuffed the balloons into the Ford van and sat anxiously not knowing what to expect. While in the car, my friends and I looked out, towards the side of the road, and noticed a large group of soldiers preparing for the protest and taking orders from the commanders as to which tactics would be used to suppress us this week. As we approached the entrance of the village, we were worried they would stop us at the checkpoint. Quickly, we all agreed on our story: we were attending a birthday party in Beit Reema, a nearby village.
As soon as we reached the village, we were greeted and went to the main house of the Tamimi's. We prepared the balloons and attached the names of the children who were massacred in the Gaza War. While sitting with the residents of Nabi Saleh, I was stunned when talking to the children. Five-year old Samer asked his mom if he would be a martyr like Mustafa Tamimi (who was killed this December when a high velocity tear gas canister hit him directly in the face). These are not normal questions children ask their parents. Yet it has come to be normal questions for Palestinian children living under occupation.
Before the protest even began Linah, Hurriyah, Maath and I were walking in the village visiting the residents. All of a sudden we noticed two "Israeli" jeeps entering the village, kidnapping two international activists. As we looked at the scene from nearby, we then glanced at each other and were speechless, but we all had the same thoughts in our mind. The mere thought of not knowing what to expect and what was to unfold during the weekly protest of Nabi Saleh
Soon the protest got started, so Linah and I began passing out balloons to the children. Yet it was quite chaotic. As we carried balloons with the names of children who were killed, we began approaching the soldiers chanting loudly demanding freedom, justice and an end to the occupation. Unsurprisingly, the skunk water truck approached and began spraying. Soon after, toxic gas was then shot from all directions in excessive amounts.
The entire day was filled with confrontations with the "Israeli" soldiers and the unarmed protesters commemorating the massacre on Gaza. While we held our flags and balloons and chanted with our voices, they suppressed us with their toxic gas, skunk water and brutal tactics.
At one point some of the activists headed towards the spring, which they are prohibited from going to because of the illegal settlement Halamish. Again, toxic gas was used and filled the mountain pretty quickly which tens of protesters were affected by. It was noted that yellow gas was seen, which is a different and more toxic type of gas that has been used in previous protests.
Towards the end of the protest, a large group of us were at the entrance of the village. We were deciding on when to go home when all of a sudden we noticed that jeeps advanced and "Israeli" soldiers started running towards us. As sound bombs were thrown in an attempt to disorient us, we fled to a nearby house and closed the doors and windows. "Israeli" soldiers followed us, but went to the house right next door. As we were locked in the house, not able to leave, we heard the yells of the neighbors next door pleading them not to go in. As we looked out the windows watching the scene, we saw the aggression, hatred and bitterness that were in the eyes of the "Israeli" soldiers.
After a while, the soldiers retreated and we headed back to the main house, drank a cup of coffee and watched some of the clips that were taken that day.
This happens week after week. The fact of the matter is Palestinian villages are threatened from settler harassment and expansion, Jerusalem is being Judaized, Palestinians are harassed at checkpoints, houses in Area C and the Jordan Valley are being demolished, Palestinians rights are stripped as a result of "Israeli" policies and the apartheid regime. Yet, the hope, persistence and steadfastness of the Palestinians is something they can never eradicate.
Let us take a moment to remember those Palestinians who were killed in the Gaza massacre in 2008-2009. Let us remember those Palestinians who have sacrificed their blood for our country. Let us remember the Palestinian prisoners who are confined in "Israeli" occupation prisons. Let us remember the millions of Palestinian refugees. Let us remember the fallen heroes of Palestine. Let us never forgive...Let us never forget.
