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The Rape of Gaza
How would you feel if you found out that an American school, paid for with your tax dollars, was bombed and completely destroyed by a US ally? This happened in Gaza just a few months ago, during Israel's now-infamous Operation Cast Lead.
I've been touring Gaza for the past three days as part of a Code Pink delegation, and the concrete rubble and twisted rebar of the American International School in Gaza is just one of the many horrifying images we've seen on this trip. The school, which taught American progressive values to Palestinian kids in grades K-12, was bombed by US-supplied Israeli F-16s in early January. The Israelis claimed, without supplying evidence, that Hamas fighters had fired rockets from the school. Now several hundred kids have not only lost the school they dearly loved; they have been given a very different lesson in American values, one no doubt unintended by the school's founders and teachers.
The people of Gaza suffered immensely from the Israeli assault, which not only killed some 1,400 and injured 5,000 but destroyed or heavily damaged mosques, schools, hospitals, universities, and industrial and other business establishments, in addition to thousands of private homes. Dr. Marwan Sultan, who practices at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, told me his hospital was so damaged they had to send all patients to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City--which was itself damaged. The bombing of one school in Beit Lahiya killed about forty kids and injured a hundred, Sultan told me. He saw scenes of death and mutilation that still give him nightmares. Thousands are living in tent cities all over the Strip, and the entire population of Gaza is being strangled to this day by a blockade that is choking off any possibility of reconstruction or recovery.
Make no mistake about it: the blockade, directly enforced by Israel and Egypt but conspired in by their superpower patron in Washington, is a continuing act of war against an entire civilian population of 1.5 million, a form of collective punishment and a crime against humanity. John Ging, director of operations for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which officially invited Code Pink to come to Gaza, told our delegation that billions in aid had been promised in the wake of Israel's massacre, but so far nothing had arrived. Our delegation, he said, is the first concrete action of solidarity with an oppressed, long-suffering population. Four months after a devastating conflict, he added, the siege continues. "The first thing we need to see is the opening up of crossing points and an end to collective punishment because of the political failures and security problems created by a few." It's a matter of life and death, he said, "and we're running out of time.... The people of Gaza are asking for help, justice and the rule of law."
Code Pink--whose organizers, I might add, have done a fabulous job in arranging this tour--is urging Obama to break the siege himself by visiting Gaza on his Middle East tour. That's not likely to happen, of course, but the least he could do is demand an end to the blockade. He's more likely to do so if Americans put on the pressure. Readers: it's your turn.
- Posted in
62 Comments so far
Show Allwhat Obama is doing is pressuring Fatah to attack Hamas.
Part of the USA's global policy of conquering through destabilization and fratricide.
And Dallas based Muslim charity workers just received up to 65 years in prison for giving money to completely Peaceful Gazan charities, even one which USAID simultaneously supported.
israel is the mini-me of the united states and they have proven themsleves to be heartless and murderous beyond the pale
i think by now it should be clear that the nwo/controllers have decide that there should be war everywhere - all the time
the shock doctrine on steroids
listening to the isreralis - who enjoy absolute military dominance over the region - whine about security makes me sick
as chomsky has pointed out - and the great nroman finkelstein as well - israel has chosen war and expansion over peace and security over and over again
their genocide of the paklestinians has been emboldened by the american death machine which has thrown out any rules of conduct and decency there ever was
how can the us make any comments about aggression - no matter how ugly - to any other nation when they are themselves the most guilty
the american repsonse to the false flag of 9/11 is an ongoing war crime of epic proportion - as we now know - it was based on lies and lies and more lies
i wonder if the genocide of the tamils would have been possible without the new american standard of war - which is: kill anyone you like, anytime you like, anywhere you like
it is the marj simpson protocol:
kill them all and let god sort the good ones out from the bad ones
they hung nazis at nuremberg for less than these crimes
but thanks to the nwo/controllers people are too distracted by their own circumstance to care or do much
kill kill kill
can we have those words set to the tune f america the beautiful
as leonard cohen noticed: we are guided by the beauty of our weapons
The new fad for states: Name a group terrorists, then go after them with everything you've got and to hell with whoever is in the way, to hell with the environment, to hell with infrastructure, to hell with the future. And go after them with total impunity. Witness Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.
"I know not with what weapons World War 3 will be fought, but World War 4 will be fought with sticks and stones." - Albert Einstein
MA G pretty much says it for what it is except to put the one word to describe the US and Israel: terrorists!! These are the great terrorist states of todays world and the world's people should promote DIVESTMENT, BOYCOTT AND SANCTIONS of these terrorist states until they decide to join the civilized world! It is the only real weapon that the world has to stop these psychotic despots from their evil violence and disregard for the sanctity of life! Obama has completely betrayed his election promises and has shown us that he is made of the same cloth as Bush and Cheney....just a little more polish on the slick deception!!!
Just watch - some poster will come along and tell us about the 2 Jewish people he knows that are against what Israel is doing.
I know 2 WASPS who are against what Israel and the USA are doing.
Shalom
Good comment. Shalom salaam and peace to you.
Joe
Excellent comment.
Shalom salaam peace to you and namaste.
that pretty well covers it for now.
Thx for pointing this out, Wanderer. I get sick of hearing that tired refrain, while whenever Israel "defends it's security" the defense establishment over there boasts public approval and polls of such efforts as high as 85-95%. For people who are supposedly so peaceful, a whole lot of them sure like war.
Actually, the Jewish American community favors a two-state solution significantly more than the non-Jewish American community.
Just watch, some kid who has never met a Jew will come along and tell us all Jews are Zionist fascists.
Wow - tried to pre-empt criticism with that last line. "Anti-Semetism" anyone?
Let's have a link for your assertion.
And while you're at it, the proof is in the pudding - Jews support an illegal and immoral invasion, genocidal oppression. If they support a two-state solution, it's not apparent.
You guys are just trying to provide cover to duck responsibility for how you've tooled the Middle East and the US over.
Aren't Palistinans those guys who strap bombs to children and then send them off to blow up Jews?
Aren't Palestinians those guys who deliberately target civilians and children and then whine incessantly that their children and civilians got hurt or killed.
Aren't Palestinians those guys who attack children and civilians and then run and hide in ambulances and schools and then whine incessantly that their school got attacked.
In Palestine you can get a PHD in Hypocracy and then you are qualified to become a journalist.
What an intelligent, well thought out post, resorting to racist stereotypes to justify war crimes and further de-humanize the indigenous Palestinian population. Man I am impressed with your analytical powers, thank you so much for enlightening us on the issues.
How silly you are supposing that I resort to racist stereotyping.
I think the Palestinians are quite capable of de-humanizing their own damn selves. Blowing up busloads of civilians, pizza parlors full of kids.
Palestinians selling their children to be used as weapons components.
Sheep dressed like wolves... wolves dressing like sheep.
Oh My! Who is a guy to believe?
Your righteous indignation seems a bit ... preposterous.
Wasp... did someone say wasp? Is that not a racist stereotype?
Funny, everytime there is a story about atrocities against Palestinians, right-wing racist imperialist hatemongers come out of the woodwork.
Well I can't argue with someone who'se source of information is Fox News, everyone knows that is an academically acceptable and authoritative source that is.
My suggestion to the uber-macho wannabe tough-guy chickenhawks: put your money where your mouth is and go help "take care of the Palestinian Problem". If you are unwilling to get your hands bloody, then STFU already!
i'm with you socialist
dagwag is a nut bar
maybe even a mossad disinfo artist
his rhetoric is as tired as his logic is dull
Hands bloody! How funny! I am reminded of a picture I saw of a Palistinian boy holding up his bloody hands, not that he was injured or anything. He was holding them up to show them off. Apparently he was able to touch the body of a dead hostage or captive and smear his hands in the blood. A lasting and charming image in my mind of a boy showing off that he is proud of having had his hands immersed in the blood of his enemy. Some poster in this chain advances the notion that these Palistinians are the most peaceful and forgiving people on the planet. How hilarious!
Oregoncharles
Hey smarty pants dagwag, how many Palestinians have been killed in this occupation compared to Israelis? (I know the answer!)
I consider myself a pacifist but, I don't know, if a religious group of people with their own state and super sophisticated weapons occupied my people, murdered, oppressed my people for over 60 years, I might be pushed into violence. None of really knows what we would do under these circumstances.
Hey OregonCharles,
Number of Palistinians killed... I doubt you know. You were told something and you believe it. True? Who knows?
People lie for a lot reasons. The wierdest lie is the lie for the noble cause.
Hey are you guys old enough to remember Rachel Corrie?
This is one of the rhetorical tricks typically used by supporters of Israel's aggressions: when confronted with a fact they cannot directly refute, they simply claim that it's a fabrication, a fantasy, or an outright lie.
Watch out, using big words like 'rhetorical' and 'fabrication' will get them so confused, perhaps even paralyzed in hidden awe.
Namaste
You guys, please don't feed the troll(s) including dagwag, or whatever else someone in the IDF's media division feels the need to call them self today.
Oregoncharles
The sad fact is that Israel's brutality against Palestinians is destroying what they purport to want to save: their Jewish state.
9-11 was a brutal act and it targeted innocent people. Whenever there are brutal injustices, there will be blowback. No one says the blow back is moral but it is inevitable.
I wonder if Israel isn't tormenting Palestinians to insure fresh excuses to drive them out.
Israel is its own worst enemy. I can't imagine that they can survive.
Please join the BDS movement: Boycott, Divest, Sanctions
Actually, no.
You get 0/5.
The real hello kitty would never be this cruel.
With the obvious exception of dagwag's low-information exercise in Remedial Hasbarism, I agree with the comments so far. Indeed, ma g does a good job summarizing the tragedy.
And Code Pink deserves credit for their work in addressing the Gaza debacle.
Not so much here, but in other would-be "progressive" sites it's fashionable to roll one's eyes at the mention of "Code Pink", and denounce them for being self-important disruptive fools.
This is almost as irritating as Hasbarist propagandists insisting that poor lil' Israel is the real victim in the ME.
· Yr Obd't Servant
For the chosen race favored above all others by God, they sure do pick some stupid disinfo agents don't they?
I agree with CodePink's work but it incenses me that Madea Benjamin is so kissy-kissy with Obomber, er, Obama.
True that.
It's like the NY Times - occassionally it'll point out problems, but make sure nobody gets elected that will actually provide a solution.
All the protesting in the world changes nothing if you support the likes of Obama. Or in the words of Nader, "Where's my change?"
How is Hamas doing in Gaza, I wonder?
massud, Hamas in Gaza?
Hamas has the support and love of the people, too, they know that God is on their side.
The technology of terrorism is radioactively holocaustish. If Israel continues their genocidal madness, driving people insane with grief, eventually a reprisal attack inside Israel killing hundreds of thousands will succeed. Will Israel's doomsday threat deter (AQ) suicide attackers? Are Israel's policies worth this? Because it will happen w/o a 180 by Israel.
peace
...and another right-wing neo-fascist imperialist hatemonger comes out of the woodwork,
socialist, guernica
Since your posts followed mine, linearly if not logically, I clarify. I pointed out Israel's policies will cause a 'payback,' sooner or later involving nuclear terrorism. It is an inevitability which is a function of Israel's policies unless a 180 is affected.
As I've said time and again on CD I hope to see Jews and Palestinians living in peace and harmony and I pray for it.
I've lauded Jew's heart & soul on CD and noted this-Judaism is hijacked by Zionism, gentle decent Jews put in positions of loyalty to tribe/nation or what is right.
Happy to reitterate this for you in the wake of your hatemonger comment. I'm super vocal in support of Jews, a 2state and hope, just not hurting Palestinians. But then, maybe you knew this already, huh?
Isn't it interesting how dawgag leaves off and Mossad enters. I think it's probably the same person playing 2 almost identical characters.
the rats come out of their holes, baring their broken teeth...
Democracy. Rule of law. Human rights. That is what we claim America stands for. Democracy? Hamas was elected by the Palestinian people. Rule of law? Collective punishment, settlements, white phosphorous, wars of aggression, ethnic cleansing, those are all war crimes. Human rights? Palestinians are humans. They have a right to a normal life in the place where their parents, grandparents, great-great-great grandparents have rightly lived, on the land that they own, following the culture and religion of their communities. There is no record of Palestinians invading other nations. Palestinians are among the most peaceful and forgiving people on the planet. It is because of those qualities that Israel, the USA, the UK, and most of the EU like to abuse them, oppress them, drive them out, and kill them. We see a sick and insane process, paid for and protected by the American voter.
Hamas is also a terrorist organization who pulled out of the peace process, refused to renounce terrorism(a quaint demand considering the ETA renounced and then resumed violence) and commited itself to war. Hamas' isolation is result of a Hamas diplomatic failure.
Oh! And I remember all 'peer pressure' anti-bush people tried to put on the American voter. I even remember, in the wake of Bush's re-election the op-eds right here on common dreams declaring that Americans could no longer claim 'innocence'. Does that logic of peer pressure work both ways? I wonder.
AIPAC talking points.
a. k. a.
" bed of nails "
WRONG! It was Israel that "pulled out of the peace process" by starting the bombing of Ghaza in December of last year. Hamas had kept the peace.
Rainborowe
Wow, I'll bet those students at the American International School in Gaza got a real eduacation on American values with every explosion of American made missiles.
Gaza And The Warsaw Ghetto
same place
different time
while the world stood by
genocide
live
How can you say that? The Zionists stole the land and are continuing to this day stealing land and farms from the Palestinian people. The actions of a few do not make it right to try to exterminate so many people.
I am totally in favor of nullifying UN Resolution 181 that established Israel in the first place displacing the people who already lived there. Rather like the US stealing the land from the native peoples who lived on the North American continent.
The US is complicit in genocide of the Palestinian people.
Israel, like the US is a terrorist nation.
I think hello_kitty was being sarcastic.
Yes, _ R A N J I T _ well caught ( in retrospect ). That ending about finding BLISS is clearly outside of the Zionist's world view, sadly ( no heaven nor hell ).
Sometimes, some of us will aid the process of better clear perception, by following the HTML convention :
BEGIN SARCASM = {sarcasm}
… blah, blah, blah …
END SARCASM = {/sarcasm}
And then some people love to throw sarcasm bombs, and watch the pieces ( peace ) fly apart -- until somebody steps back and sees the twisted smile inside.
Namaste
hello_kitty, If you love Israel so much you might learn to spell it right.
[The actual transliteration would be Yshral. "Israel" is Anglicized. The curse of bilinguality causes folks to "miss spell" Hebrew words in English all the time.]
Maybe that's part of the reason the 'left' is not so well received by many. They come off as snooty and pedantic...leading to the old 'egghead' stereotype. Our grammar and spelling is what it is, leave it alone. If you have an issue with someone's post, direct it at the content of the argument, not the quality of the presentation. Just because one has impeccable grammar and spelling does not necessarily mean he or she has anything meaningful to say. And seek to clarify not criticize when in doubt. (not pointing the finger at you, tob, but been seeing the correcting attitude in several posts of late).
A true "Israelite" seeks a land of justice and right living. That's not in the state named "Israel", however. A friend over there is convinced that just as German officers ran and hid in the US and Brazil, so did they actually hide in Israel, under the guise of murdered families. That would explain the mass sterilization program through radiation enacted against Sephardic Jews. It would also explain state descrimination against the Hasidic and Yemenites, both groups who want an end to Palistinina occupation, and many of whom feel this supposed "Isreali" state is false, and counter to Judaism. Thank the Rothschilds (from "Red Shield", the anti-Judaica Roman military equipment) and British Petroleum. The first solution to Jews in England was to send the refugees back to the German concentration camps. Then the idea to get them killed off in the Middle East came up as a solution. After generations and transmogrifications, war profiteering is keeping posponed any progress to peace, statehood for all, and a healing to the land.
To his credit, Obama appears to be taking a hard line on the Israeli settlements.
OTOH, not a peep from him on the Israelis' continuing brutalization of the Gazans.
Kudos Code Pink for trying to shine a light on this situation.