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Hunger Strike for Gaza
The Gaza Freedom March is truly an unprecedented, historic event for the global grassroots peace movement. This is one of the largest, if not the largest, mass international solidarity action ever undertaken. 1,362 people from 42 nations have traveled here to Cairo in order to journey through the Sinai Peninsula into Gaza to join 50,000 in a march commemorating the first anniversary of the Israeli attack and seige which left 1,400 Gazans dead and 5,000 wounded. Such a massive outpouring never happened during the Vietnam, Central America or Iraq wars. It is a sign of the world's outrage of the U.S.-backed Israeli attack on Gaza, and the continuing strength of the peace movement.
But when we arrived here in Gaza, we learned that the Egyptian government had categorically banned our entry into Gaza, banned any attempt to get to Gaza, banned any public gatherings, and banned our initial orientation evening at the prestigious Jesuit College of the Holy Family.
What to do? Many nonviolent demonstrations and actions have been undertaken over the last few days. 300 French people surrounded the French embassy and remained camped out there. Sit-ins have taken place in various other embassies. Some five hundred of us camped out in front of the U.N. offices along the Nile. Others took public transportation through the Sinai in attempts to get closer to Gaza, and have been arrested or detained.
On Monday, 85 year old Hedy Epstein began a hunger strike as a modest gesture to call upon the Egyptian government to let us go to Gaza and for the end of the seige of Gaza. Hedy is a Holocaust survivor and her decision immediately inspired at least twenty two others of us to join her.
And so, for several days now, we have been fasting, praying and vigiling, not just to be allowed into Gaza, but for an end to the seige of Gaza itself. In our statement, at a press conference today in front of Journalist Headquarters, we spoke of sharing "the hunger of all Gazans for justice and peace," and we called upon "everyone in the world to join us in prayer, fasting and other nonviolent actions to speak up for the imprisoned people of Gaza and for an end to the seige."
None of us expected to spend this Christmas-New Year's Week in Cairo. We all want to offer our solidarity and be with our suffering sisters and brothers in Gaza. It is clear that our presence has exposed Egypt's complete participation, with Israel and the U.S., in the ongoing imprisonment of Gaza. But our small witness has stirred widespread interest here, and we hope our prayers are answered.
Even so, the efforts and attempts of the Gaza Freedom March already mark a massive victory. The whole project unveils new possibilities of organized, international nonviolence.
As the fast continues here in Cairo, we urge everyone to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza, and to explore their own nonviolent actions, as together, we speak out for an end to the seige and occupation, and the coming of a new world of nonviolence.
- Posted in
33 Comments so far
Show AllThe silence of the media, especially here in North America, is deafening. The CBC in Canada has not brought one single news item on this great story. But we will not forget.
I guess the media's devotion to the almighty you know what is the bottom line/lie Omission=lies!
"The CBC in Canada has not brought one single news item on this great story. But we will not forget."
Thanks for the reminder.
Who are the other 50,000? I presume they must be Egyptians, else Fr. Dear would havel listed them along with the internationals.
The other 50,000 marchers are the Gazan Palestinians who have also formed a peace march within Gaza's borders. I cannot find the article in which I read this figure but this link gives an idea of what is occuring in Gaza in conjunction with the internationally organized march. (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/12/26).
The Israeli army has been arresting some of the main Palestinian organizers for peaceful demonstrations throughout the year as well. (http://www.counterpunch.org/hijab12242009.html).
The Egyptians receive 2 BILLION dollars of US tax dollars annually to join in the ISRAELI/US BARBEROUS GENOCIDE EXTERMINATION program.They would be the unlikely"other 50,000"They are joined at the hip with the sadistic ,cruel,inhumane Israeli agenda.Egypt also,is complicit in having torture prisons on behalf of and utilized by the US.
Jesuit priest, i.e., Fr., John Dear wrote "1,362 people from 42 nations have traveled here to Cairo in order to journey through the Sinai Peninsula into Gaza to join 50,000 in a march commemorating".
He's clearly going based on reports, msm and not. He said they were to join 50,000, but did not say that there were 50,000 on arrival.
You sure have a difficulty with simple logic. And this is not to say that there weren't 50,000 or even more, or less, when the group he was with arrivied, btw.
Think, before you speak, especially when you're complaining. Think, and ask yourself why you want to bother complaiing when there's no valid point in doing so; and then don't nonsensically complain. If you're going to complain, then at least give your complaint some credibility; instead of hich school or less bs!
High school or less is more likely; like I recently told a Canaidian army dudy, he's an "army" (military) "brat"f (and it'll evidently take him lifetime[s] to understand; telling him the former, reserving the rest for next ... episode, say). Don't expect much from CAF, other than dumb obedience, and damn silent dissidence, so silent that the dissidence is unnoticeable, as it evidently deserves to be; ABSETNT. It deserves to be noticed for what it is, and it's ABSETNT, totally, in Canada. Bunch of spoiled army [brats]!
In Canada, politicians, "Sith" lords, tell you, "suck me", and you have hordes of "citizens" lining up; and they stay loyal, to this unroalty. Money, and bearing weapons against innocent people, heh, this is fun. Then welcome to Canada!
Damn piece of imperialist, colonialiast,... crap that it is. Not a big country, in terms of population, but hellbent, yah; and its leaders seem to love the "Dark Side".
? I wanted to know who the other 50k were. Not a complaint. Somebodies feeling a little tetchy, eh? Since the protesters are in Egypt, I presumed they were meeting people in Egypt. I wanted to know who they were meeting. I was surprised 50k Egyptians could get together when 1,300 foreigners couldn't.
As for as education, I'll stack mine against yours; I'm an attorney, educated by Bill Quigley, who last I checked was heading the Center for Constitutional Rights and who is a frequernt contributor to this site. If you want to talk about effective logical argument, why is half your post an angry incoherent and barely literate rant about Canada?
Probably because he doesn't care for Canada much
For a view of what it is like to live under Israeli occupation one should watch Occupation 101
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-2451908450811690589#
Excellent link, I've seen this, I highly recommend it.
This IS an excellent documentary. It served as the pin that finally pierced my bubble belief that Zionists had any other purpose for the Palestinians than complete removal from the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Israel itself.
VERY WELL STATED!
You mean removal just like the Arabs have done to Jews, don't you?
Take a look at the Jewish population of the Arab world. You'll find whole nations with no Jews. They didn't all voluntarily leave you know.
Sounds like some Hasbara diverisonist propaganda. Funny I have never seen this poster before? The right-wing racist trolls come out da wood work.
stevemac,what a liar you are.
THANK YOU ML FOR MENTIONING OCCUPATION 101.IT IS FINALLY THE TRUTH, ACURATE and POWERFUL and the majority of Americans do not know and it would change everything over there if they knew.I bought the video and have hosted friends and we all watch.I have watched it again and again and each time there has been an extraordinary impact on me.I wish I could be there right now.
Very impactful indeed I literally weep whenever I watch it. Occupation 101 is one of those important films that come out all too rarely and needs to be shared as much as possible.
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John Dear has outstanding article here and one that is much needed,
AD
I'm not surprised at the media blackout. This has been an ongoing problem for years. I want to let those brave activists know and anyone who is interested that their efforts are not in vain. Those in power at the moment are well aware of the determination of a much larger segment of our society to protest injustice in some shape or form thus DOES influence government behavior and policies.
I want to thank those activists for doing what I am not able at the moment to do. I believe it is our duty as human beings to keep letting the machine of bureaucracy know that our humanity will not allow us to ignore and behave with the systemic human injustices of the state.
I saw 85yo Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein(who is now on a hunger strike in GAZA) on an interview done by righteous Amy Goodman, on democracy now.It is true,those who are great,have suffered greatly.She is living proof!
She spent WWII in England. She's not a holocaust survivor. She escaped it. Her parents, however, did not. They suffered greatly. Of course, if Israel had existed back then, perhaps they would have traveled to Israel as a family and lived there safely instead of being put to death.
If there's any cynical use of the Holocaust, it's by these hunger protesters.
Please spare us your lies and diverisons. Right wing, racist and imperialist is no way to go through life. Get some counseling.
da Hedy was wrenched from her parents at aged eight, never to see them again.The entire family suffered. Her parents were anti Zionists.
"On Monday, 85 year old Hedy Epstein began a hunger strike as a modest gesture to call upon the Egyptian government to let us go to Gaza and for the end of the seige of Gaza. Hedy is a Holocaust survivor and her decision immediately inspired at least twenty two others of us to join her."
Dennis Bernstein interviewed her live on Flashpoints yesterday, Hedy Epstein ought to be a household name in the US, not censored. Even she is called a self-hating Jew by the racist Zionist imperialists. That alone speaks volumes.
Jews and non-Jews around the world need to take a cue from people like Hedy Epstein, she has more wisdom and courage in her little finger than the entire US Senate. (but that aint sayin much is it?)
Much like reptiles like Cheney and the chimp Bush and now Obummer have capitalized on a tragedy (9/11) to advance their political goals and personal interests, Zionists, too, have been capitalizing on the Holocaust to advance their own objectives. Neither camp of self-serving selfish bastards could care less about the people who suffer in any tragedy, all they care about is using it for personal gain.
Bush's photo op during Katrina spoke volumes. Similarly, Israel's leaders' use of Yad Vashem and Holocaust imagery speaks volumes as well.
These types of people have no place in civil discourse, much less in public office.
I can see that the Israelis weally want peace...
"Israeli army tanks have opened fire on houses and farmlands in the northern sector of the Gaza Strip, according to a report.
A number of Israeli tanks attacked lands located near Biet Hannon and commenced firing on Tuesday midday at Palestinian farmers near the northern Gaza-Israeli border.
Bulldozers also destroyed the crops of the locals, according to the International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC)."
RECENT UPDATE
The Egyptian government may have agreed to let not more than 100 Freedom Marchers into Gaza on the morning of Dec. 30th.
I can see the Egyptians quaking in their boots. The Jesuit wants to fast, pray, and vigil them into submission.
Fascinating how most of the nonviolence happens outside of Gaza, by non-Gazans. Oh, I know why. Hamas kills protesters.
I don't see why anyone would doubt Fr John Deer about his article. Check out Uruknet.info.
I am astounded that our own media is still in the back row as far as reporting the bullying by the Isrealis. I know corporate greed is large and in charge in most markets, but it would seem that theor would be more than Democracy Now that wwould be doing some of the reporting.
I did notice that NPR was doing small pieces on the bombings and awful conditions in Gaza City, but that was only a one time thing.