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A View from Gaza: We Hug the Children as the Bombs Fall
GAZA - Written Between 3 am and 4 am early Wednesday morning, July 9, 2014.
The Israeli warships continue shelling... It is dark.
I do not know what is going on and I can hear successive bombing. I am thinking of all the people I know tonight, especially my colleagues at the hospitals who are working under severe pressure and lacking basic medical supplies. Stay strong.
"I do not have any comment...
I leave it to you to comment."
Jul 09, 2014
GAZA - Written Between 3 am and 4 am early Wednesday morning, July 9, 2014.
The Israeli warships continue shelling... It is dark.
I do not know what is going on and I can hear successive bombing. I am thinking of all the people I know tonight, especially my colleagues at the hospitals who are working under severe pressure and lacking basic medical supplies. Stay strong.
"I do not have any comment...
I leave it to you to comment."
I heard they bombed the area around the European hospital east of Khan Younis in Southern Gaza... Then the hospital was directly targeted. The hospital wall was damaged at 1 am due to the strong shelling. Then shelling continued with approximately 30 airstrikes.
'A View from Gaza' |
|---|
|
When civilians took refuge at the hospital, they targeted it again.
The roof of the intensive care unit was damaged and the windows were blown out. Now at around 3 am, six patients inside the intensive care unit and 20 children inside the pediatric ward have had to be evacuated.
At the hospital, two injuries were reported, including one nurse.
I do not have any comment... I leave it to you to comment. For me, this is nothing new. This is normal behavior of the Israeli army.
Human rights violations against health centers and workers have always been the case when Israel invades.
On a personal level, I am thinking of all people, especially my cousins, who took refuge in the hospital.
At 4:15 am, there were explosions very close to my apartment. The Gaza port was just hit with at one least bomb. Nobody in Palestine is asleep tonight.
Oh no! It is next to my building, so loud I am on the floor with neighbors and children, who are so terrified and shocked.
Shattered windows terrify the children... These are vicious attacks... We are all on the floor.
An hour later, we hug each other while the children cling to adults... The bombs are so close.
Now, after a few minutes, I distract the neighbors' kids by showing some nice drawings sent with love and solidarity from Canada and Australia. The children laugh. I say, at this moment life is stronger than death. One day justice will prevail.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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Mona El Farra
Dr. Mona El-Farra, Director of Gaza Projects for the Middle East Children's Alliance, is a physician by training and a human rights and women's rights activist by practice in the occupied Gaza Strip. She was born in Khan Younis, Gaza and has dedicated herself to developing community based programs that aim to improve health quality and link health services with cultural and recreation services all over the Gaza Strip. Dr. El-Farra is also the Health Chair of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society of the Gaza Strip and a member of the Union of Health Work Committees. Dr. El-Farra has a son, two daughters, and two grandchildren.
GAZA - Written Between 3 am and 4 am early Wednesday morning, July 9, 2014.
The Israeli warships continue shelling... It is dark.
I do not know what is going on and I can hear successive bombing. I am thinking of all the people I know tonight, especially my colleagues at the hospitals who are working under severe pressure and lacking basic medical supplies. Stay strong.
"I do not have any comment...
I leave it to you to comment."
I heard they bombed the area around the European hospital east of Khan Younis in Southern Gaza... Then the hospital was directly targeted. The hospital wall was damaged at 1 am due to the strong shelling. Then shelling continued with approximately 30 airstrikes.
'A View from Gaza' |
|---|
|
When civilians took refuge at the hospital, they targeted it again.
The roof of the intensive care unit was damaged and the windows were blown out. Now at around 3 am, six patients inside the intensive care unit and 20 children inside the pediatric ward have had to be evacuated.
At the hospital, two injuries were reported, including one nurse.
I do not have any comment... I leave it to you to comment. For me, this is nothing new. This is normal behavior of the Israeli army.
Human rights violations against health centers and workers have always been the case when Israel invades.
On a personal level, I am thinking of all people, especially my cousins, who took refuge in the hospital.
At 4:15 am, there were explosions very close to my apartment. The Gaza port was just hit with at one least bomb. Nobody in Palestine is asleep tonight.
Oh no! It is next to my building, so loud I am on the floor with neighbors and children, who are so terrified and shocked.
Shattered windows terrify the children... These are vicious attacks... We are all on the floor.
An hour later, we hug each other while the children cling to adults... The bombs are so close.
Now, after a few minutes, I distract the neighbors' kids by showing some nice drawings sent with love and solidarity from Canada and Australia. The children laugh. I say, at this moment life is stronger than death. One day justice will prevail.
Mona El Farra
Dr. Mona El-Farra, Director of Gaza Projects for the Middle East Children's Alliance, is a physician by training and a human rights and women's rights activist by practice in the occupied Gaza Strip. She was born in Khan Younis, Gaza and has dedicated herself to developing community based programs that aim to improve health quality and link health services with cultural and recreation services all over the Gaza Strip. Dr. El-Farra is also the Health Chair of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society of the Gaza Strip and a member of the Union of Health Work Committees. Dr. El-Farra has a son, two daughters, and two grandchildren.
GAZA - Written Between 3 am and 4 am early Wednesday morning, July 9, 2014.
The Israeli warships continue shelling... It is dark.
I do not know what is going on and I can hear successive bombing. I am thinking of all the people I know tonight, especially my colleagues at the hospitals who are working under severe pressure and lacking basic medical supplies. Stay strong.
"I do not have any comment...
I leave it to you to comment."
I heard they bombed the area around the European hospital east of Khan Younis in Southern Gaza... Then the hospital was directly targeted. The hospital wall was damaged at 1 am due to the strong shelling. Then shelling continued with approximately 30 airstrikes.
'A View from Gaza' |
|---|
|
When civilians took refuge at the hospital, they targeted it again.
The roof of the intensive care unit was damaged and the windows were blown out. Now at around 3 am, six patients inside the intensive care unit and 20 children inside the pediatric ward have had to be evacuated.
At the hospital, two injuries were reported, including one nurse.
I do not have any comment... I leave it to you to comment. For me, this is nothing new. This is normal behavior of the Israeli army.
Human rights violations against health centers and workers have always been the case when Israel invades.
On a personal level, I am thinking of all people, especially my cousins, who took refuge in the hospital.
At 4:15 am, there were explosions very close to my apartment. The Gaza port was just hit with at one least bomb. Nobody in Palestine is asleep tonight.
Oh no! It is next to my building, so loud I am on the floor with neighbors and children, who are so terrified and shocked.
Shattered windows terrify the children... These are vicious attacks... We are all on the floor.
An hour later, we hug each other while the children cling to adults... The bombs are so close.
Now, after a few minutes, I distract the neighbors' kids by showing some nice drawings sent with love and solidarity from Canada and Australia. The children laugh. I say, at this moment life is stronger than death. One day justice will prevail.
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