The story described of Mahmoud and Rana is based on a true story:

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10714.shtml

In a historic address from Cairo last month, President Obama promised a new beginning in relations between the United States and the Muslim world. In his speech President Obama acknowledged the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as a major source of tension, and affirmed America’s “unbreakable” bonds with Israel. More importantly, in a marked shift from the Bush administration, he acknowledged that, “the situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable.”

Unwilling to tolerate a continued siege on Gaza and to show that Americans stand for justice and human rights, a convoy of nearly 200 American citizens – Viva Palestina USA, under the leadership of British Member of Parliament George Galloway, former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, and New York City Councilman Charles Barron – with more than $1 million of humanitarian aid, set off for Gaza on the American day of independence..

The two-week trip—12 days in Egypt and a mere 24 hours in Gaza—quickly opened my eyes to the brutal situation in Gaza and the lack of its coverage by the American media. Despite a commitment by the most powerful man on the planet, very little has changed on the ground in Gaza. In fact, the suffering of the Palestinians has only worsened.

Following the latest Israeli invasion in January, the infrastructure in Gaza lays in ruins. More than 21,000 homes, hospitals, mosques, and refugee shelters were destroyed indiscriminately, causing an estimated $2 billion in damage. Gazans are desperately in need of medical aid and reconstruction materials (with the BBC reporting 1,400 dead and more than 4,500 injured by the Israeli assault). Even with the pledge of millions in international aid, including $900 million from the Obama administration in March, everything is on standby in Gaza. As innocent men, women, and children continue to die, the political battle over accessibility is played in a game of tug of war over Israel’s complete blockade of Gaza, which we witnessed as we struggled to deliver the humanitarian supplies.

In the first of many frustrating bureaucratic hurdles we faced while still in Egypt (direct access to Gaza is blocked because of Israel’s siege), $500,000 worth of vehicles Viva Palestina purchased to help with the transportation needs of NGOs and hospitals in Gaza were held up by the Egyptian government. Israel does not permit vehicles into Gaza as part of the unjust blockade, even though these vehicles are desperately needed to carry injured civilians or deliver humanitarian aid to different parts of Gaza. Egypt willingly complies with Israeli restrictions, so it can continue to receive U.S. aid.

The convoy members were eventually permitted to enter Gaza for 24 hours, but the 47 vehicles were not permitted. As we proceeded to Gaza, about 30 members of the convoy were additionally detained at the Suez Canal Mubarak Peace Bridge, halfway between Gaza and Cairo (where Obama addressed the Muslim world a month earlier). Our colleagues weren’t told exactly why they were detained. Congresswoman McKinney and Councilman Barron attempted to reach the White House but to no avail. Eventually, all the members of the convoy returned to Cairo, visited the US Embassy, paid $30 each to waive their rights as American citizens and left the embassy with an affidavit saying that the U.S. government would not assist us in any way once we entered Gaza.

I could not help but feel utter disappointment at the lack of support by the Obama administration to ease or even acknowledge our efforts as American citizens attempting to deliver humanitarian aid and in turn, forge a new beginning in the relationship between the besieged people of Gaza and America.

Arriving in Gaza was the most uplifting and emotional experience for convoy members and myself as we united with the people of Gaza on Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Their hospitality, generosity, and determination continued to inspire me throughout our stay in Gaza and even now after we’ve returned home. Having kept themselves updated on our progress in Egypt, our hosts continually thanked us and asked us to forgive them for the “suffering” we faced in our journey to Gaza. In reality, though, we could only confess that our suffering paled in comparison to the suffering of the people who had opened their hearts and homes to graciously host us despite their daily difficulties.

The deliberate destruction of infrastructure—homes, schools, and hospitals alike was clear. For example, even the American International School (AIS), a site visited earlier this year by Congressmen John Kerry (D-MA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), lay in rubble. As the only international school in Gaza, students at AIS once enjoyed a state-of-the-art facility, co-ed education, and an American curriculum promoting “an understanding and appreciation of the world’s diverse cultures,” according to the school’s website. AIS students’ schooling is on hold as reconstruction materials are denied entry to Gaza by Israel.

Then at Shifa Hospital, we met a young patient named Arafat, who had several visible cancerous tumors in his forehead. His case was especially critical, as his doctor’s informed us that Arafat’s treatment is readily available just an hour away in Jerusalem; however, Israel has continually delayed his travel documents without any explanation, making his situation far worse than it needs to be.

Later at the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees (the ministry for the support of family members of some 11,000 Palestinians who are in Israeli prisons facing political charges), we met three young girls who had become orphans after the recent invasion. Each of the girls had lost not only her immediate family members but also many relatives. One of the girls actually lost 29 members of her family. The girls showed patience in the face of immense hardship and asserted that Israel’s genocidal onslaught would not weaken their struggle for self-determination and to live peacefully in their homeland, Palestine. Their message widely resonated among other Gazans who expressed to us their desire to live in peace and security in their homeland.
On my way back, the hope I had felt when I heard President Obama’s message to the Muslim world diminished and was replaced by immense grief and frustration. Does the President actually mean what he says?

President Obama has an opportunity to establish a new beginning—a new beginning with actions that speak louder than words, a new beginning affecting policy change that will address Israel’s blatant disregard for international law on expanding illegal settlements, using American weapons upon innocent Gazans and implementing a brutal blockage of Gaza. If the situation of the Palestinians truly is “intolerable” as the President asserted in Cairo, then it is time that he take decisive action to stop the devastation and suffering of Palestinians living in Gaza, acknowledge their right of self-determination and take strong measures to bring about a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Four intrepid cyclists on an epic 6,000km fundraising trip to Gaza have been refused entry to the troubled state.

The students crossed 14 countries fighting off wild dogs in Turkey and near hypothermia in the French Alps to raise money for a neo-natal unit and medical resources for burn victims following the war with Israel. But despite an invitation from Irishman John Ging, head of United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Gaza, and other official documentation, they were refused entry.

The Egyptian authorities forced the cyclists to turn back and brought them in a military escort to Cairo, from where they will fly home. The cyclists, who travelled under the banner Pathways to Palestine, left Ireland on June 22, cycling more than 150km a day, resting only once a week.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5i6uGLxljpFt1xn0VsmGL3ivZouRw

Thursday’s event was part of a UN initiative organised to restore hope and normality to the war-torn territory.”

Cycling close to double the distance of the Tour de France, three Irish cyclists are now on the final stretch of their journey from Ireland to Gaza. The students, having just reached Israel-Palestine, arrived in Jerusalem yesterday and will attempt to cross into Gaza over the coming days.

Their 6,000 km cycle aims to raise money in support of an emergency appeal to provide for neo-natal care and medical resources for burn victims in Gaza. The initiative came from Eoghan Quinn (21), a type-1 diabetic, after he learned of the restrictions on medical supplies reaching Gaza. [1].

“As a diabetic, I am completely dependent on constant access to medicine. I wanted to use my fortunate circumstance to help those cut off from the outside world in Gaza.”

They set off on their arduous journey from Ireland on June 22 and have been cycling over 150km a day, resting only once a week. “We are really looking forward to reaching Gaza”, said cyclist Ronan Sheehan adding: “we have overcome hypothermia in France, several falls, some on busy highways, and survived being chased by wild hounds in central Turkey.  It’s been tough but epic.”

The cyclists have been assisted by a small support crew which includes John Lyttle: “I am in absolute awe of the lads for what they have achieved so far and through my background as a student physiotherapist and first aider, I aim to help in any small way in the completion of their mission.”

The intrepid travellers have received support from around the world, including a formal motion of commendation passed by the Scottish Parliament and a reception in the Irish Parliament hosted by Irish MPs and Senators. As they travelled through each country, the team documented the trip on their website via an innovative audio blog that lets them phone and ‘phlog’ direct to the site.

According to cyclist Gearoid O Cuinn, Gaza’s medical infrastructure has been crippled by the two year long siege that has led to widespread malnutrition and many preventable deaths. “We are working with the health care charity MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians) to try in some small way to alleviate the situation,” said Gearoid.

If they succeed, their back-up vehicle will be donated to a rehabilitation hospital that was partially destroyed in the January offensive. “Even as we prepare to reach Gaza we will continue in our efforts to raise money for our charity (MAP) via our website www.pathwaystopalestine.com” said Tom Watts, member of the support team  “All monies raised online go directly to their operations on the ground”, he added.

[1]: http://irishhealth.com/article.html?id=15725

The team consists of Eoghan, a town planning student; John Maher (30), medical student; Ronan Sheehan (21), pharmacy student and Gearóid Ó Cuinn (29), law student, all of whom attended the same high school. The support vehicle travelling with the four cyclists will be driven by trainee physiotherapist, John Lyttle (23), from Derry and Tom Watts (21), from Sheffield who studies psychology. Project co-ordinator: Gráinne Quinn.

More information from Gráinne Quinn,

http://imemc.org/article/61279

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8164582.stm

Thursday started by watching a press conference featuring Gazan Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh with members of the Neturei Karta, an organization of anti-Zionist Rabbis from Munsey, New York, who traveled with the caravan. Haniyeh emphasized that the government and the people of Gaza take no issue with Jews, but rather with Zionism and the ongoing oppression and blockade by Israel. Rabbi Dovid Weissman concurred that Jews, Christians and Muslims had coexisted peacefully in Muslim countries for centuries prior to the birth of Zionism, and asked for the people of Gaza to join him in praying for the peaceful dismantlement of the state of Israel.

The group then drove around the Gaza Strip in buses to see the aftermath of the bombing onslaught 6 months ago before attending another press conference at the Legislative Assembly and traveling to Shafa Hospital in Gaza City to deliver the medical aid which was brought from the United States and gathered in Cairo. Finally, delegates met with families of some of the 11,000 prisoners being held in Israel at the Ministry of Prisoners in Tel Alhwa, where children of parents killed in December and January also addressed the group.

Fraser Gaspard of Denver, Colorado, said of seeing the devastation firsthand, “It really shows how effective the American weapons we give Israel are, and how deliberate Israel was in its attack from the spots that were hit, schools, hospitals, a cement factory, homes in refugee camps. You could see it was a war of terror against the Gazan people.”

For Mahmoud Elayan from New Jersey, the most impressive visit was the meeting at the Ministry of Prisoners. Elayan shared, “Three little girls spoke about losing 29 other immediate family members. I have 2 little kids, and I can’t imagine them going through anything like that. To see them still keeping hope like that when they’ve suffered so much, it was touching. I had to leave the room.”

Bringing medical aid was only one of Viva Palestina’s stated purposes. The convoy also sought to learn and share the stories of the Gazans who have lived under 61 years of occupation and the severe assault from December to January. Nour Mattar, a Palestinian born within the borders of Israel who now resides in Orange County, California, said of his experiences, “With all the blockade and all the pressure, if you drive around and talk to people you find they still have great spirit. They‘re not willing to give up or stand down, even though Israel has used every possible weapon they could, militarily, economically and politically.”

Having lived in Gaza for most of the years between 1997 and 2005, the journey was a homecoming for Bethany Gonzalez of Kansas City, Kansas. “Today I realized how much I really miss living in Gaza,” said Gonzalez. “The city and the people, everyone is so kind and hospitable, even with all they’ve been through.” She intends to return with the second Viva Palestina convoy from the U.S. in December, scheduled to coincide with the first anniversary of the attacks.

Mohamad, a recent graduate from the Islamic University, volunteered to serve as an interpreter for the delegates. Asked about the current state of the people of Gaza, he said, “The children now are still suffering from psychological pain and suffering. Whenever they hear any sound they say ‘Bomb! Bomb’ and start crying. For adults it is almost the same.” Mohamad expressed excitement about the past Viva Palestina convoy from London and the plans for future caravans from Venezuela, Moscow, Beijing, and the next from the U.S. “They decrease the suffering among the Gazans. The convoys break the siege and bring us medical aid. The people of Gaza feel really grateful and proud. These convoys uplift our spirits and help us feel stronger and more steadfast.”

Asked what he hopes for himself and all Gazans, Mohamad states simply, “We hope that we will have enough to live, and be able to live in peace, just as the other people of the world.”

Soozy Duncan

http://www.vivapalestina-us.org/

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