NEW FILM OUT~HOPE CONVOY TO GAZA

Our readers may remember the writers of this blog covered the "Hope Convoy" to Gaza back in May 2009 directly from the Irish delegation who were on the convoy and were successful in getting into Gaza. We received updates and photographs continually throughout the ordeal of getting in, and we continued our coverage once they finally got in. The new "Hope Convoy" film is just out now for a first hand account of the story of the convoy, excellent stuff:

PART 1

PART 2

Those who missed reading about the convoy we have included the Diaries below:

Al Arish to Rafah
Canadian Code Pink at Rafah
#1 Into Gaza
#2 Shifah Hospital
#3 Kahn Younis-Nasser Hospital
#4 Waiting to Die-Trauma Unit
#5 UNWRA School for Visually Impaired
#6 Convoy Meets Gaza Government
#7 Prisoners & Families
#8 Zionist War Crimes

Statement Issued On Gaza Illegal Siege

End siege of Gaza -MacLochlainn
Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn today called on the Israeli government to immediately end its siege of the Gaza Strip.

His call follows an appeal by the UN and international agencies to Israel to allow urgent repairs to be carried out on the water and sewage system in Gaza .

According to these agencies more than 13 million gallons or 50 million litres of raw or partially treated sewage is flowing into the Mediterranean Sea each day because Gaza’s sewage and water treatment systems are totally inadequate following bomb damage inflicted by Israeli armed forces and the refusal of Israel to allow the necessary repairs and investment essential to service and upgrade the sewage and water systems.

Much of this pollution finds its way back onto the coast of Gaza and Israel .

Four months ago Councillor MacLochlainn visited the Middle East and spent four days in Gaza and along with elected representatives from across Europe and accompanied an aid convoy for Gaza across the Rafah border. The water and sewage system was already then at the point of collapse.

Speaking following the UN and international appeal Councillor MacLochlainn said:

“There is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza .

”In May I saw for myself the cruel consequences of the Israeli assault on Gaza last Christmas and New Year which produced enormous destruction and hardship for the people of that region.

The civilian population bore the brunt of the fatalities and in particular children and women.

Residential areas, educational and medical facilities alongside political and civil administration establishments were targeted. This included the police. Water and electricity services and roads were also targeted.

Over a three week period from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009 it is reported that
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Over 1400 people were killed including more than 400 children and over a hundred women.
_ Casualties were in the region of 5,000 including 1,800 children and almost 800 women.

According to the UN the Israeli attack ' wrought unprecedented devastation and hardship on an already impoverished population, compounding the effects of an 18 month blockade and tight regime of closures and restrictions on movement that date back to the early 1990s. '

While I support the demand by the UN and international agencies that Israel allow urgent repairs on Gaza’s water and sewage system to proceed, the reality is that only a complete lifting of the siege by the Israeli government can significantly improve the lives of the million and a half people trapped in that area.
Ends

#7 HOPE Convoy~Meeting Prisoners & Families

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This is an account of meeting the Prisoners and their families. But for the location, dress, names and language, this could have been Ireland only a few years ago. The women holding up posters of their husbands, children or brothers, so much is the same between Ireland and Palestine. Many, tortured and interned without trial, just like in Ireland. Small children who were mere babies when their fathers were taken, may never see, or know their own fathers.

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Wednesday 26th and we were taken to a very emotional meeting with the relatives of prisoners held in Israeli gaols where we met two men who had been just released from Israeli gaols.


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The stories we heard were very hard to listen to – families who were not allowed to see their sons because the blockade bans them from travelling out Gaza to visit their loved ones. Some of the families had not seen their sons, fathers or brothers for many years. In some cases, sons had died at the hands of the Israelis without ever seeing their fathers. Inside the gaols the accounts of appalling abuse of prisoners reminded me of the worst days of the English gaol experiences or the Blanket protest in Ireland.


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One prisoner had just been released after some 14 years in gaol – he had been “released” into Gaza even though he had no family there and was from the West Bank. Here he was dumped into Gaza and unable to leave a place he did not even know. He had merely been transferred to a bigger prison.

Many of their personal stories were hard to hear. Convoy Delegation leader Italian Senator Fernando Rossi and Monia Benini pictured below, overcome with emotion.


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Prisoners found a common bond with Convoy Delegation Deputy Leader, Sinn Fein's Gerry Maclochlainn, a former Irish Republican prisoner.


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Why can I not see my Father again?????????????


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#6 HOPE CONVOY-Meets Gaza Government

http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/

"HOPE" convoy delegation meets the Government officials and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya in the Government Buildings.

From the Shifah hospital we travelled to the remains of the parliament building destroyed by the Israelis during the invasion. Here we were greeted by a number of MP’s

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As the Israelis bombed the building, we were greeted in a tent attached to the buildings remains which was dedicated to a minister who was assassinated by the Israelis during the invasion. We were also told of the numbers of elected MP’s including the Speaker of the parliament, who were rounded up and taken to Israeli gaols at the same time.

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That evening our group was invited to meet the cabinet and we were joined by Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, his first public appearance in the Government Buildings since the Israeli invasion. The delegation was given gifts of thanks from the Government for delivering aid to the people of Palestine.

Italian Senator Fernando Rossi, the Delegation Leader prepares to recieve gift from Prime Minister Ismail Haniya
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Below, the Prime Minister signs Palestinian scarves for the delegation. Each scarf was signed and stamped with the Palestinian stamp.
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Convoy Organiser recieves his scarf from the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Ismail Haniya welcomed us on behalf of the Gazan people and expressed his hope that we would attest to what we had seen and heard and intervene with our governments to get them to support the removal of the blockade.The following report is from the Italian website translated by Google

Haniyah praised the host delegation, composed of European parliamentarians and personalities from different European countries, and added that the international mission confirmed that the Palestinian people "are not alone and that this siege will be broken."

He expressed his gratitude to the delegation, saying that you have followed the path from the beginning, and expressed confidence in the possibility that the parliamentary and political work to bring the Israeli leaders before a tribunal for war crimes.

The delegation, in turn, praised the good host, confirming the solidarity with the Palestinian people and respect for election results.

Parliamentarians have also criticized the inclusion of Hamas among the international terrorist organizations from various European countries, including Italy, adding that it turned to revoke such an inclusion in the black-list drawn up by the U.S. and Israel.

The delegation condemned the policy of occupation and crimes against the people of Gaza, in particular the recent attack and the unjust siege, confirming the right to support the Palestinian people and free elections.link Irish Report resumes below:

Sinn Fein's Gerry MacLochlainn, the convoy deputy leader, recieves his gifts from the Prime Minister below:

Haniya then explained his movement’s desire for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Palestine and that he had made it clear that his government would honour treaties and was committed to a realistic settlement recognising realities on the ground. He was committed to achieving Palestinian reconciliation and was approaching the ongoing talks with a serious commitment to achieving a positive outcome.

Gerry MacLochlainn of Sinn Fein, said "Ireland’s common experiences with the Palestinian people, sharing a common history of invasion and domination by foreign powers and referring to Britain’s negative role in both our countries. Ireland has an almost unique position in Europe having been a colony and so we have a deep and abiding empathy with other nations suffering under foreign aggression and domination."

"As an Irish Republican and representing the Republican people of Ireland I express my support for Palestine’s right to freedom, equality and justice in this world and pledge Sinn Fein support to the Palestinian nation until not just this siege is broken but Palestine itself is free. I am confident in that victory and look forward to celebrating that freedom with you at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem."ENDS

#5 HOPE DIARIES~UNRWA School for Blind

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Written by http://irish4palestine.blogspot.com/
We had another meeting with UNWRA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) and delivered some £40,000 worth of software to their school for the visually impaired.

Delegation arrives at the school to deliver aid and software:
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Headmistress of school receives the delegation and accepts the aid:
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The staff at this school explained how this software will allow blind people to use computers and help children with visual impairment attend school and possibly even transfer into mainstream schools and go on to live as complete lives as possible.

A Demonstration of the equipment was given by the head mistress. She explained how important the word done by the School was to the many blind people who attend.

#4 HOPE CONVOY DIARIES~WAITING TO DIE

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Click the picture and look at this boy's face.

Then ask yourself this question: Does he deserve to die because Israel will not open the border to allow him outside so he can be helped? Look at him, he did nothing to Israel. His only crime was to be born a Palestinian in an occupied country. His only crime is to be born next to a rogue state that practices ethnic cleansing and views all Palestinians as expendable. And he is a Palestinian, therefore this is his crime, and for that, he must die like 400 other Palestinian children. All of whom have died at the hands of Israel since December 2008.

Convoy Report:

Our final visit was the most horrific for me, as I saw both sides of humanity in the starkest contrast. Just 200 m from the Israeli border we visited the main rehabilitation hospital which seeks to treat patients suffering from coma or serious disabling conditions.

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This man in the neck brace and wheelchair is a headmaster of a school in Gaza, rather, that was what he used to be, before Israel came to town. He suffered a back injury and as the hospitals are functioning without many supplies and proper medications, there was a surgical complication and he is now a quadriplegic and may now die. He may stand a chance if he can be allowed outside Gaza for treatment. Although he will never regain the use of his limbs, his life possibly could be saved, if only he could get out for help, if only. But Israel will not allow him help. This is only one case of a great many more.

I saw patients with incredible courage facing almost impossible conditions, doctors and nurses struggling to treat patients without the most basic materials in absolutely appalling conditions.

This hospital, just 200m from the Israeli border, was itself shelled by Israeli troops despite being clearly marked as a hospital, and under constant Israeli surveillance.

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One of the wards I stood in – a huge hole in the external wall and above the bed where were a patient was lying. A rocket had been fired directly into an occupied ward in an operational hospital.

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But this was not the first time this hospital was attacked by Israel. It has been a pattern. I looked at the next ward where two nurses were killed carrying a post operative patient when the rocket came through the wall and killed them all. Their photos are kept above the nurses station in remembrance.(Pictured below)

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In December 2008 during the most recent invasion, the Israelis again hit the hospital. This time they shelled the newly completed wing (below) that was only due to open in January 2009, a mere 30 days later – destroying it before a single patient could avail of its facilities. Now they have to start all over again, all the specialized equipment is destroyed.

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HE IS WAITING TO DIE

Then I met a young boy of about 10 years who had been dragged from the rubble of his home where all of his family had been killed. I held this young boy in my arms, as my heart ached for his tragedy and loss. He had only just come out of a coma, but only to some extent, and he still had massive chest and body injuries. I spoke to him as I held him, stroking his head as I spoke to him. I thought for a moment that I saw a small flicker in his eyes, I looked again for some sign of response, I saw none.

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If you notice the plastic splints on his little deformed arms, even those are not allowed in by the Israelis. The splints you see on this boy have been recycled, cut and reshaped as much as humanly possible, look closely at them. This is how it is in Gaza hospitals, you have to watch people suffer and die because Israel is allowed to impose a blockade. As such, this trauma hospital did not have the material required to treat him and due to the Israeli siege, he was not allowed out of Gaza for treatment elsewhere. The doctor said to me as I stroked his face – “We cannot do anymore – he is waiting to die”.

Next we visited the area where critically brain injured children are treated using various stimulation. All of the new equipment was lost when the new unit that was schedule to open was shelled by Israel. What you see in the photo below is all they have left to treat children with. A handful of regular toys, no specialized equipment, this is a disgrace.

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This blockade is a crime against humanity and the world cannot stand by and allow this to go on. We have to send as much medical aid as we can to Gaza, and Egypt has to co-operate with the aid convoys in order to alleviate the suffering there. But more than that, we have to force the Israeli’s to lift the blockade and allow the people of Gaza to import its needs and allow its people to travel in out of their homeland.

The "Hope for Gaza convoy" delivered some "hope" but people need more than "hope."

The next diary #5 in this series will be the visit to the UN school for the blind. Where the convoy delivered thousands of dollars worth of special software to help the blind with computer skills and learning. Check back tomorrow for that diary and others. UPDATE JANUARY 201O: we are just back from Gaza and met with the little boys Doctor for an update on his condition which can be found at the end of this post HERE

#3 HOPE CONVOY DIARIES~Khan Younis, Nasser

We next visited, Khan Younis, a town south of Gaza city. Here we visited Nasser Hospital, the main one for the south of Gaza Strip to deliver more medical materials.

Convoy Delegation tours hospital with Doctor, Pictured below are Italian Senator Fernando Rossi and Monia Benini and others:
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Monia Benini delivers water purification device from Italy
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Here we saw advanced medical equipment that cannot be used because the Israelis will not allow spare parts in to bring them back online. We saw patients receiving dialysis who could only get 2 hours sessions at a time which was not enough to clean their systems and so they never felt well and did not benefit as they should.

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The doctor said to me “It is the best we can do we have to share the access but we need to give them 4 hour sessions at least – we are only slowing the poison”.

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So, these people have to live their lives being permanently poisoned with toxins, because the dialysis machines cannot be repaired, Israel will not allow the parts into Gaza.

The mammography machines are inoperative because parts have failed and replacements are not allowed in by the Israeli blockade. The CT scanner’s tube is operating at twice its recommended life and they are hoping and praying every time they use that it will last a little bit longer. When it fails – there will be no scanner unless the Israeli siege is lifted.

Doctor pictured with Fernando Rossi and Gerry MacLochlainn. Photo taken looking through the scanner. This scanner will stop working any moment now. Once that happens there will be no way to treat people. This is a criminal act by Israel.



We then continued our tour followed by an award ceremony for a very special Doctor, also we were each presented with a special Palestinian scarf as a "Thank You" from the Doctors and the Hospital Staff for bringing much needed aid to the suffering people.

Photos of Awards Ceremony and Scarf Presentation:

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While the aid we delivered was very much needed, it is truly only a drop in the bucket. We finished with a press conference, pictured below:

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End of Nasser Hospital Diary. I should have HOPE DIARY #4 up later today where the convoy visited the main Rehabilitation Trauma center. This is truly a heart breaking story and will have many photos. This hospital was bombed by the Israelis, not once, but twice! A young boy waits to die because he cannot get treatment, thanks to the siege on Gaza. Another war crime.

HOPE CONVOY DIARIES #2 SHIFAH HOSPITAL GAZA

This post is #2 in the "Hope Convoy" Diaries. It covers the convoy delivering aid to Shifah hospital in Gaza. Diary #3 tomorrow will be Khan Younis Nasser hospital, dialysis unit and rehab center with photos showing the damage Israel inflicted directly on this hospital, a clear war crime!

The first stop was Shifah Hospital in Gaza where the majority of the aid was delivered to.

Our first morning started with a visit to Shifah Hospital, the largest in Gaza. Here we met the senior doctors and medical staff who explained the reality of the blockade imposed by Israel, which leaves them with inadequate medicine, equipment or even basic disposables, such as needles and paper.

Huge crowd gathers at hospital to welcome convoy and photograph the aid being delivered: CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE



Swedish vehicle delivering aid: CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE



The doctors at each hospital were eager to get their hands on the ambulances, drugs, disposables, wheelchairs and dialysis machine that we had brought from so many caring countries in Europe.

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Holland and Norway delivering aid: CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE




Gerry MacLochlainn, the deputy leader of the convoy joined the convoy leader and Italian Senator Fernando Rossi at the press conference in the hospital grounds.
Hundreds of people pressed around us and it was clear that the aid was only a drop in the ocean compared to what was required.

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The fact that Europeans cared enough to collect this aid, and many travelled with the aid to Gaza, was a real boost to their morale. As each day they face the reality of a never ending 2 1/2/ year siege that denies them even the very cement required to rebuild their homes, hospitals or schools destroyed during the Israeli invasion.

I have included a slide show below of all the photos from the Shifah Hospital aid delivery, there are about 20 or so. YOu can use the controls to stop the slideshow at any point, or go forwrad or backwards. If you, or your organisation see a photo here or in the slide show that you would like, leave me a comment here and I'll get one to you.

NOTE: The next HOPE Diary #3 will be posted tomorrow. This will be Khan younis Nasser Hospital. Where the convoy delivered more aid, toured the Dialysis unit, trauma and rehab area (this is very sad) and also toured the area in the hospital that had been attacked by Israel, clearly a war crime as you can see Israel from the windows of the hospital. This is a disgrace!