#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

CLICK TO ENLARGE
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.

CLICK TO ENLARGE
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
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Below, the Prime Minister signs Palestinian scarves for the delegation. Each scarf was signed and stamped with the Palestinian stamp.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
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

#4 HOPE CONVOY DIARIES~WAITING TO DIE

CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE

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.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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)

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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.

CLICK TO ENLARGE

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