Gazans Live Back in the Middle Ages!

Tweet August 21, 2008

The suffering and the torture could be a reason for nation's collapse or fall down. However, it could be a way to achieve victory or some of its commencements. I always gather my ideas to penetrate this suffering to tell the story of my people through my words.

I having nothing but a strong will to write and tell the untold story of my people in the besieged Gaza strip. I truly became addicted on reporting daily sufferings encountered by 1.5 million besieged in Gaza, the New Biggest Concentration Camp!

I was so happy regarding a truce held in Gaza between the Israel and some Palestinians. I reckoned as many Gazans it could be a way out of siege protracted for more than a year. Yet, I was disappointed as Israelis violate what they have promised to do. Now, the truce is going perfectly on our side. So, our reward should have been lifting the siege imposed by Israel. But, unfortunately, siege is tougher now. Israel fools the world by saying she has lifted the siege. Previously and in time of calm, we have had around 400 the vans of various goods daily. But as for now, we are having less than 90 per day restricted on some goods. So, How Could Israel did its obligations?

Israel determines what goods and commodities we should have in Gaza. Therefore, if we need a new commodity we should exchange it by another one! At the end of the day, we will have nothing except what Israel wants.

I visited the southern areas of Gaza strip and in there I discovered that Gazans are back 100 years ago. They started to use fire in cooking due to the severe shortage of Gas. I so many people near some gas stations waiting in a row to get a bottle of Gas. Some awaited for hours, days and even months! I might be exaggerating, but No this is a fact! The reason behinds this crisis is that people are using gas for cars since Israel still declining most of fuel deliveries to Gaza.

"Gaza is largely dependent on Israel for its supply of fuel and electricity. Already there are frequent power outages as a result of Israel's destruction of the main Gaza power plant in 2006 and subsequent damage to electricity transformers. (For instance on 14 November the IDF struck an electricity transformer in Beit Hanoun which knocked out power for 5,000 people in the area.) The supply of water is also affected and there is insufficient power for water pumps. As a result, 210,000 people are able to access drinking water supplies for only 1-2 hours a day. Sewage is also a problem: sewage plants require repairs but materials, such as metal pipes and welding machines, have been prohibited by Israel on the grounds that they may be used for making rockets. At present there is a real danger that sewage plants could overflow. Cutting off fuel and electricity will exacerbate an already dangerous situation. It will endanger the functioning of hospitals, water services and sewage, as well as depriving residents of electricity for refrigerators and household appliances. A humanitarian catastrophe is contemplated if Israel continues to reduce fuel and carries out its threat to reduce electricity supplies." UN General Assembly, 21 January 2008.

To see more pictures and the whole story go to: http://www.uruknet.de/?s1=1&p=46592&s2=22

Sameh A. Habeeb
Freelance Journalist based in the Gaza, Palestine
Mob: 00972599306096
Tel: 0097282802825
E-mail: Sam_hab@hotmail.com
Sameh.habeeb@gmail.com
Web: www.gazatoday.blogspot.com