April 2: Down to the sea

and yet Gaza fishermen are injured and killed trying to do so...

On Thursday we joined Gaza fishermen in their demonstration against the increase in Israeli violence against fishermen and the ongoing theft of their boats. An Israeli gunboat appeared three miles out, but didn’t open fire at us on the beach, as they sometimes do. The report that follows was originally posted at the ISM website, and the photos are mine. The following day, it was business as usual – “April 3: Fisherman injured, three boats damaged by Israeli fire”…

March 31: The lentils did ok today

Lentil picking in Khoza'a

Today we accompanied farmers in the Latamat area on the outskirts of Khoza’a. The last time we were out farming in Khoza’a the shooting was the closest I’d experienced, and from the video footage it looked like the Israelis were aiming to shoot my college J in the leg. Since later that same day Wafa was shot in the kneecap, and not too long before that farmer Mohammed was shot in the foot while we were with him, the ISM group had been taking stock of our role. We decided that Gaza ISM had to hold meetings with any farmers that wanted our accompaniment and be absolutely sure they understood that our presence protects them only mildly if in fact it protects them at all.

March 23: “Fire also upon rescue”…

…it said in the “how to run an Israeli incursion” notes a commander appears to have left behind (doh) near Jabalia, according to Haaretz. Just in case the Palestine medics thought it was accidental. I shouldn’t read the comments that follow articles like this that try to speak out within Israel, but inevitably I do…and it’s kind of funny how half of them appear to be from such ignorant and rascist people that all by themselves they totally provide the answer to the “how could anyone possibly believe Israelis would do this” comments posted by others. And that second lot of Israelis – what bubble do they live in? Do none of them google? Do none of them read my blog, for goodness sake?

March 19: Speaking truth to power

January 09 art from children at the Al Amal Centre, Khan Younis

We were back at Faraheen this morning accompanying farmers again, eyeing the jeeps driving along the Israeli border while our farmers removed the irrigation pipes from one of the fields we have visited regularly. Since Mohammed was shot in the leg, the farmer here has decided to give up on this field, its convenient well, and its half-grown parsley crop – 200,000 shekels worth – in case of further injury or death of harvesters. It was a quiet morning, thank goodness.

March 13: The high cost of living

Tristan, seriously injured in Ni’lin yesterday

I have just been in touch with West Bank ISMer A to find out how ISMer Tristan is doing, after he received a severe injury yesterday when the tear gas canister an Israeli solider shot at his head created a hole (see footage here). Apparently he is still in critical condition and has had to have the front part of his brain removed. If he makes it through the next 48 hours his chances of survival increase. There will be long term effects but not clear yet how severe.