In Zeitun, a massacre and its perpetrators desire for genocide
"They left behind their own unique detritus: bullet casings, roasted peanuts...But most disturbing of all was the graffiti they daubed on the walls of the ground floor... Some was in Hebrew, but much was naively written in English: "Arabs need 2 die", "Die you all", "Make war not peace", "1 is down, 999,999 to go", and scrawled on an image of a gravestone the words: "Arabs 1948-2009". "Rory McCarthy reports for the Guardian on all that remains in one decimated Gaza neighborhood-and one massacred Gaza family: the Samounis. The appalling results are a very small reflection of what happens when there is not only no moral compass, but an occupying army of largely teenagers are actively encouraged to use utmost violence, terrorism, and brutality, no holds barred. According to one paper, graffiti also included "The only good Arab is a dead Arab" and other phrases that they paper said were "too disturbing to publish".
yeah, this is definitely self-defense, folks...
posted by Laila @ Tuesday, January 20, 2009
26 Comments:
thanks for the link.
Awful story, my anger is boiling, I can no longer contain it.
oh they (israelis)still refuse to call us "palestinians".
oh, god, I dont wanna sound violent, but lets just say Israel will be held accounatble legally or not.
Regards, I am glad that you're family turned out safe.
I appreciate your continuous coverage.
Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmat Allah wa Barakatu! Ana ismi Meira, min Deiristya, areeb 3n Nablus. Ana kaman mush adrah arja 3la Falasteen. Ana wa ahlee saknin fi Tennessee.
I happened upon your blog, and I am a blogger myself. I am so happy to know there are Palestinians all over the world that are supporting the Palestinian cause, near or far away from their homeland. I was born in the United States, because my parents are Palestinian refugees that cannot return, either. My older brother's name is Yousef. :-)
I am in nursing school and hope to be able to volunteer in the refugee camps after I graduate in May, inshaAllah.
Thanks for the regular posts on Gaza. It helped me keep up with the horror - I hope in between the wars, Gazans find peace. I can't stop imagining today what would it be to have a MLK in Palestine?
Give me your honest opinion please - are there peace movements that are based on non-violence?
-Najeeb
najeeb.blogspot.com
I am just sickened by this grafitti. I can't imagine that anyone could be so cruel, and sick.
It is so amazing that a people who went through the holocaust could turn around, and do the same thing to someone else!!!! Just sick, and evil!!!!
Dear Laila,
I am a Malaysian journalist leaving for Gaza this weekend in my first excursion into a war zone. My country has been very passionate about the Palestinian situation. I hope I'm not being insensitive but I'd like to know if I can contact and speak with your parents about the horrors that they've been through.
Thank you and stay strong.
Regards,
Sharon
Laila, I have just come across your blog and it both saddens me and makes me proud that we have women such as yourself representing the voice of the Palestinian people.
I am of Pakistani origin and was born and raised in London, but none-the-less I feel a bond close to my heart for your suffering.
My toughts, prayers and hopes are all with you and your people.
As I finished watching the president's first speech, I started thinking of the ways we have -as journalists from the other side- to let Barack Obama get a real "feel" of what's going on..that they cheered when they killed hundreds of innocent kids, that they want more carnage, they want hundreds to become thousands than millions than...no one left to kill..
How can we make it clear to the "average" American that if the land had no people, who then is still resisting,for more than 60 years ..
who? the stones?
hmm Laila,an honest question, me being a palestinian from the Diaspora.
How do Gazans view Hamas? I assume many may have hold unfavorable views and held it partly responsbile for continuing to fire rockets...I am not talking about Hamas take-over of Gaza, but the way it handled resistance and all(this war I mean).
I am reading many artciles right now, I dunno what to believe.
I wonder if all talks about resistance about something we want to believe rather than the real thing, or is the truth something in between?
part of me really miss the old intifadas, where everyone resisted yet no one held anyone accounatble over his stances because of any underlying political agendas.
I dunno where to start, I have so many questions,so many fears. I am afraid, this onslaught will turn palestinians to a "nation of beggars" so to speak, where people look at us in a humatarian way but not as people who deserve the right to self-determination.
I just really feel bad these days as a palestinian.
oh well
Take care
soldiers leaving grafitti, how shocking. Almost as shaocking as soldiers carrying guns, or soldiers.....
Absolutely agree with this post. IDF is renowned for it's undisciplined soldiers and officers, I refer to them more as thugs, murderers and terrorists. And perhaps that's how the power's who be in Israel prefer their 'army' their militants, to be.
This conflict is far from ended for Palestinians. It is going to take a very long time to heal the wounds and even to begin to recover.
Thankfully you and your family are safe Laila. But in no way untouched by events. You will all be as traumatized as the rest of Gaza. Continue to be strong.
I'll be watching and hoping to see Israel brought to justice over this. I personally believe that Israel and every country that backed them, should have to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza - and to make it stronger, and better than it's ever been able to be.
If anything good comes out of this murderous rampage, at least let it be the freedom for all remaining Palestinians and the removal of every kind of presence and control of Israel and their murderous IDF.
I hope you and your parents continue to keep us up to date with the recovery of Gaza.
The Palestinians democratically elected Hamas, who then massacred Fatah. Hamas abducted Shalit; the people of Gaza must bear the consequences of their democratic choice.
As for the killing of its own citizens (500 or so in the internecine Hamas/Fatah dispute), that's the Palestinian's problem. (No voices of protest of course from the human rights crowd, who only get upset if a Jew kills somebody). (cf., Mumbai).
Israel should have given an ultimatum to Hamas (and thus the citizens of Gaza who elected Hamas) that the battle would be joined (i.e., Israel would respond militarily to the casus belli of the abduction of Shalit) until Shalit was returned.
Of course, the next and continuing casus belli was lobbing of rockets into Israel. Again Israel had the right to respond militarily (joinder), to prevent or deter the Palestinians from firing rockets. The concept of "proportionality" applies to the question whether sufficient (or too much) force was employed to achieve a legitimate military end. Here, the legitimate end was to prevent or deter rocket attacks. If the rockets continue, then Israel in fact used insufficient force.
The return of Shalit is a legitimate military objective, and Israel should give Hamas / Gaza an ultimatum: Military actions will continue until he's returned in good health.
Laila I need your email.
Thanks, Ruba
relhayek@gmail.com
Dear Lila!
Could I give you a suggestion? Explain to people (I think North Americans have less knowledge, about the sittuation in Gaza than South Americans, I say that based on the comments that you received before), the sittuation in Gaza. Give them numbers, such as numbers of damage includes 4,100 homes, about 1,500 factories and workshops, 20 mosques, 31 security compounds and 10 water or sewage lines. And how they can give donnations.
It's only a suggestion.
Thank you for you great job!
Isabela.
Dear Laila,
Warm greetings to you and your family. I happened to see your interview on CNN some days ago.
I wanted to write simply to let you know two things:
1) I am the owner of a DC-based import company called Mountain High Imports. The company was started to bring Palestinian olive oil to the US.
Through the end of February, we are transferring 20% of gross sales of olive oil to American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) to assist with their relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
You can visit us at www.mountainhighimports.com
2) And this is the main reason I wanted to write to you: My first response after seeing you on CNN was that I wanted to send you a bottle of olive oil. It won't help ease your pain of what's happened to Gaza and your family there, but I'd like to offer this to you as a small sign of support for what you have gone through in the past weeks. If you accept please send me a shipping address and I'll get a bottle sent off to you.
Thanks for your great efforts. I am pleased to know of your blog now.
All my best,
Brian Wood
Now that Israel is pulling out and there is a new Administration at the White House I feel like it's a prime time for people such as yourself and Palestinians to lobby reform for the region.
I am a Pakistani woman and throughout this conflict, I have deeply felt for the Palestinians. YOur blog was published here and it was deeply touching. Yes, it's awful.THe massacre, the brutality, the supreme indiffernce to human life.I feel my blood boiling whenever I hear some American leaders justifying it.But please remember this, the Israelis cannot wish you away in the sea. THey are insecure and guilty beacuse it is your lands they are occupying. Palestinians are a reality and your blood will not have run in waste. Already, there has been a slight shift in the world's opinion about Israel.Worry not, you have come out as the winners because of your sheer resilience. I had started a cause about condemning the Israeli attacks on Gaza and up to now have more than 3000 members on facebook.WE are with you!
so based on your post REL,
If Americans vote in Bush who gives a blank cheque to Israel (that in itself an incentive to war), who in turn use that money to commit war crimes against Palestine (nothing new there, everything during their occupation has been illegal) and many of us consider Israel to be the terrorists in this situation, and both governments democratically voted in, so that makes both all Americans and all Israelis subject to the consequences such as those faced by Palestine. Is that correct? Have I interpreted your 'reasoning' correctly?
It is always very difficult to read this. I heard you on WUNC, and have followed your blog ever since. I just wanted to tell you that my prayers are with you and your family, and all the families caught up in this. My God bless your efforts to spread the word, and amplify your call for peace.
Please someone tell me what was achieved by the IDF committing genocide? Why did all those children die? Hamas is still in power, the tunnels are still working - What was the point of murdering all those innocent people??? I am DEMANDING and answer from all those who support the henious crimes of IDF. Tell me why you killed those children and what you achieved by doing this?
I have been reading through your blog from the beginning and have reached July 2006. I have laughed (especially at the peepee on the Persian rug) and cried (many times) and felt my breath taken at the loveliness of your spring flower photos. Finally, I had to jump forward to make sure you and your beautiful children were okay. Bless you for this blog. I hope it will help people everywhere to understand what is really happening in Gaza and the West Bank. I'll be writing in my own blog about my experiences during the year I lived in the Middle East and how they changed my perceptions (not that anyone reads my blog...) I want you to know that I think about you and your family every day and pray not only for your continued safety but also for the liberation of Palestine, for a place where Yousef and Noor can grow up with dignity and freedom. Reading your words makes me want to DO something but I'm not one of the movers and shakers in this dark world and wide so I feel as though there's nothing I can do that will really make a difference. Do you need any teachers in Gaza? That is the thing I do best. Thank you for continuing to write (and to share your writing) despite the horrors and injustice that surround you. It's a definite - and very precious - candle in the darkness.
(This is a sort of golblimey P.S. - I couldn't manage to leave my blog address in the identity section but would like you to have it - http://thescrapbag.blogspot.com)
yeah REL, you've just made the case for collective punishment of the U.S.A! You're doing a heckuva job there, buddy.
Dear Laila!
I miss your posts. I hope you and your family are okay.
Dear, I'm here to send you this video. It's about a protest in front of BBC today, January 24 2009. The Mr. talking is Tony Benn.
I loved it! People need to speak out againt injustice as this men did!
Regards,
Isabela.
thanks isabela, I just need to take a break for a few days, I was really mentally exhausted...
Laila, I'm not sure if you didn't allow this post earlier, or if it was a technical hitch. I understand if you don't want it published and that's ok by me. My warmest greetings to you. I'm posting again just in case it was a technical hitch eg word verification.
ChaiTime
If the IDF destroys the tunnels, the rockets may stop. Preposterous as this may sound, they never wanted to achieve this. In fact they rely on allowing them to remain, so that the rockets will fire out in retaliation (of suppression of Palestine by Israel). Once again they will call Hamas terrorists and declare themselves victims. This will then justify their future incursions, probably already planned, into Gaza again. Israel does not want Palestine to exist. Their real objective/goal is to bring all Palestinians to their knees, this is what terrorists do. They cause their victims to 'give up' on hope. They WANT them to witness the most shocking, inhumane destruction of their homes and families. They WANT some to live and spread the word of such horrendous acts. This is what terrorism is. Not only does it cause their victims to give up hope of peace, but of a normal life, and to feel dreadfully mortal - to feel their life is of no more value than that of a fish and that the next bullet may be aimed at them, and be just around the next corner.
American 6103,
and that is why that graffiti is so deplorable. Real armies are supposed to act with respect and embrace some moral fibre. The IDF behave like what they are, thugs and terrorists. That graffiti is part of the terrorist message.
Israel's goal is to extinguish Gaza, then later, West Bank, and incorporate them both into Israel. The United States knows this and backs them, their US-made strongest ally in the middle east. (US letting someone else do their dirty work for them and taking the heat off themselves.)
The HEROES here are the Palestinians, who today, survive and defy Israel by existing and getting back to normal life, eg school and rebuilding their lives.
I plead, beg anyone to tell me I'm wrong. I WANT to be wrong.
It is our job, everone of us, to speak out loudly and strongly in protest STILL, until Palestine is free of occupation and incursions.
REL,
So let me get this straight. Hamas hold one prisoner, Shalit. Israel holds over 900? (correct me if wrong) Palestinian prisoners.
In the recent incursion into Gaza, were any Hamas taken prisoner or were they executed along with babies and children at point blank range?
Dear Laila!
Thank you for the news posts. I translated the last one to Portuguese already.
The video that I would like you to see http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=1wHoMYCehdA&feature=related.
Yesterday (Jan,24,2009), in London.
Thank you.
Isabela.
Dragonfly
You are correct - Sadly, you are very correct.
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