Wednesday, May 02, 2007

In Arish

Well Yousuf and I have made it safely, albeit exhausted after two days of land and plane travel), as far as Al-Arish, Egypt, 50 km from the RAfah Crossing.

The Crossing is currently closed, but this time b/c of a tiff between Egyptian Authorities and the the Palestinians.

Apparently,demonstrators stormed the Egyptian embassy in Gaza city on Monday demanding that Egypt release five Palestinian men detained without charge in Cairo jails for three years now. Apparently, they were imprisoned for illegaly crossing into Egypt to seek medical treatment (it is extremely difficult for Palestinian men and boys to cross into Egypt even with a valid reason, and impossible for those without ID cards ).

Protesters then tried to block an Egyptian official's car, demanding he speak to the crowd, and chaos ensued. In a protest of its own, Egypt has shut down its side of the crossing, effectively collectively punishing the entire population of Gaza.

So again, we wait, but negotiations are under way to placate our "Egyptian friends" (seeing as how friends are in scarce supplies these days....).

I'm not sure why the protest took place Monday-perhaps it was the anniversary. Picked up the story from the street here, but have seen a few wire reports on it.

Aside from this, the UN has reported that Israel unilaterally shut down Rafah Crossing for more than 50% of the time in the month of April.

6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's really sad to hear the subsequent catastrophes. I don't know where to start?! The problem of Palestinians not being able to get proper health care and not being able to travel 'normally'? Or the problem that Egypt detains them indefinitely for trying anyway? Or the problem that the people storm the Egyptian embassy or rather that Egypt then closes the border leaving yet again Palestinians with a devastating hardship?

As though it wasn't enough that Israel was closing the borders (that they shouldn't be owning) every now and then...

Stay strong and thanks for the update..

1:24 AM  
Blogger airball said...

hy, i didnt know that the situation there so critical...youre very brave...greetings to you and yousuf from croatia

11:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

may Allah help you sister and all people there ..
its too hot these days , i am sure it is so hard to be there now .
The israeli will never leave us to live a normal life , this is the manner of the israeli occupation , unjust and unfair.
we hope to live till the day , which we will have a free border and free land , insha'Allah!
fe aman Allah
Abdallah
Gaza strip

2:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My thoughts are with you. I hope you understand that for all your heartaches that there is always someone who is doing all they can to make a difference for Palestine. Please know that we don't forget you.

7:54 AM  
Blogger Sapphire said...

you are beautiful. your son is beautiful. and you and all palestinians are in my prayers always and always.

11:48 AM  
Blogger Ziz said...

i'm praying for you, inshallah you can make it back safely.

wassalam!

10:40 PM  

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