Memories of Gaza
In 2010 Kia Ora Gaza as part of the Viva Palestina mission to break the siege of Gaza, after staring down the Egyptian Mubarak regime, (which was already on the ropes), in defiance of the Zionist occupiers we were able to get through the Rafah Crossing from Egypt into Gaza.
The guy in the video is Ismail Haniyeh. I heard Ismail Haniyeh speak at the reception given for us on our successful arrival in Gaza City. I remember it well.
The Palestinians had set up a couple of white gazebos on a small stretch of green grass about half the size of a tennis court. This small grassed area was on a small rise overlooking the beach and the Mediterranean. This was the only green grass I ever saw in Gaza. I am guessing that it must have been specially watered and cared for, for this very purpose, the hosting visiting delegations.
Under the Gazebo tables had been set up for us and a lunch laid out. As we were eating, Ismael Haniyeh was standing giving a speech in English welcoming us.
As Ismael Haniyel finished speaking a small queue formed of people from our group wanting to shake his hand and exchange a few words. I am sorry that I never took the opportunity, I was too busy stuffing my face. The food was good but simple, some sort of mince and rice. But I felt a little guilty eating it, knowing how little the people of Gaza had to spare for themselves let alone visiting guests. (Of which they don’t get many) After eating we followed Ismail Haniyeh and his group as he went and met his people. I witnessed the genuine affection the people in the street seemed to have for him. Ismail Haniyeh entered a Mosque to address to his people. We were asked to wait outside. Everything was low key and modest. After all the adult locals had entered the Mosque for prayers, while us visiting foreigners were gathered outside the mosque. A lot of children gathered around us and tried to talk to us in broken English. They were surprised and exited that obvious foreigners had turned up in their midst. It is hard to describe, the lack of ceremony, the narrow dusty streets, the crowds of children, the old buildings, the funny little mosque about the size of the average large church or marae in Auckland. I was wearing a Warriors football Jersey that my friend Steve Phillips from Ngati Whatua had given to me and made me promise to wear it when I was in Gaza. The children asked me if I was a footballer. I had to explain that the shirt was a gift. They were a bit disappointed.
These children would all be young adults now.
Where are they now. My thoughts go out to them.
Patrick O’Dea is a staunch Unionist and human rights activist
Go Pat!
We need to get thousands more out on the street apparently.
The lack of reporting on the thousands in the streets in Aotearoa is disgusting.
Quick question for the Hammas leader, was the electronic music festival on October 7th a military target?
“….was the electronic music festival on October 7th a military target? Man Human Male
A good question. If it was a Palestinian festival it would be a target.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmwTpotLKAs
When the Zionists are hosting their next rave party on occupied stolen land, will it be on the Mediterranean beach front of occupied Gaza?
When they are dancing on the stolen land and mass graves of tens of thousands of dead Palestinians, do you think it could be a military target?
Everyone knows there is an international boycott of festivals and concerts held in the Apartheid state
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/dec/25/lorde-cancels-israel-concert-after-pro-palestinian-campaign
Now that Israel have added genocide to their list of crimes against the Palestinians more people than ever will be heeding it.
I have a similar photo taken of children crowding around me in a town in Syria. My memories of the Middle East are of friendliness, curiosity, generosity, and street-wise wisdom. I have to keep reminding myself of this every time I see the news.
I, too, wonder what those children are doing now.
When the US and co bomb civilians in Gaza they are bad.
When the US and co bomb civilians in Donetsk they are good.
This does not compute
You disgusting liar, using the Palestinians grief to justify Russia’s equally brutal imperialism.
Haniyeh’s a billionaire now O’Dea. And of course he’s far too grand to live in Gaza. But that’s elitism for you. Don’t feel too guilty about stuffing your face.
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