Western activists stay in Gaza to "bear witness"

Activists from the pro-Palestinian non-governmental organisation ISM are providing their accounts of the ongoing conflict from inside the Gaza Strip. Here's one of them, along with photos.

There are currently ten members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the Gaza Strip. Their objective: "to fight Israeli oppression". Their belief: non-violent resistance. They come from Canada, Australia, Spain and the UK "to bear witness" and in the hope that their presence might dissuade the Israeli army from attacking. A few months ago, they accompanied Gaza fishermen working under the constraints imposed by the Israeli navy. These days, during Israel's operation "Cast Lead", they follow Red Cross paramedics as they evacuate Palestinian families. Though 400 foreigners were allowed to leave the Gaza Strip on 2 January, members of the ISM refuse to abscond.

The Anti-Defamation League, a US-based group that combats anti-Semitism, says that the ISM met Hamas in August, was in contact with suicide bombers, and helped to hide members of the terrorist organisation Islamic Jihad. There's even an American website called "Stop ISM" which condemns the NGO for "propaganda". ISM however refutes any link with terrorist organisations, although they don't deny the possibility of having been in contact with people close to Hamas "unknowingly".

Sharon Lock, an Australian activist, is one of the ISM members. View her account and photos.

"We thought the situation couldn't get any worse. In fact, it gets worse every day"

Sharon Lock is a volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement. She's been blogging from the Gaza Strip since she arrived there on the "Free Gaza" boat in August.

On Monday night we rode with the Red Cross ambulance. Along with the other ISM members we thought that our presence might stop Israel from targeting the service.

So far, nobody's been killed while we've been on board. However, five doctors were killed on Tuesday. One of them was Arafa, whom we know. He was putting someone injured and a dead body in the ambulance, and just as he was closing the door, he was hit by a shell. He died two hours later. He had five kids... it's terrible, but this kind of thing is happening every day. The same night, we evacuated a family with several young children. They were ok but they'd been through three nights of violent attacks. There was nothing left of their home. We took them to the hospital and gave them a room. But afterwards, they've got nowhere to go.

Since yesterday, everyone's gone into shock over something else: several schools where families were sheltering were targeted, and attacked. Over forty are dead. They thought they were safe there. And it was the Israelis who called their homes, to tell them to go to these schools. Other families are staying in basements. And you see others in the street, who've fled with their belongings.

Around 400 [foreign workers] have left Gaza, and we could have gone too. But we decided to stay, to bear witness and give our own accounts of events. We believe that people are safer if we're here. We hope that Israel will be more worried if we stay... For now, we don't really have a plan. Some of the ISM members want to go to Jabalia, others are scared to sleep in schools. But in this situation, it's hard to know what to do."

Comments

The ugly face of truth

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Wed, 28/01/2009 - 00:01.

Nothing can express the war crimes committed in Gaza by the israel's army more than the pictures of truth. see this link "http://www.wntube.net/play.php?vid=1981"

Unregistered user

Who is the terrorist?

Submitted by Lamia (not verified) on Sun, 18/01/2009 - 22:36.

WHO IS THE TERRORIST? Israel is saying she's fighting terrorism by destroying a whole town and using forbidden weapons that cause destructive injuries as stated by UN and foreign doctors were helping there, they are trying to hide what they are doing from press and painting a victim's picture on their faces. WHO IS THE TERRORIST?
They say that Arabs hate Israel. How can we expect Arabs to love Israel while she is performing continuous massacres where ever she is? Why there are lots of things not shown on the media in western countries? Why they say Israel is protecting her self and Palestine cannot do that? How come we ask Palestine to love Israel, show pleasance and grace for her, while they are humiliated, deprived of their rights. The stories about what happened in Gaza are too horrible to believe humans did so, We all know that Israel even before it existed, they are planning to expand their nation from Nile to Al forat, and that’s why they attacked Egypt before in 1967 trying to achieve their plans. Israel will not stop, They’ll always try to find an excuse to attack and steal another peace of land until they achieve their plans. And of course thanks to the USA support. Unfortunately we are living in a world where existence is for the powerful only, all organizations constructed to settle justice between nations are no longer useful, they are too week to do their role.
This link is exposing Israel’s massacres in Gaza
http://www.elfarra.ps/gallery/gaza.htm#
These are only SOME of the massacres committed

Unregistered user

What strucks me

Submitted by Falastine on Sun, 18/01/2009 - 15:09.

It really strucks how people call Pro-Palestine activists "terrorist sympathizers"!!!!!!!!

Well, let's make few points straight here. Those supporters support PALESTINIAN PEOPLE & THEIR RIGHT TO FREEDOM, and they do NOT support any militant group. Those guys sacrifice their lives in war areas like Gaza now to help & support Gazan children and families who are being killed and bombed by the IDF everyday.

I know there are many people who support Israel, and I won't call any of them "terrorist sympathizer" although I believe that what IDF doing in Gaza is PURE TERROR and SLAUGHTER of innocent people.

Greetings to you Sharon. I was I was there with you guys to volunteer and help as much as I can.

Falastine

Palestine

Because Israel won't allow

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 12/01/2009 - 13:56.

Because Israel won't allow international journalists or observers into Gaza.

Unregistered user

I didnt say GAZA I said

Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Tue, 13/01/2009 - 11:58.

I didnt say GAZA I said SOUTHERN ISRAEL,and I wonder if those so called "Western activists"[read terrorist sympithizers] are "witnessing HAMAS robbing all the aid trucks,stealing all the aid materials and selling them to the highest bidder?

Unregistered user