Gaza

Yes, and how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they’re forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind
The answer is blowin’ in the wind
– Bob Dylan

It takes 15 seconds for a rocket launched from Gaza to hit the Israeli village of Sderot according to Eric Yellen. He accompanied us to a hill just outside of Sderot, Israel so we could view Gaza from a distance (see attached photos).  He has lived in Sderot for years and co-founded Other Voice (www.othervoice.org), a grassroots volunteer initiative which realized that the violence was impacting civilians on both sides.  It began with about 20 Sderot residents who wanted to address the cycle of violence. The group decided to develop relationships with Gaza residents who shared their vision of hope for better future.  Now,  every Other Voice meeting includes Israeli members talking to Gaza members via the phone for 30 minutes. They share what it’s like to live under the constant bombing threat, coordinate communication and activist activities.

Israeli defense systems immediately detect a rocket launch from Gaza and activates siren warnings. Sderot residents need to be constantly aware of accessing a safe place wherever they may be (home, school, store, etc.) when they hear the siren warning.  When there is an increased threat or right after a bombing, many families sleep together in their designated safe place instead of their own bedrooms. According to Sderot municipality statistics, since 2001 Gaza rockets have claimed the lives of 25 Israelis; 9 of which were residents of Sderot, and 3 of whom were children under the age of five.

Life in Gaza can be described in one word – harsh. For most of its 1.82 million residents,  Gaza is a virtual prison because of Israel’s military siege. It  has a population density similar to Boston, MA. Gaza is about 139 square miles in size (about 25 miles of Mediterranean coastline and an average of less than 6 miles wide). Picture living in a large urban environment  with an undrinkable water supply and electricity available only 4 – 6 hours per day.

Gaza mortality statistics related to the conflict vary but even conservative Israeli estimates report over 1000 Gaza civilians’ deaths in 2014 alone. The health care system continues to deteriorate. As with the West Bank, individuals with serious conditions can only receive treatment in Israel. Gaza Ministry of Health reports, patients are frequently denied permits to leave Gaza for treatment by the Israeli authorities, with 40 percent denied or delayed in February 2017. According to the UN, the percentage of denied or delayed permits has increased each year since 2012.

After our time with Eric, Nomika Zion graciously hosted us in her Sderot home. Nomika is an Israeli peace activist who is on the Other Voice board. She is an author and international speaker. In 2009, Nomika was invited to New York by the Survivors Corp to receive the Niarchos Prize for raising awareness of the 2008-2009 Gaza war’s impact on civilian life.

Despite her past accomplishments and continued commitment, Nomika shared that she is quite concerned about current societal perspectives and political policies. The conflict has continued for so long that people are numb when it comes to war. The conservative mood in Israel has evolved whereby people critical of current policies are not considered patriotic.

You may recall that I recently cited Bob Dylan in a previous e-letter. This time it was Nomiika’s idea. Our visit concluded with Nomika saying we gave her hope since we represent various countries and are committed to broadening awareness when we get back home.She feels this type of grassroots communication is Bob Dylan’s ‘answer blowing in the wind”.

From MC blog