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Report from Gaza

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Report From Gaza

By Stephen DeGange

Most of us don’t get to visit the headlines. I had such an opportunity recently week when I joined a convoy bringing humanitarian aid to the besieged people in Gaza. I was joined on this trip by my son, Powell, a graduate of Berkeley High School and UC Davis. Powell works as a labor union organizer and activist with Unite Here in San Diego and has taken a special interest in Middle East affairs since majoring in political science at Davis.

While flying to Cairo and joining a caravan of buses across the Egyptian desert, the Sinai Peninsula, and through the heavily fortified border crossing at Rafah into a war zone might not seem like a typical father-son bonding excursion, we were each called to a responsibility to try to lend succor to a desperate, war-ravaged, brutalized group of fellow inhabitants of the planet.

Current conditions in Gaza have been well documented, if not in the mainstream North American media, then certainly on progressive Internet sites. The historical ravages visited upon the Palestinian people by their “neighbor,” Israel, are similarly well known. It began, of course, in 1948 with the displacement of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes. Resisters were murdered or turned into refugees. Over the subsequent 61 years, the settler state has expanded its borders with the brute force of soldiers, tanks and bulldozers. United States taxpayers have picked up much of the tab for these “settlements.” (It is estimated that U.S. aid to Israel from 1949 to 2000 was close to $100 billion. In fiscal year 2003 Israel received a foreign military financing grant of $3.1 billion and a $600 million grant for economic security in addition to $11 billion in commercial loan guarantees. This total aid package of nearly $15 billion makes Israel by far the largest single recipient of U.S. aid.)

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British anthropologist jeremy keenan on the dark sahara americas56in Africa

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British Anthropologist Jeremy Keenan on “The Dark Sahara: America’s56in Africa”
Dark-sahara-web

As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues her seven-nation tour of Africa, we hear from British anthropologist Jeremy Keenan. He traces AFRICOM, the US military command in Africa, to a 2003 kidnapping of European tourists. The hostage taking was widely blamed on Islamic militants thought to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, but Keenan argues that the Bush administration and the Algerian government were the ones responsible.

Guest:

Jeremy Keenan, Professor of social anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. His latest book is The Dark Sahara: America’s56in Africa. Its sequel, The Dying Sahara, will be released next year.

AMY GOODMAN: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has emphasized that her seven-country tour of Africa is intended to promote democracy, fight corruption, and boost US investments in African trade and agriculture.

We turn now to another issue that’s widely expected to be discussed on every stop: AFRICOM, the US military command in Africa, which has been publicly opposed by every country on the continent except Liberia.

Now Secretary Clinton will not be visiting the countries in and around the oil- and gas-rich Sahara desert—Mali, Niger, Chad, Algeria and Mauritania. But a new book by British anthropologist Jeremy Keenan argues this area is crucial to understanding the birth of AFRICOM and the Bush administration’s expansion of the global56into Africa.

Keenan is a professor of social anthropology at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and has spent over four decades working in and writing about this region. He traces AFRICOM and the US military concern over al-Qaeda’s presence in Africa back to the February 2003 kidnapping of thirty-two European tourists in Algeria’s Sahara desert. The hostage taking was widely blamed on Islamic militants thought to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, but Professor Keenan argues that the Bush administration and the Algerian government were the ones to blame.

His latest book is called The Dark Sahara: America’s56in Africa. Its sequel is called The Dying Sahara, will be released next year.

Anjali Kamat and I spoke with Professor Keenan last week and asked him to lay out the story.     

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Irish cyclists arrive in Gaza after trans Europe bike ride ”minus support van

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Irish Cyclists Arrive in Gaza After Trans-Europe Bike Ride —Minus Support Van

 

Irish cyclists
Cycling close to double the distance of the Tour de France, four Irish cyclists journeyed through 14 countries, from Ireland to Gaza. The team of six students, including two in a support vehicle, arrived in Jerusalem Aug. 3 and attempted to cross into Gaza on Aug 4. They made it through on Aug. 5, without the van. Their 4,000 km cycle aimed to raise money in support of an emergency appeal to provide for neo-natal care and medical resources for burn victims in Gaza.

It was Eoghan Quinn’s idea. The 21-year-old town-planning student is a type-1 diabetic, and after he learned of the restrictions on medical supplies reaching Gaza he was appalled.

“As a diabetic, I am completely dependant on constant access to medicine… If I had diabetes out there, I wouldn’t actually live. Without medical supplies, I’d have no possibility of living. That’s how I started thinking about it, by putting myself in their position,” Eoghan said.

They set off on their arduous journey from Ireland on June 22 and cycled over 150 km. a day, resting only once a week. “We are really looking forward to reaching Gaza,” said cyclist Ronan Sheehan. The 21-year-old pharmacy student added: “we have overcome hypothermia in France, several falls, some on busy highways, and survived being chased by wild hounds in central Turkey. It’s been tough but epic.”

The four cyclists, including John Maher (30),  have been assisted by a small support crew which includes John Lyttle, 23, from Derry, who said, “I am in absolute awe of the lads for what they have achieved so far and through my background as a student physiotherapist and first aider, I aim to help in any small way in the completion of their mission.” Tom Watts (21), from Sheffield who studies psychology also drove in the back-up vehicle, which they had planned to donate to a rehabilitation hospital that was partially destroyed in the January offensive. Egypt wouldn’t permit the van to pass through the border.

The intrepid travelers have received support from around the world, including a formal motion of commendation passed by the Scottish Parliament and a reception in the Irish Parliament hosted by Irish MPs and Senators. As they traveled through each country, the team documented the trip on their website via an innovative audio blog that let them phone and ‘phlog’ direct to the site.

According to cyclist Gearóid, Eoghan’s 29-year-old brother, a law student, Gaza’s medical infrastructure has been crippled by the two-year-long siege that has led to widespread malnutrition and many preventable deaths. “We are working with the health care charity MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians) to try in some small way to alleviate the situation,” said Gearóid.

“We will continue in our efforts to raise money for our charity (MAP) via our website ,” said Tom Watts. “All monies raised online go directly to their operations on the ground,” the psychology major added.

Contact the project coordinator, Gráinne Quinn for more information. Tel:  00-353-872181545 / 0549-920591. Visit to read about their trip. Donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians http://www.bmycharity.com/V2/pathwaystopalestine.

Read their wonderful blogs, including one written from Jerusalem as they tried to get permission to cycle to Gaza:

Two nights ago we crossed from Jordan into Israel via the Sheik Hussein Bridge. On our first attempt we arrived too late (8pm) and had to turn back to Irbid, eventually finding a tiny hostel that actually had rooms available. The next morning we stocked up on food and water and prepared for a long day at the crossing.

Without boring you with the details of stripping a support vehicle we were permitted to enter Israel after a mere 7 hour wait. Upon reaching the Green Line, and the West Bank we jumped in the van just as the sun was setting, and yee-hawed our way to Jerusalem, exhausted, excited and a little disoriented.

The road felt like all the other roads, that was until we tried to turn in towards Jericho in search of food. Our headlights caught sight of the typical rubble barricades that prevent access to and from many Palestinian towns. We kept motoring and made it to Jerusalem.

The next day we immediately began planning our entry to Gaza. Its strange, Palestine is so fragmented its hard to know when exactly you have arrived. Pathways to Palestine had arrived in the East Jerusalem, but was really aiming for Gaza. We don’t want to get to comfortable here or declare mission accomplished. We set out to raise awareness about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

People are still living in the rubble from the December invasion, we spoke to Dr. Elessi from Waffa hospital, he regularly keeps contact with us and gives us a glimpse of life in Gaza. He told me that the kids from Al Jaazeera sports club want to host us and cycle with us the length of Gaza, a mere 40km. We so desperately want to make that cycle.

Eoghan still has a good supply of gluten free food and we also wanted to leave all of this in Gaza. Today we will find out if our application to enter Gaza from Israel or Egypt will succeed.

As I write journalists staying in our hostel and heading out to cover the eviction of 52 Palestinians from their houses just around the corner, there is a big international civil society presence here to protest. We have been told that once the family were removed settlers moved in within a matter of hours. Something tells me that PR is not high on the agenda of the authorities here. What hope do the Irish boys in Spandex have of getting in?

 

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Exclusive statement

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STATEMENT BY RONNIE KASRILS

FORMER MINISTER OF INTELLIGENCE

WEDNESDAY 5 AUGUST 2009

REQUEST TO FILE CHARGES IN SOUTH AFRICA AGAINST SUSPECTS ACCUSED OF WAR CRIMES & CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY DURING OPERATION CAST LEAD

I would like to extend my gratitude to the distinguished members of the press and others present here today.

Our presentation at this press conference symbolises an important milestone in pursuit of human rights and humanitarian law. It also highlights the leading role that South Africa may play in ensuring that individuals guilty of international crimes are not able to act with impunity.

The request to file charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Israeli and other suspects arising from Israel ’s practices reflects similar initiatives taking place elsewhere in the world such as in Britain , Spain , France , New Zealand , Morocco and Belgium . The governments of Bolivia and Venezuela are preparing their own cases and in this context, it is important that South Africa , with its experience of apartheid criminality, should afford this issue immediate attention.

A joint request was made on Monday this week to the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation and six organs of state including the Office of the State President, the Ministry of Police, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Office of the Director General in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Ministry of Safety and Security, and the Office of the Commissioner of Police.

The request appeals to the authorities to investigate and if appropriate, prosecute in South Africa individuals involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel ’s Operation Cast Lead.

The request is supported by overwhelming evidence, including reports from internationally respected organisations like Human Rights Watch, and affidavits in excess of 3500 pages to seek the investigation of perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the December-January 2008/9 brutal military onslaught on Gaza by the Israeli Defence Force. This followed an 18-month siege and blockade which saw an occupied population experience starvation, deprivation, displacement and ongoing trauma on a horrendous scale that has shocked humanity.

The Gaza onslaught resulted in the deaths of 1400 Palestinians, the majority of whom were civilians. Of these approximately 40 % were women and children. More than 5400 Palestinians were seriously injured, many with the most horrific wounds, burns and amputations and countless others are psychologically, physically and mentally traumatised. This is in comparison to 10 Israeli soldiers killed (four by own fire and 2 Israeli citizens).

These acts of barbarity did not spare the innocent lives of a besieged occupied people. It is common knowledge that Israel attacked and destroyed schools, places of worship (mosques), shelters, hospitals and United Nations installations, such as the UNWRA school and relief aid warehouses. Israel ’s offensive destroyed about 22,000 buildings and is estimated to have caused 1.9-billion US dollars worth of destruction. The actions are abhorrent and profoundly in breach of international humanitarian law and constitute evidence of international crimes.

The Israeli attack and bombardment of Gaza has been extensively documented and horrific scenes of death, injury and destruction of the civilian population were televised to the world. Evidence collected from eye-witnesses and those injured as well as United Nations and other investigative reports, including the testimony of Israeli combat soldiers and physicians (including South Africans) provide compelling proof that suggests Israelis have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel ‘s refusal to allow access to the United Nations investigative team under the leadership of former South African Justice of the Constitutional Court , Richard Goldstone, constitutes further proof of their intention to conceal their crimes.

The request has been brought by two South African non-governmental organisations, the Palestinian Solidarity Alliance and the Media Review Network. It incorporates intensive research and evidence collated over the last few months. The request covers three key areas:

                          1.The commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity;
                          2.The crime of apartheid;
                          3.The investigation of foreign and local individuals who have participated in the commission of these crimes
                            crimes during Operation Cast Lead

The complainants have retained legal counsel in the form of respected international jurists, Professor John Dugard and Professor Max du Plessis.


War crimes and crimes against humanity

On the issue of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the complaint provides compelling and comprehensive evidence which justifies the investigation of certain named individuals for international crimes under South Africa ’s International Criminal Court Act 2002. While I am not at liberty to disclose the names of the suspects, what makes these crimes of particular concern to South Africa is that they appear to be committed within a greater political context of apartheid and colonialism.

For 40 years the political organs of the United Nations, states and individuals have accused Israel of consistent, systematic and gross violation of human rights and humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories. In 2004 the International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion, affirmed that Israel ’s actions in the then occupied territory, did indeed violate fundamental norms of human rights and humanitarian law and cannot be justified on grounds of self defence or necessity.

Apartheid

One of the questions raised in the complaint is whether individuals are guilty of the crime of “Apartheid” and that question accordingly requires the authorities to consider the nature of Israel ’s belligerent occupation of the occupied Palestinian territories and to assess whether Israel is practising a form of colonialism or apartheid in its treatment of the Palestinian people.

Numerous experts, organisations and investigations have concluded that Israel practices systematic oppression and domination.

Our own Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa (HSRC) has released findings that Israel is practicing both colonialism and apartheid in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The study represents 15 months of research by a team of experts in international law from South Africa , the United Kingdom , Israel and the West Bank .

With regard to “Apartheid”, the team found that Israel ’s laws and policies in the OPT fit the definition of apartheid in the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid.
The HSRC report affirms the belief of many that Israel is responsible for the crime of apartheid and that there is no doubt that it is an institutionalised regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over others.

Lieutenant Colonel David Benjamin

An obviously urgent and relevant aspect of the request today is for the South African authorities to facilitate the immediate investigation of Lieutenant Colonel David Benjamin, born in South Africa , but who has worked for the Israeli Occupation Forces for the past 17 years. According to recent reports, Benjamin served in the Military Advocates Corps as a legal adviser during Operation Cast Lead.

I have already mentioned that there is mounting and publicly available evidence that the Israeli Defence Force committed international crimes during Operation Cast Lead.  These crimes include the deliberate disproportionate use of massive force, including the use of white phosphorous, against the essentially trapped civilian population; the use of prohibited weapons in areas densely populated by civilians; the targeting of children, women and civilians during the military assault, and the denial of humanitarian assistance to the wounded and dead.

Benjamin is reported to have said that the Gaza “campaign was a long time in the works and we [the Military Advocates Corps] were intimately involved in the planning…”  He is also reported to have said that “Approval of targets which can be attacked, methods of warfare – it all has gone through us.”

In these words, Benjamin appears to have associated himself with the planning and commission of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Operation Cast Lead.

On the question of the other South African perpetrators of international crimes, there is sufficient evidence in the GAZA DOCKET to justify a full and proper investigation by the National Director of Public Prosecutions and the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation with a view to their prosecution before a specially designated South African court for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The request to the South African authorities follows years of failed efforts to obtain justice through the Israeli judicial system.

The complainants are seeking to bring war crimes suspects to justice outside Israel in accordance with legal principles of universal jurisdiction now codified by our Parliament in South Africa ’s International Criminal Court Act 27 of 2002.

The Act ensures an open and fair trial system of war crime suspects, both for foreigners who visit our country, and for suspects that are South African citizens or permanent residents. The allegations must be heard by an independent court, applying international standards.

The complainants seek the prosecution of those responsible for international crimes as South Africa ’s contribution to upholding standards of justice and humanity and to combat the culture of impunity in Israel which similarly prevailed during the darkest days of apartheid in South Africa .

We, as South Africans see this as our moral duty and responsibility and we are hopeful that justice will prevail.

MEDIA REVIEW NETWORK                          PALESTINE  SOLIDARITY  ALLIANCE              
Tel: + 27 (0) 12 374 6987                                Tel: +27 82 336 6711 / +27 84 786 8937

Fax: + 27 (0) 12 374 2073                               E-Mail: palestinesa@gmail.com

E-Mail: webmaster@mediareviewnet.com     Website: www.endoccupation.org.za

Website: www.mediareviewnet.com

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