Friday, 24 July 2009

Vivid reminders of the war, Gaza



Vivid reminders of the war, Gaza

STORIES NEED JUSTICE


COURT IS THE ONLY WAY TO JUSTICE
FROM MISSION ANNEXES TO GAZA




Name of Victim: Ahmed Fawaz Saleh

Age: 5 years old
Sex: Male
Date of Injury or Death: January 17, 2009
Place of Injury or Death: His house, In Jabalia, north of Gaza
Cause Injury or Death: Israeli missile pounding his house at the Barn Roundabout
Details of the last hours:
In Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, loud laughs and a lot of play noise came from a small house. Their mother looked at the faces of her four innocent children, the oldest was 8 years old. While trying to find a way to save them from the ongoing war everywhere on Gaza. She thought her sister's house, which was not far from hers, might be a safer place for her children, the pupils of her eyes. She actually took the first step to carry out her decision. She packed their clothes but no sooner had they stepped out of their room than the Israeli tanks centered on Al-Kashef hill in Gaza pounded their room andkilled two of her children. In a few minutes, the scene was the most excruciating one for the mother. Thesituation for the bereft mother was indescribable. She could hardly speak about her catastrophe after her son Ahmed, 5 years, and Fawzia, her only daughter, were killed. The other two children were under treatmentalong with their father. The aunt described the scene “my sister had exerted all her efforts to resist the plumes of smoke to find her little four children, but finally she collapsed in front of their torn bodies” With grief the mother remembers Ahmed, the youngest of the three sons, “He was quiet and obedient. He conceded to my instructions immediately. When I asked him to keep quiet or to stop playing with his sister Fawzia, he immediately complied” Like all Gazan children, Ahmed was afraid of everything the occupationforces did. He used to stick to his mother and pull at her dress's tail in fear of her leaving him alone.“Whenever he heard the sound of missiles and rockets, Ahmed cried a lot out of fear, grabbed his sister,Fawzia, and ran to me.” the mother says.
His Dreams:
Going to kindergarten was Ahmed's dream, “I will go to the kindergarten Mum with my cousin Abdullah…I will spend all my pocket money and bring you and Fawzia sweets every day.” The mother says “his dream will never come true…All alone I keep dreaming of them day after day…see them in my dreams play and laugh, but in fact they have gone leaving me all alone; and they will never come back again.”

Name of Victim: Maryam Nizar Rayan
Age:10 years old
Sex: Female
Date of Injury or Death: January 1 2009
Place of Injury or Death: Her house, In Jablia Camp, North Gaza Strip
Cause Injury or Death: Israeli F16 missile pounded her house
Details of the last hours:


Under a blue sky, Maryam Nizar Rayyan, 10 years old, played with her eleven brothers and sisters on the roof of their house, in the company of her father and his four wives. On the 4th day of the Israeli assault on Gaza, at the sky, but never expected that those planes came to put an end to her childhood as well as to the lives of many members of her family who were at home at that time. innocent Maryam heard the sound of the Israeli F16 planes and looked

On the 1st day of the New Year 2009, at 02:00 pm, Israeli F16 planes targeted the Rayyans's house with three missiles. The whole house was ruined and collapsed on the heads of its residents. Maryam was killed along with13 members of her family; the father and his four wives in addition to 7 of her sisters and brothers. No one of the family had survived but 3 brothers who were not at the house then. Maryyam and the other family bodies were picked up from under the rubble. Dr. Mu`awiya Hassanein (the manager of ambulance and emergency in Gaza) says, “Most of the bodies of the Rayyans were found distorted, which indicates how much violent the bomb was.”


More than 10 thousands mourners attended the funeral of the Rayyans the following day.” Maryam was loved a lot by her father who asked her mother to sew a beautiful dress especially for her. Maryam was over the moon with her new dress; she wore it every time she went to play outside her home. Amid all the girls of the district, Maryam attracted the attention of everybody by her innocence and beauty in that dress.

Her Dreams
Belal, Maryam’s Brother, remembers “Maryam was very polite; she called my wife as aunt and addressed the old with titles. She was very hard worker who taught her class mates some subjects, especially English, uponthe request of her teachers. Maryam spoke a lot with everybody, but I loved her talking about the big dream ofgaining her postgraduate studies she was the only one of the Rayyans' who wished to study medicine.”


Belal adds “Maryam, the promising pupil of the fourth grade, dreamt of a better tomorrow and future andeagerly awaited the moment she can go back to her school and kept saying “when I come back to school, I willdo this and that”. Yet, the occupation forces deprived her of her dream and from a peaceful life like all otherchildren across the world.”


Mona, Belal’s daughter, misses Maryam a lot; she talks to her mother about Maryam “May Allah rest her soul; she was so kind and patiently taught her friends. Maryam observed all prayers in the mosque of her district.

After Al-Asr (Afternoon prayer) she used to memorize the Noble Quran with her friends.”When the assault on Gaza came to an end, Mona went to the school for the first time after the death of Maryam and all her uncles. Standing before the pupils in the class, Maryam’s teacher could not control her tears and mourned her most promising pupil, Maryam.


there are plenty of such stories here in Gaza that needed your focus and needed justice as well.


Friday, 10 July 2009

It is really crime


It is really crime when the children of Gaza still think of the cruel 27 Dec 2008 WAR on GAZA.

Actually they are talented children but in drawing the scenes of war and the prison.

Let the pictures speak……..!!!!!!!








Monday, 29 June 2009

Gazans aspire peace & stability, Israel aspires killing & instability

A Diary form Gaza

Ayman Quader

29 June 2009

Gazans aspire peace & stability, Israel aspires killing & instability











6 missiles hit save area of Al Buraij camp, Middle of the Gaza Strip today noon (terrifying voice) Recalling the scene of the WAR on Gaza….. unhumanity

Today, at 3 pm in Gaza time, horrendous sounds heard in Jouher Al deek, east of Al Buraj Refugee of the middle area of the Gaza Strip. There were about 6 missiles fired form the Israeli side toward the people of Al Deek district causing dreadful feeling for all the people of the middle area as the voices were extremely high and audible and took them back 6 months ago.

The 23 nights of war haven’t been forgotten form the Children memory, specially the children of camps. Consequently, I saw some children started running to get a save place in their home recalling back the same sound of missiles during the while of war (27 Dec. 2008). Ghdeer is a young girl (10 years old) living in Al Buraj Refugee Camp couldn’t control herself when she heard the sound of missiles, I found her dramatically confused. I directly pointed out the reason but I wanted to ask her WHY???!!!! . she immediately replied it was the GAZA WAR coming back again. I took her aside and started talking to her as I always like to here from children. She told me her own experience in the day and in the nights of the war. She narrated her experience as if it is a play and needed to be dramatized. acutely I am younger than her but I have become assured that those days will never be forgotten from the children memory. IT WILL NEVER!!!!!!!!

"All we aspire is the prevail of peace and security not killing and fear" Ghadder ended her speech with me and she has left me thinking of the great sin that those young kids committed to merit the way they treated. What they needed was to grow up safely and in happiness.

photo: Sameh A. Habeeb

ِِArmy shell kills a 17-year old young woman, wounds her brother in Gaza

Palestinian Medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported Thursday that a 17-year-old girl was killed, and her 24-year-old brother was injured when the army fired an artillery shell at an area close to Juhr Ed Deek in Central Gaza.

File - Image by Palestine-Info
File - Image by Palestine-Info

The slain young woman was identified as Hiyam Abu Ayish, 17, and her brother was identified as Husam, 24.

The sources added that the shell directly hit the house of Abu Ayish.

The Israeli army claimed that Palestinian fighters fired several homemade shells, and that it is most likely that a Palestinian shell struck the house of Abu Ayish.

Meanwhile, Israeli online daily, Haaretz, said that according to Dr. Muawiya Hassanen, an official at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, 3-yeard-old child, and three other relatives of Abu Ayish were also wounded.

Hamas sources reported that the slain girl is actually a 3-year-old child.

Palestinian officials in Gaza denied the claims of the Israeli military and said that the fighters targeted the army with RPG shells, but the house which was struck by a shell leading to the civilian casualties, was completely destroyed, and an RPG shells cannot cause this kind of destruction.

http://www.imemc.org/article/61025



========================

Ayman T. Quader
blogger based in
Gaza Strip
Humanitarian, Child Relief Worker
Gaza Strip,
Palestine
Mob: 00972599448628
E-mail: ayman.qauder@gmail.com
ayman.quader@yahoo.com
Skype: peaceforgaza
Facebook: Ayman Quader
Web: www.peaceforgaza.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/ayman.qauder
=============================

Sunday, 21 June 2009

THE DREAMS OF GAZA’S CHILDREN ….. A TRUE NARRATIVE


THE DREAMS OF GAZA’S CHILDREN ….. A TRUE NARRATIVE

Ayman Quader
21 June 2009



Since the establishment of the Palestinian refugee camps in 1949 as part of the aftermath of the Palestine-Israel conflict, the Palestinian refugees have been gravely suffering and are considered the longest suffering from this injustice. They are denied the basic access to life itself. It is worth mentioning that the refugee camps were established as a temporary-living solution for the refugees after they fled or were expelled from their original homes. The living condition of the Palestinian refugee is seriously miserable and lacks the basic daily necessities of life which are needed for a healthy development. The Palestinian refugee problem is totally complex regarding the living conditions as the people live under the line of poverty and are struggling

















The family of Al Aqra’a is a fatherless family living in Dair Al Balah Refugee camp in the centre of the GazaStrip. The long suffering of this particular family is representative of all living in these wretched camps. The situation of this family worsened a few years ago during a siege of Gaza as they lost their sole breadwinner and have been without any means of support since.
















Ali Aqran, aged 9 , describes his living conditions as a living burial for him and his family. “We have been living under very harsh living conditions. As for me a 9 year old child what did I do wrong to be treated so cruelly”? The family of Ali consists of 5 people including the mother who struggling to get her siblings a decent life. They live in a structure that is not meant to be a home. The ‘house’ was built of different materials but does not include cement. The only concrete-roofed room was totally destroyed in the recent war on Gaza as this room was hit by a missile during one of the attacks. This room has become a room for the children’s pet cats, not suitable for humans. The rest of the ‘house’ is made of wood that is reinforced with broken asbestos sheets. It is unbearably hot during the summer months. The visitor’s room is sparely furnished with makeshift furniture of very poor quality.
















Most families that lost the main breadwinner of the family lost the emotional support as well. The responsibility of sustaining the family and the increasing demands, in these cases, falls on the shoulders of the mother. They mainly depend of on the charities and the assistance from others.
















Ali and his other two brothers usually sleep out of the room, under the sky as the only available hut is only for the mother and the sister. They do not have enough space to sleep inside so the available the space is reserved for the mother and the sister.

















I asked Ali about his own personal childhood experiences during the recent war on Gaza. “we were passing through very critical condition during the time of war as we did not have any safe place any more.” He continued, “look! Look! Look! there is not strong roof that could protect us from the nearby Israeli fire and we were randomly targeted by the Israeli warships as we live near the sea”. Ali added that “we did not evacuate our house during the time day of the war as the UNRWA school shelters were faraway from our house so we kept close to each other. One day in the morning, dozens of shrapnel directly hit our house as well our neighbors and critically injured my friend Mohammed.”

















When I asked Ali how he usually spends his spare time, he took a deep breath and replied “I do have spare time to play, but I do not have a space to play. As we are fatherless children, I always try hard to help my mother in taking care of my young siblings and our house”. I regularly go to the nearby sea and spend time their with my friends playing on the beach and walking. Sometimes, when we hear a voice of the Israeli warship firing its leads toward the fishermen, we run back to our homes” added Ali.



















“I hope we could have spare time like any other young children in the world. I aspire as a Palestinian child to get my rights to play and to have fun like the rest of the world’s children. I hope that conflict, war, violence comes to an end and people live in a peaceful society. The nature of people should be the nature of freedom and security not the nature of killing, hatred, attack and destruction"




More photos from this narrative can be seen HERE


Saturday, 30 May 2009

Yasser waiting the death

Alert for action……Save Gaza children










Gaza, May 15, (Pal Telegraph) - Yasser Ahmed Al Swasi is a 12 year old child living in the Gaza Strip where the ongoing siege still suffocates 1.5 million Gazans. Gazans are not permitted to leave the strip, even for medical care denials are frequent. Yasser hasn’t left his own bed for two years, as he suffers critical health problems. Yassers' life depends on a respiratory machine, he cannot breathe on his own. The recent diagnosis of Yasser was quadriplegia, and punctured larynx. He has been transferred to an Egyptian hospital for an operation that will cost $150, 000. "The surgical operation will be performed by an American specialist doctor".
Inquiring about his condition out of curiosity, I asked him "How are you Yasser?" In a very tiny voice full of sadness he replied "I have no chance to live as I am bedridden since two years ago, and nothing changed". His condition is severe, due to paralysis he's unable to do anything without assistance. Moving closer to him, I can see his body keeps shaking. Yasser requires moment to moment care from his parents. The medical device which enables him to breath is powered by electricity. He ans his family live in constant fear of power cuts.
Yasser has not received any education since his accident, due to his bedridden status. "Yasser is my oldest son. He is so clever and he always keeps good reputation among his peers and the people around" said the father. "As all young children who witnessed the recent war in Gaza, Yasser struggled emotionally during the bombing and air strikes" his father added. During my visit, I noticed a completely destroyed home closely to Yasser's.
When the neighboring home was destroyed, Yasser was left without power for an extended period, forced to rely on backup generators to survive. "We were so scared of his health condition deteriorating during the war" said his father. His father nformed us his medical operation is so sensitive, and the operations necessary for improvement very costly. "No one helping us to afford this operation, it costs $150 000; I keep searching for associations to help us find funding to improve Yassers health condition" said the father.
=========================
Ayman T. Quader
Peace Activist
Humanitarian, Child Relief Worker
Gaza Strip, Palestine
Mob: 00972599448628
Skype: peaceforgaza
Facebook: Ayman Quader
=============================

Friday, 15 May 2009

After baby Feras, child Yasser waiting death

After baby Feras, child Yasser waiting death
Ayman Quader
15 May 2009

















Gaza, May 15, (Pal Telegraph) - Yasser Ahmed Al Swasi is a 12 year old child living in the Gaza Strip where the ongoing siege still suffocates 1.5 million Gazans. Gazans are not permitted to leave the strip, even for medical care denials are frequent. Yasser hasn’t left his own bed for two years, as he suffers critical health problems. Yassers' life depends on a respiratory machine, he cannot breathe on his own. The recent diagnosis of Yasser was quadriplegia, and punctured larynx. He has been transferred to an Egyptian hospital for an operation that will cost $150, 000. "The surgical operation will be performed by an American specialist doctor".


Inquiring about his condition out of curiosity, I asked him "How are you Yasser?" In a very tiny voice full of sadness he replied "I have no chance to live as I am bedridden since two years ago, and nothing changed". His condition is severe, due to paralysis he's unable to do anything without assistance. Moving closer to him, I can see his body keeps shaking. Yasser requires moment to moment care from his parents. The medical device which enables him to breath is powered by electricity. He ans his family live in constant fear of power cuts.


Yasser has not received any education since his accident, due to his bedridden status. "Yasser is my oldest son. He is so clever and he always keeps good reputation among his peers and the people around" said the father. "As all young children who witnessed the recent war in Gaza, Yasser struggled emotionally during the bombing and air strikes" his father added. During my visit, I noticed a completely destroyed home closely to Yasser's.


When the neighboring home was destroyed, Yasser was left without power for an extended period, forced to rely on backup generators to survive. "We were so scared of his health condition deteriorating during the war" said his father. His father nformed us his medical operation is so sensitive, and the operations necessary for improvement very costly. "No one helping us to afford this operation, it costs $150 000; I keep searching for associations to help us find funding to improve Yassers health condition" said the father.



To Whom it May Concern
Medical Report
The patient was transferred to the emergency department 18 months ago. At that time, the diagnosis was quadriplegia, punctured larynx and the patient required an artificial respiratory system.


After that period of observation, this diagnosis was confirmed: Quadriplegia, punctured larynx and the patient required an artificial respiratory system and X-rays were taken, medical examination, radiology on neck vertebrae and general X-rays. It was obvious that the second vertebra was broken due to abullet lodged in the patients neck.


The patient was admitted to the internal medicine department for treatment, critical observation, and for manual physiotherapy. What he now requires is an instrument to electrically stimulate the diaphragm and injection of stem cells in the spinal cord. The patient is still in the hospital undergoing medical treatment and physiotherapy.


The patient is under the care of: department of neurology, rehabilitation & physiotherapy department and intensive care department.
Dr. Mostafa Arafa, Hospital General Director: Hafez Mohamed Hafez

A child called Feras died 2 days ago due to Israeli siege. Yasser might face the same fate soon.
See the death of Feras here: http://www.paltelegraph.com/hot-topic/822-israeli-siege-kills-baby-aged-2






Story by Ayman Quader
PT reporter in Gaza





Saturday, 4 April 2009

Ideal Israeli Soldiers; Not Only Killers But Thieves

Ideal Israeli Soldiers; Not Only Killers But Thieves


Ayman T. Quader
April 2009












The old man sat in the light of a kerosene lamp and looked bleakly ahead. His wife sat in the opposite corner, crying loudly "They soiled our sheets, haram, haram, they broke our bed, fired guns in our bed' 'and', the old man said 'they took all our money. The day after we left we found a 100shekel note in the garden, that's all'

He was talking about the Israeli occupation of his house to a foreign photographer who had come to film the destruction in North of the Gaza Strip. Sa'ad Al Atar lived in a line of houses along a high ridge overlooking Gaza city in Atatra district. It was the part of Gaza nearest the Israeli border, and it also commanded long views of Gaza city, so it was bombed repeatedly in the first few days, and most of the houses were destroyed. Then the Apaches fired rockets at what was left and machine gunned anything that moved. Mr Al Atar stayed home with his family, even when machine gun fire came through the window and sprayed the wall behind them. The foreign Journalist put his fingers in the big holes in the plaster, but to him they were just dents in the wall; to Mr Al Atar they represented fear and salvation at the same time. But there was an even closer miss in the next dark room, where there were no lights. A row of smaller bullet holes at a lower level.

"We were eating our meal on the floor when these came. If we were sitting on a chair they would have gone through our heads. I am lucky that I cannot afford to put chairs in both my rooms" said Mr Al Atar.

What happened next? "The Israelis came and pointed their guns at us. they told us to get into the back room, where the shots had been fired, and to stay there, and they went on to the roof. They told us that if we moved, they would shoot us. They went upstairs, they stole my money, soiled the beds, left condoms everywhere. They fired holes in the bed - for what?' While people were dying they were making love with each other in our bed, and then they destroyed it. All our money was in the mattress, everything for the whole family, and they took it all. then after 3 days, they left. Just left"

His family of seven children and his wife listened in the gloomy light. "There is no glass in the windows, and we cannot afford even to buy plastic sheets' said Mrs Al Atar. "The UN gave us some blankets, but we have no money to repair anything and no one helps us. No one. And it is cold, even our clothes they cut up and soiled - look, look at these cuts, why, why they do this, why?"

They drank their tea in silence, the foreign photographer left, and the light went out.



















Mrs. Al Atar












The Israelis have left us nothing, destroying our housed, stole our money and killed our young kids























We were all in one room when the bullets stated targeted us randomly


























































In an innocent softly voice, They have stolen my dreams and flee


pictures taken: Rod Cox