Islamic tiles and marble lead to a wooden-and-iron doorway, Mosquée de Paris. Photo by Jordana Shalhoub.
Sameh Habeeb's report from Gaza City is agonising. An excerpt: "Note: I might stop reporting either if I die or I flee my home. Shells rain down beside my house now. Pray for me…Pray for me…."
Now the Israelis have struck a clearly-marked UNRWA school, news offices and homes and killed more civilians, including ambulance drivers and medics.
Strike on Gaza School kills 40
Casualties rise in Gaza offensive
UN: Humanitarian crisis worsening
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has called on the Israelis to immediately allow journalists and human rights monitors access to Gaza. "Their presence can discourage abuse by warring parties and help save lives," HRW said.
Human Rights Watch urged the Israeli government to abide by an Israeli high court ruling on December 31, 2008 and allow foreign media into Gaza. The presence of journalists and human rights monitors in conflict areas provides an essential check on human rights abuses and laws-of-war violations, the human rights group said.
Since early November when the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began to deteriorate, the Israeli government has sharply restricted access to Gaza for foreign journalists and human rights monitors and neither have been permitted entry since the current military campaign began on December 27. Israeli journalists have been denied access to Gaza for the past two years, because of an Israeli government policy prohibiting Israeli citizens from entering Gaza on security grounds.
"Journalists and rights monitors should be allowed into Gaza to investigate and report on the conduct of both sides," said Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher for Human Rights Watch. "Israel's excessive restrictions on access to Gaza only end up impeding this deterrent effect and placing civilians at greater risk."
According to the United Nations, Israeli attacks had killed more than 430 Palestinians in Gaza, about one-quarter of them civilians, prior to the onset of Israeli ground operations on January 3. Palestinian rockets launched into Israel have killed four Israeli civilians in this period.
The Israeli High Court ruled December 31 that the Israeli government should allow 12 foreign journalists into Gaza. The government said it will allow eight journalists into Gaza every time it opens the border at the Erez crossing, but the crossing has remained closed. The decision by the High Court came in response to an Israeli Foreign Press Association (IFPA) petition. The group represents more than 400 members from the world's leading international print and electronic media. The association called the ban "an unprecedented restriction of press freedom" on Israel's part.
On November 21, 22 executives from the world's major news organizations, including the Associated Press, BBC, CNN and Reuters, sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, complaining about the "prolonged and unprecedented denial of access to the Gaza Strip for the international media." The restrictions create a very different reporting atmosphere than that during Israel's last major war, the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon in July-August 2006. At that time, both the media and human rights organizations were able to report on the conflict from both sides.
International human rights law, applicable during armed conflict, upholds the right to freedom of expression of journalists and human rights monitors. States may restrict freedom of expression to protect national security, but only as permitted by law and as necessary for genuine and specific security reasons. This principle is elucidated in the 1995 Johannesburg Principles on National Security, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information: "Any restriction on the free flow of information may not be of such a nature as to thwart the purposes of human rights and humanitarian law. In particular, governments may not prevent journalists or representatives of intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations, which monitor adherence to human rights or humanitarian standards, from entering areas where there are reasonable grounds to believe that violations of human rights or humanitarian law are being, or have been, committed. Governments may not exclude journalists or representatives of such organizations from areas that are experiencing violence or armed conflict except where their presence would pose a clear risk to the safety of others."
"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say." ~ Anaïs Nin.
Carolien, I share your hope.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 08 January 2009 at 02:26
Thank you, Tara. That means a lot. I hope my daughter will be able to see her father again and get to know her little brothers. My heart bleeds for the people of Gaza.
Posted by: Carolien van der Gaag | 07 January 2009 at 22:02
Carolien, OMG! My thoughts and prayers are with your daughter's father and his family and all the people of Gaza who are in danger. What a living nightmare! You must be worried sick. I will light a candle tonight for those close to you. xo
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 07 January 2009 at 21:54
So disheartening, isn't it? xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 07 January 2009 at 21:51
Tara, you know exactly how I feel about all this, so I won't repeat what many have written here. xoxoxo
Posted by: Colette Copeland | 07 January 2009 at 20:49
While the news came that a ceasefire was being brokered, Israeli planes dropped leaflets over Rafah (in the south of the Gaza Strip) warning the people that they have to leave their homes tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. The home of my daughter's father is 50 meters outside of the area that has to be evacuated. When I talked to him this afternoon he said that the people are terribly afraid of what will happen and that he wanted to leave his home just in case (as he has two small children). When I spoke to him just now, he told me that it is no longer safe to move around Rafah and he has decided to stay in his home and "leave it in God's hands". I could hear the sound of a plane in the background.
Posted by: Carolien van der Gaag | 07 January 2009 at 20:44
Lala, thank you. A ceasefire of only three hours isn't much time to try to distribute food to 750,000 people, but at least it's something. There's a tiny glimmer of hope today with the French-Egyptian plan for a sustainable ceasefire; at least the Israelis are considering it. I haven't seen Paradise Now, although I've heard of it. It's cold here, but nnot too bad. Thanks for the kind words of encouragement. Regarding the weblog awards, I was nominated, but once again, didn't make it to the finals.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 07 January 2009 at 19:08
Yes, but today (Wed.), some aid was finally allowed in for a short time. The French and Egyptians are working desperately trying to broker a sustainable ceasefire.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 07 January 2009 at 19:05
Carolien, thanks so much for providing this important statement!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 07 January 2009 at 19:03
This is so disheartening. I am headed to the links now. As always, these brothers and sisters, remain in my prayers.
Posted by: Christina | 07 January 2009 at 15:58
Dear Tara,
I just received this.
Best wishes,
Carolien
Dear Friends, please help circulate
Statement By Israeli Women's Organizations
We women’s organizations from a broad spectrum of political views
demand an end to the bombing and other tools of death, and call for
the immediate start of deliberations to talk peace and not make war.
The dance of death and destruction must come to an end. We demand
that war no longer be an option, nor violence a strategy, nor killing
an alternative. The society we want is one in which every individual
can lead a life of security – personal, economic, and social.
It is clear that the highest price is paid by women and others from
the periphery – geographic, economic, ethnic, social, and cultural –
who now, as always, are excluded from the public eye and dominant
discourse.
The time for women is now. We demand that words and actions be
conducted in another language.
Ahoti- For Women in Israel
Anuar- Jewish and Arab Women Leadership
Artemis- Economic Society for Women
Aswat- Palestinian Gay Women
Bat Shalom
Coalition of Women for Peace
Economic Empowerment for Women
Feminancy: College for Women’s Empowerment
Feminist Activist Group – Jerusalem
Feminist Activist Group – Tel Aviv
International Women’s Commission: Israeli Branch
Isha L’Isha- Haifa Feminist Center
Itach: Women Lawyers for Social Justice
Kol Ha-Isha- Jerusalem Women’s Center
Mahut Center- Information, Guidance and Employment for Women
Shin Movement- Equal Representation for Women
Supportive Community- Women's Business Development Center
TANDI – Movement of Democratic Women for Israel
Tmura: The Israeli Antidiscrimination Legal Center
University against Harassment – Tel Aviv
Women and their Bodies
Women’s Parliament
Women’s Spirit- Financial Independence for Women Victims of Violence
Posted by: Carolien van der Gaag | 07 January 2009 at 14:33
Tara, i'd say idem as commenter above...the title of your post is today's motto. It felt a bit uneasy yesterday to open the Spanish papers featuring the Reyes celebration on front page and right below in a small box the continuous violence in Gaza.
i've just heard Israel agreed to a temporary ceasefire today to enable humanitarian help. Still, this violence is so mad...Overtime, it seems incredible and unacceptable that the Palestinian issue remains an endless black tunnel.
Tara, i was wondering if you saw the movie "Paradise now" by Hany Abu-Assad (Dutch-Palestinian filmmaker).It is the story of 2 Palestinian friends elected to go on a mission as kamikaze in Tel Aviv. Things don't happen as planned and the movie focuses on the hours spent by the 2 friends before going on mission and their doubts : is violence the real answer to freedom ?
Wish you a good day - hope the cold is not too fierce in Paris ! - and as ever thank you for your spot on posts Tara...
ps : just wondering...are you being nominated for the webblogs awards ? because you should !!
Posted by: my castle in Spain | 07 January 2009 at 12:59
Thanks, Carolien. Sadly, much of the world continues to look away. I hope that is beginning to change.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 07 January 2009 at 12:10
A very apt title for this post, Tara. The world has looked away for too long.
Posted by: Carolien van der Gaag | 07 January 2009 at 10:52
Thank you for the wise words, Barbara. If only more people would heed them...
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 06 January 2009 at 23:03
When I was but a child, back in parochial school, we often sang "Let There Be Peace On Earth" at the end of Mass. When I was but a child Martin Luther King, Jr., in his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace prize (1964) said, " I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality ..." It isn't easy to sing through the tears, but we must. Thanks, Tara.
Posted by: Barbara | 06 January 2009 at 20:45
Alas, the regular media and human rights organisations are being prevented from reporting from within Gaza. It's those on the ground who are living the horror who are providing most of the news and firsthand accounts. It IS a very sad state of affairs for all concerned. The Israelis are doing themselves no favours, by behaving with such a careless disregard for civilian lives. Thanks for the kind words about my blog, dear Gill. xoxox
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 06 January 2009 at 19:31
Merci bien, Judith. Thank you.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 06 January 2009 at 19:30
That's what I love about San Francisco - people speak out and act. Soon, they won't be able to create enough little tombstones to keep up with all the deaths.
As for 2009, on a personal level I have high hopes. But it seems the international community still has many painful lessons to learn.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 06 January 2009 at 19:29
Robin, thank you. And thanks for reading!
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 06 January 2009 at 19:28
Helen, thank you for the lovely kudos. What a kind thing to say.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 06 January 2009 at 19:27
Yes, Yoli, but still the Israelis keep them out. Such callous disregard for the rights and safety of the Palestinians is unbelievable.
Posted by: Tara Bradford | 06 January 2009 at 19:27
My thoughts and prayers are with them. What horror it must be to wonder when your last breath will come. The constant pounding of shells must take it's toll on your mind, ever weakening it to the point of insanity.
I don't know that I would be brave or strong enough to report from a place like this. I commend anyone who has the will to get in there and tell the story, to try to save lives. The world deserves to know what is going on there.
I also had heard that it was much higher than a quarter of civilians dead, closer to almost 500 civilians. I guess they won't know for sure. It is such a sad state of affairs.
Kudos to you for always showing us the happenings of our planet.
xoxo
Posted by: Gillian daSilva | 06 January 2009 at 19:08
Tara - thank you for making it impossible to look away. Know that you are heard
and that prayers continue .... . . JJjjjj
Posted by: judith | 06 January 2009 at 19:01
Yesterday, when I was coming up from the train station on the way to work, the sidewalk had little cardboard tombstones with names and ages of ages of people that have been killed in this latest conflict. And this morning on the news I heard about the school. It seems like just when I want to think that things will be better for 2009 (due mostly to the end of the Bush nightmare), then this and India make me realize how much of it must be my wishful thinking.
I will be sure to read all of your links here. Thank you.
Posted by: tangobaby | 06 January 2009 at 18:48
What a great quote from the previous poster! And I concur- thanks for your reporting!
Posted by: My Melange | 06 January 2009 at 18:43
"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say." ~ Anaïs Nin.
You are that writer, at least for me.
Thank you for insight and relevant posting.
Posted by: Helen | 06 January 2009 at 18:35
Those poor people. My heart hurts for them. I agree, the journalist and the human rights organizations should be present in Gaza.
Posted by: Yoli | 06 January 2009 at 18:10