tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56453140651310071382024-03-18T14:55:03.782+02:00Gaza: In The Eyes Of The BeholderA blog that shows you Gaza through my eyes. I never claim to be a professional. My posts are the rantings of a CIVILIAN from Gaza. Let me tell you our story.....Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-61254065239524856512017-01-07T14:51:00.001+02:002017-01-07T14:51:33.742+02:00Gaza: Life goes on despite Roadblocks and Landmines<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-EG; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Gaza: Life goes on
despite Roadblocks and Landmines<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2RhTeDHfEofvCf_YUBTBGOWCMNG0k4PfvaxiDqe-DMJQzxCnokAXC8za4snde93ZPe22Ems5qrBmy9HRvGeLjfouzSjjfok-bu57kfXR6u3iDecl2i2EDhLgBmxtMt63xpLu6o8Kdu4/s1600/07bbb207-696c-418b-bca5-3df42576245c-large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2RhTeDHfEofvCf_YUBTBGOWCMNG0k4PfvaxiDqe-DMJQzxCnokAXC8za4snde93ZPe22Ems5qrBmy9HRvGeLjfouzSjjfok-bu57kfXR6u3iDecl2i2EDhLgBmxtMt63xpLu6o8Kdu4/s320/07bbb207-696c-418b-bca5-3df42576245c-large.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Behind those trees there is a fence a few meters away</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">with Israeli tanks and watchtowers behind it. Its dangerous</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">to get closer and take pics. They might open fire.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Gaza, January, I
recently realized that my journey in life is in parallel with Gaza's struggle, we
meet at a turning point, and if I had to name it would be: "Roadblocks and
Landmines".</span></b><b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></b><b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">This has both a literal and a figurative meaning with many layers and
dimensions. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">We navigate through
the maps of our lives left to detect our own roadblocks and landmines if we are
smart enough, and\or circle them with a red marker if they were inevitable.
Either way, it's our responsibility to manage our path and lick our wounds if
we couldn’t help hitting a </span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">roadblock or stepping on explosives. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Gaza, too, left to
face the unknown on its own, left to suffer silently and expected to stay
strong. </span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Gaza, too, is filled with roadblocks and landmines both literally and
metaphorically speaking. Gaza, too, is left to navigate through the darkness guided
by voices that claim to have intentions of creating light, but in reality they
are nothing but loud useless vibrations. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">I often commended
Israel for its intelligence, and was intrigued by their tactical and long
termed strategic planning of how to kill the spirit of a nation they occupied.
I saw the plan in action here in Gaza. We all think we are experiencing slow
death due to siege, occupation, unemployment, the lack of freedom of movement,
water shortage, electricity crisis and the list goes on and on and on…..<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Until I started
noticing something in myself and in the people around me. something unexpected.
Unplanned. very surprising. A sudden sense of unbreakable determination. Being
invincible, like we have the strength to defy the world and the power to stand
against all odds. I smirked. I just realized that what "clever Israel"
planned is actually majorly backfiring. And in reality, everything we are going
through is just empowering us to exist more and more. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Ofcourse, I am not finding or giving Israel
excuses for the deplorable psychological and devastatingly physical warfare
that it uses against Palestinians across Palestine. All the inhumanity,
massacres, wars, imprisonment, terrorism, instilling fear, violence,
internationally banned weaponry and endless land theft are against every International law. All I am saying is that those tactics are actually working against their
set goal. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Let me give you a few
examples: Instead of us being scared, we are becoming fearless. Instead of
weakness, we are becoming invincible. Instead of the unbearable pressure due to
lack of resources, we are mastering the art of adapting. Instead of becoming tired
and giving up, we are becoming hungrier for freedom and justice. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">I admired
Mahmoud Darwish since an early age, I was fascinated by his command. He managed
to make a whole room of people go silent and absorb every letter he uttered, I
often wondered what was his secret. I then discovered that he managed to grasp
Palestine and the Palestinian spirit more than anyone especially when he says
things like "We suffer from an incurable Malady: HOPE.", that’s the
power of Palestinians and Darwish himself.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Take
a trip along the borderline in Gaza, from south to north, you'll find people
living inches away from the fence that separates them from Israeli tanks and
watchtowers. They wake up every day to a very scenic view from their windows,
they see fully armed Israeli soldiers on top of their tanks and watchtowers,
they can even hear them interact. They feel and hear every movement done by
each soldier and tank. And if that wasn’t enough, Israeli warplanes are
constantly buzzing over their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">I
talked to these people, who shocked me with their smiles. They were acting like
waking up to Israeli tanks outside your window is so normal, it baffled me. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">"We
got used to it, they don’t phase us. Yes, we get scared at night hearing tanks
move and Israeli soldiers shouting. The warplanes also sound louder at night,
but we would never leave our land under any circumstances", they all said
unanimously adding to my confusion. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Those
people varied. Some lived in partially damaged houses, some were luckier and
lived in rebuilt houses while others lived in caravans or little plastic huts
on their land that once housed their dreams and future. They barely have
electricity and water (its not much different everywhere across the strip),
they face unbearable coldness and fear at night, yet they don’t see leaving as
an option even though they were all affected by every Israeli assault or war on
Gaza.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">I
have to admit, only standing there for a few minutes, looking at Israeli tanks
being so nearby, left me at unease. I could see Israeli snipers on the
watchtowers, I could see and hear the buzzing Israeli drones on low altitude. I
felt uncomfortable and violated. How can those people just live through this agony
every day?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Yes,
we live in a prison under collective punishment for nothing we did. We suffer
from allot of circumstances, injustices, economical bust, a crumbling
infrastructure, lack of basic human needs and human rights, suffocation, unemployment
and a million other thing. But we love life and we burst with hope and the will
to keep going. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Perhaps
there is a single sentence that you'd hear in every Gaza home or street:
"Life goes on", its not just a saying or a mantra, it’s a way of life.
</span></b><b><span lang="AR-EG" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">From
Gaza with strength and light,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;">Omar<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span dir="LTR" style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/omar_gaza" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/omar_gaza</a></span></b></div>
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<b><a href="https://ps.linkedin.com/in/omarghraieb" target="_blank">https://ps.linkedin.com/in/omarghraieb</a></b></div>
</div>
Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-8675477391925184652016-12-04T03:31:00.000+02:002016-12-04T03:48:25.964+02:00Back to Basics: Stay true to yourself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Back to Basics: Stay true to yourself</b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBV4ED4fW8dgs3G_467PrPx3UsfYLLiq_NPSSRq_F0tLSAhe2P3ApuzzeiAi8UYmzcNjadA7WKS4ZquZueCMwlnl1cKbaa4WFezyrgM_6E67E3aNaJhyOf1JN1YveKVcaSrsXufmWdmQ/s1600/0a790bd67aaa5e676e3a53b84a18fac3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBV4ED4fW8dgs3G_467PrPx3UsfYLLiq_NPSSRq_F0tLSAhe2P3ApuzzeiAi8UYmzcNjadA7WKS4ZquZueCMwlnl1cKbaa4WFezyrgM_6E67E3aNaJhyOf1JN1YveKVcaSrsXufmWdmQ/s320/0a790bd67aaa5e676e3a53b84a18fac3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Gaza</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">,</span><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> I decided to go back to basics, not only in
writing, but also in </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;">many aspects of my life. Since school days, I dreamt of
being a journalist who gives the world compelling human stories and I pursued
it immediately. I started this blog as a little cozy place where I can be me
and write to myself and to a few others who would be interested in seeing how I
unfold with time. I used writing as my therapy.</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then the world forces you to evolve and mature, if I
may say. You lose your breath trying to catch up, sidetracked by people who
want to mold you in whatever shape they see fit. I was pushed to obsess over
viewership, I was told my writing wasn’t "professional enough", some
said my style is too simple pushing me to become a little pretentious and some
others wanted to just break me down saying they had my best interest in mind.
Yeah right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I caved in. I started writing for an American news
agency. I started using complicated words found on a simple Google search of
"Complex writing glossary". I started checking the views every two
minutes. Everybody around me succeeded in influencing me, and I was eager to
please. I started feeling fancy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I got high on the hype of being published on
prestigious websites. I started abandoning my aesthetic and slowly lost my
voice to please others and fight less with editors.</span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, I wasn’t happy even though my dream
came true. I was making money out of writing compelling human stories to have
them manipulated by editor, but at least I was attending to everyone's image of
who\how I should be.</span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Soon enough, after draining battles of discussing my
writing rates and vicious fights with editors who could find no mistakes in my
writing yet broke my style and voice down until it was irrelevant and what they
published sounded like nothing I would have written. </span><span lang="AR-EG" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I detached myself from writing in what felt like a
painful slow progression, I decided not to write for money and I just lost the
passion for it. What was once my remedy and joy ride turned out to be my misery
and nightmare. I tried going back to writing after a while, but every time I
did, my hands froze and my mind went into a complete <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">shutdown</span> mode. After I
failed my talent, it decided to fail me. "Fair enough", I thought to
myself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCxbF6VASFcP2H506LSlWwywcxpet6q8pFrLYFso7IoBsqGMi87aC_VufvidilIt6gW3oF-7dmOzt-tVsBbOMcEmSU0NKpgPKvkUTtt7I6Kfv6L31SkQysM2jx5SbVRt7GyxZKti_Mm4/s1600/f06355092842970c49e7ebc5cf1d8afe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRQ1FbRttHVu0pxD7qpqcoPF-mBkQifTuFn1EpwhjDlomgB0UuSkBtyIDA1SX8m8QZxBATgFLrFJWSPYF5xUlJXRQF-YOYCNTrJWZbC9Wqmslfa5aXqTF-cGsBogD26Tz0fbeRebDBnI/s1600/f06355092842970c49e7ebc5cf1d8afe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRQ1FbRttHVu0pxD7qpqcoPF-mBkQifTuFn1EpwhjDlomgB0UuSkBtyIDA1SX8m8QZxBATgFLrFJWSPYF5xUlJXRQF-YOYCNTrJWZbC9Wqmslfa5aXqTF-cGsBogD26Tz0fbeRebDBnI/s1600/f06355092842970c49e7ebc5cf1d8afe.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;">My last blog post was nearly two years ago</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt;">, yet people still emailed me and told me –Both in person and online- that
they read my blog. I felt constantly embarrassed and flabbergasted, why would
people still be interested?</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started reminiscing on the old days when I only
wanted to write to fulfill my passion and perhaps inspire one person at least.
I remembered how writing was a joyful experience of artistic release and a
breath of fresh air. The days when viewership didn’t matter and all I cared
about was writing and nothing else. It brought a smile to my face and reignited
a spark inside me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last three years have been rough. Too many
changes, drastic ups and downs and I lost myself in the process of what I
thought was "The natural progression". I only started recently to
slowly gain my old self back and it feels good. I closed a chapter and started
a fresh one. Here I am, back to writing to myself and to whoever is willing to
read, even if it was only one person in any part of the world, I am writing for
you and me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am back to offer the same narrative of rawness and
realness I once was known for, and my dorky humor. I am back to share what is
happening on ground but also to reflect a positive tone. I am back to my
beginning days when I wrote for the sake of writing not caring how personal it
gets or how crazy I sound. I am back because nobody has the right to own my
voice or shut me up or control me. I am back because many people miss the human
and relatable feel in my writings. I am back to prove that nothing is worth
giving up on your talent for. I am back to tell you to keep believing, keep
being you and always listen to your gut and I promise you it will pay off when
you least expect it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Consider this as a wakeup call to go against
submitting to the norm, or what people expect from you or want you to be. Think
of it as a plea for you not to give up, not from a preacher but from a person
who went through it and knows how it feels. Take it as invitation for me and
you to embark on a new journey where we stay true to ourselves and to everyone
around us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The happiness you waste your life looking for exists </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">within</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">, which makes external affirmation useless so never sacrifice who
you are for someone else. Every person in your life might leave you for any
reason, all you have is yourself so own it and work on it. Be your own person. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Together in good and bad,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Omar Ghraieb </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-33733864245138945962015-01-18T23:14:00.001+02:002015-01-19T10:25:53.906+02:00The Art of "Soul Mating"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Art of "Soul Mating"</span></b></div>
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Gaza, January, We grow up with preconceived notions about many definitions in life. But most of us reach a phase in life where we start asking big questions and resorting to spirituality in order to help us make sense of the life we are living in such a rapidly interchangeable world. </div>
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As you start looking inwards and unfolding your layers, you embark on a very exciting yet frightening journey of discovery and soul searching. You come face to face with your ego and if you break it then you will meet your soul and although you had it since you were born, you feel like you are getting to know it all over again. Then we start wondering about soul mates and soul mating.<br />
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The official technical definition of a soulmate is a human with whom you share a natural and profound affinity with, invincible kinship of spirit and mutual attraction (not necessarily physical or sexual). That definition is very accurate, but not until you feel it and go through it you are able to come up with your own understanding and definition of what a soulmate is or means. At first, it feels like you are heavily drawn to someone in a way that you cant explain, then this dilemma explains everything. Life is weird, isn’t it?<br />
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Many thinkers, philosophers, writers, gurus and others delved into the state of having\finding a soul mate and shared their own point of view about it. Paulo Coelho, for example, wrote in “Brida” saying that only a few people can recognize their soulmates by seeing a light in their eyes or on their left shoulder. I agree on the eyes part, the eyes are the window to the soul. But you can’t expect from all the people to see “light”.<br />
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My personal belief is that we are all but shreds or shards of the same soul. We are taught that we have only one half and one soulmate. I beg to differ. I believe we have many soul mates and we all are like puzzle pieces. If we are all combined in the right way, we make one soul. One entity. <br />
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I am no spiritual guru, I don’t go into deep meditations and I haven’t seen any other worlds. Atleast not yet. But I believe there are many ways to spot your soulmate, some of which I don’t know yet some I do know about. Ofcourse, you can spot them threw recognizing a light in their eyes or an aura around them. But the most effective and powerful way is the heart.<br />
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Whether you physically meet a soulmate or not, your heart connects with their heart. It might be someone of the same gender or opposite gender. It might include physical attraction and it might not. What is guaranteed that you will bask in unconditional love that enhances every corner of your being, it rids you of all the negativity and complexity of the “ego and it helps you become more you. <br />
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Your soulmate isn’t necessarily your spouse or relative or best friend. And yes you have a number of soulmates, but you are lucky if you find one. It can be rough at first, like two puzzle pieces that go together but the sharp edges are in grave need of adjusting. So do have patience. Nothing in life is ever easy.<br />
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The beauty of a soulmate is how solid and real the connection becomes. Sex or no sex, it doesn’t matter. It won’t make it stronger or weaker. All shades of blue are blue in the end. And perhaps the strongest perks of a soul mate is the drama/jealousy-free dynamic. How can you be jealous of your ownself? Or have drama issues with yourself?<br />
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Silence will only make sense with your soulmate. You don’t need words to understand each other although communication is key, especially at the early stages of coming across each other. And the uniqueness stands in being so close to each other yet you know when exactly to give each other space. Think of it as commitment but without any chains. Can you imagine it? <br />
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We spend our lives searching for love and happiness. And even if we do, we always feel like there is something missing. Only your soulmate can complete you. You might be happily married, massively successful or simply a fully grounded human but you will never feel fulfillment until you meet a soul that you click with and suddenly everything around will start making sense.<br />
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A soulmate exists to take you higher and helps you experience emotional nirvana and an exceptional peace of mind. There are certain feelings and places that only a soulmate can take you to and make you feel. Whether its euphoria, a profound sense of security, infinite serenity, perfect companionship, unconditional love, maximum level of honesty and continuous support or simply a better sense of “Self”.<br />
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A soulmate is merely a different version of you that exists to complete you. Together you are better and apart you are simply incomplete. You are not afraid to have a conversation and you are never worried of losing them or yourself. It’s like the perfect key to a lock that opens a whole new dimension of everything. An enhancement to your senses and to the experience of “life”.<br />
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Some are lucky enough to marry their soulmates or find them in their relatives or immediate family members. But others have to search the world for them and find them in the utmost unusual and unexpected places\situations. <br />
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That sounds very good, right? Well, only if you embrace it or understand it. Unfortunately, its not like that for everybody. Some sift through life without recognizing or finding even one soulmate. While some others get frightened and run away. Some don’t understand and others prefer to stay away from its complexity, they have no idea what they are missing. Most think they are obliged to fall in love or have a sexual relationship with their soulmates, which is very wrong.<br />
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Even if you were married or in love and you came across a soulmate, that doesn’t mean betrayal or a change of heart. If you think of a soul mate as a love interest or sexual object only then you are missing the whole concept of it. A soul mate transcends beyond sexuality and love, it’s something more, much much more. A soul mate is like your spiritual compass in life. </div>
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Soulmate or not, I hope we live our lives being always consciously alerted. Have your heart opened and lean on it for insight, don’t just count on your eyes. Be kind, and kinder. Be tolerant. We can’t accept ourselves fully unless we have the ability to accept others the way they are. Being you doesn’t mean being against others. We are all one. Be brave, embrace life and others. Don’t give in to the confinements of society or people or to the ugliness of your ego. Be the soul mate you dream of finding in others. Be strong enough to recognize and embrace others, but also love yourself in a healthy way and lean on yourself.<br />
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Love, live and let live.<br />
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From Gaza with love, light and inner peace,<br />
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Omar Ghraieb<br />
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com271tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-58368826846121479042015-01-16T17:43:00.000+02:002015-01-17T00:14:57.340+02:00Mom: How I lost my universe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Homage to Mom: How I lost my universe</span></b></div>
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Gaza, January, “What took me so long?”, a question that tantalized me since the early morning because today marks the 18th anniversary of my mom’s death, or passing, as I like to call it. I never dared to blog about it before because its too emotional and too personal. Who knows what I will end up sharing. But since I am becoming more real and shedding my ego, I guess it’s time I open up about that life-changing state. <br />
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My mom was a typical mother in a sense of being a hard working woman who gave birth to five children and doing her best to raise them all well. But she was no typical woman. She was a Palestinian who was born in Palestine but had to become a refugee with her family due to occupation and Nakba. They ended up swinging between the Arab countries, especially Lebanon and Syria.<br />
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She married a Palestinian, a revolutionary, which left her playing the role of a single mom of five in a foreign country (Cyprus) as her husband travels and works. It wasn’t easy but she made us feel like she was invincible and could handle anything. She was a human of feelings, her heart embraced everyone and she treated everyone with love, care and tenderness. <br />
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We moved to Gaza in the late 1990s, it was hard on us but for her she was used to this shredded life. She was worried about us but also was happy that we will return to a part of occupied Palestine and reunite with my dad. Four months later, she passed away, after securely getting us to “Safety”. <br />
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I was 9, but I remember that day like it was yesterday. I swear, the last few days before that day felt so weird. Her conversations with me were different, the look in her eyes was different and she had this air of worrisome surrounding her all the time. I woke up to head to school with my sister like any other day. But the weather was so gloomy, dark and rainy. The sky was trying to tell me something but I didn’t get it right away.<br />
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My older brother came to “confiscate” us from school. Yes, he literally confiscated us, we were put in a car and told we were heading home in the middle of a school day. I kept looking at the sky, it was trying to protect me but couldn’t prepare me for what I will see. The rain never stopped, if anything, the weather got worse.<br />
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My body was alerted, my instincts kept telling me that something was wrong but not in a million years did I imagine that loss. My mom was my everything. My compass, my universe and the center of everything.<br />
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There were so many people everywhere, especially in our house. I saw my mom laying there without moving. I didn’t need anyone to tell me anything. I felt a chill take over my spine and heart. I felt like the house was empty without her, even though the house was packed with people all around. I felt alone. And I have been feeling alone since then even when I am surrounded with family and friends.<br />
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Losing a parent, a mom especially, changes your whole life. It’s like walking through a dessert without a compass, or going on a pilgrimage without a destination in mind, or going through a maze in complete blindness. You lose the sense of security. You go through life always feeling like there is something missing. A permanent void opens in your heart and you just learn to live with it.<br />
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I don’t look like my mom but my soul looks like hers. I had the privilege, blessing and honor of living with her for only 9 years but she gave me love and she taught me so much that it could last for a lifetime. I feel like I was an extension of her heart and soul. She is a part of me and I am a part of her. She left earth 18 years ago, but she never left me or my heart.<br />
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They say time heals and helps you forgot. Its very true and accurate. But not when it comes to the loss of your mom. I find myself missing her more and more every year, I find myself also needing her more and more. I try to always remind myself of her face, her scent, her smile, her voice and the look of love she used to look at me with. I don’t always remember everything, it used to make me angry and make me feel like I am losing her all over again. But now I realized, I might forget some things and remember others but I will never forget how she made me feel. <br />
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I believe that I am a feminist because of her. I am also proud to be the fruit of interracial love. Everything helps make the person you become. But what I am most proud of is the authenticity she passed onto me and setting an example of how to keep your soul and heart connected in influential harmony and how to keep them in sync. She touched everyone with her love. She wasn’t my compass only, she was the compass to many of her friends and family as well.<br />
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Some people leave us but they leave so much presence behind that they are more present than people who are still alive. I hope I am making sense. <br />
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Mama, my love to you is something that resembles you. It’s a never ending spring. May you rest in peace and never leave my heart. May you keep inspiring me and may your words keep ringing in my mind. May you be proud of me a fraction of how much I am proud of being your son. If I had the choice of being your son for 9 years or being somebody else’s son for a lifetime, I will choose you because love and presence transcend beyond time. You remain my compass and my pillar of security. I always yearn for you.<br />
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I kindly ask you to please honor and love your mom, don’t take her for granted and don’t think that there is all the time in the world. You never know what might happen so show your mom all the love, respect and care she deserves. Treat her like your queen, don’t wait any occasion to make her feel special. And please, hug her and kiss her from me. <br />
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From Gaza with yearning and nostalgia,</div>
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Omar Ghraieb.
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-46310075485360952982015-01-15T10:55:00.000+02:002015-01-15T10:55:18.139+02:00Storm vs. Porn Star<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Storm vs. Porn Star</span></b></div>
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Gaza, January, Perhaps its easier to always blame our failures on others instead of having the guts to be self-critics. It’s easier to live on the faded glory of history and pretend like it still gets us high even when it doesn’t. Even drugs don’t last that long. Yes, we once were a glorious nation in the past. We changed and inspired the world. We set example and we had everything rolling for us as an Arab nation. But that was so long ago that it’s time to wake up and face our fears and flops if we ever dream of shining again or even rising. <br /><br />But I guess we are busy blowing up lame issues out of proportions and being consumed by mainstream media and\or by the highly demanding world we live in. we forgot our humanity, our duties and also the history that we will only bring up to sooth our rapid decline downwards. Or shall I say the rock bottoms that we keep hitting as a nation?<br /><br />Between a shivering storm alerting an alarming climate change, and the storm we help create surrounding an Arab-American, we lost focus.<br /><br />Storm:<br /><br />Let me start by saying this: Who the hell suggested we start calling storms by “Arabic” names and why? I just don’t get it. Why would you want to make sure to call a catastrophic storm an Arabic name? have we gone bankrupt in the department of creativity that our only way to revive the Arabic culture by naming storms “Huda” and “Zeina”? if that doesn’t raise a red flag about us needing a wakeup call then honestly I don’t know what will.<br /><br />I remember how we would laugh whenever we would read about “Climate Change”, like it will never happen to us or in our time. I watched Al Gore’s documentary about it and I understood how the climate is changing dramatically (to the worse) each year. Summers are becoming hotter and winters are becoming way colder. Temperature has went down to 1 degrees Celsius in Gaza, which never happened before. Who knows what will happen to the world’s climate in a few years!<br /><br />A very harsh cold storm hit the Arab world bringing snow, lethal coldness, trouble and tragedy. It snowed in many places, and rain did its part in places that saw no snow. As usual, the refugees paid the biggest price, along with the homeless and displaced. Syrian and Palestinian refugees lost children who died out of harsh coldness simply because a tent and a blanket cant keep you warm in such icy conditions. Children also died in Gaza after being displaced due to the latest Israeli barbaric war that caused a huge loss in people, buildings and everything else.<br /><br />I felt guilty because I had a roof over my head and blankets while others are dying. I felt helpless. But also felt rage and disappointment in our Arabic nation, and in myself. Instead of wasting millions on Fireworks, Christmas decorations, mansions and other ridiculous things that the Arab world is so proud and showy about, we would have managed to help protect the refugees and displaced from this blind and harsh storm.<br /><br />Arabic countries, leaders, embassies and people (including me) failed those refugees and left them to freeze to death. We call ourselves a nation, but do we really care about each other?<br /><br />I would loved to have seen Churches, mosques, embassies, leaders and us the people open our arms and try to accommodate those displaced, if only through this storm. But excuses always stand in our way. Like myself for example, I resorted to prayers and asking others to pray or help while I was helplessly sitting in my own home. Sure, yes, I told myself that we had no electricity or heating, the weather outside is lethal and catastrophic that no one could leave the house. But its all excuses. We should have tried to do more. I tell myself before I preach anyone else. We failed each other and its becoming “OK” when it shouldn’t be that way. We are mastering ways to mask compassion and humanity with excuses. We, all, could have joined efforts to help save those refugees everywhere. But we didn’t. So tell me, what kind of nation are we now? Because we are no longer representing our honorable history. If anything, we are smearing it.<br /><br />Porn Star:<br /><br />Mia Khalife. A trending hashtag and the talk of the town. A Lebanese-American young girl who became a porn star only recently. Yet, thanks to us Arabs, and our endless contradictions, we helped turn her into the “Best Female Porn Star” of the year and the hottest discussed topic. Instead of dealing with serious issues, we go on and waste our energy on commenting or rejecting an issue that shouldn’t even concern us.<br /><br />Who cares what Mia Khalife does or thinks? I don’t. She doesn’t represent Arabs or Lebanese people or Christians. We are asking the world not to label us and narrow us down by linking Islam to two stupid guys who attacked Charlie Hebdo. Yet, we focus on Mia Khalife and hold her responsible for smearing Arabs and attacking Islam. REALLY? SERIOUSLY PEOPLE? HOW COME?<br /><br />We are the ones who turned her into a superstar and gave her actions importance. Like those who commented on her wearing Hijab in her porn videos. How did you know that? And why did you watch her? I bet 90% of those who attacked her watched all her videos and got her the highest ranking. Congratulations for being a bunch of idiots. All of us. <br /><br />She took the Arab media by storm overshadowing the deadly storm that was killing refugees. People rushed to comment and hashtag her on all social media bringing her into a global trending hashtag. Do you think she really cares about what you think? She doesn’t even care what her parents think. So save your energy and invest it elsewhere.<br /><br />I am not defending nor attacking Mia. I honestly don’t care what she does or who she is or the low hits she takes at Islam. She is after all trying to gain the utmost publicity and money. And Islam is a religion and a faith that can’t be touched by Mia or people like her, its not that vulnerable.<br /><br />My reoccurring question would be: When will we wake up and start focusing on critical issues instead of wasting time on mundane matters? When will we stop contradicting ourselves and actions? And when will we face our flops in order to advance as a nation? <br /><br />Lets mind our own business so we can move forward and stop wasting our time judging others and analyzing them.<br /><br /> <br /><br />From Gaza with a boggled mind,<br />Omar Ghraieb</div>
Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-48832505364134570802015-01-14T12:31:00.000+02:002015-01-15T10:19:56.970+02:00Paris March of Hypocrisy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Gaza, January, Once again, the world fails me but doesn’t fail to impress me with how biased it can be. Two words: Paris March. It made me feel like this: I am an Arab, I am less. I am Muslim, I am less. I am Palestinian, I am less. I am human, I am less. My blood means nothing.<br />
<br />
World leaders (including Arabs, and the Palestinian president) marched in Paris to support the “Freedom of Speech” and stand against terrorism. Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, was front raw ofcourse because he is against violence which is why he waged a war on Gaza not long ago killing hundreds, including tens of children. Netanyahu loves “freedom of speech” so much that he killed 17 Palestinian journalists during the latest war on Gaza. <br />
<br />
As if the death of Muslim officer, Ahmed Merabet, who was doing his job defending Charlie Hebdo HQ.s wasn’t enough, and the French Muslim Hero (whom, in reality, doesn’t have the French Citizenship) that saved Jewish lives during the attack on a Kosher supermarket, still isn’t enough. I will have to once again say I am against Paris attacks, as a Muslim and a human being. Although words are louder than actions, yet nothing defends Muslims enough no matter what they do or say.<br />
<br />
Charlie Hebdo will start printing one million copies instead of the usual 60 thousands. Talk about publicizing and monetizing tragedy. Just wondering why no mention in the media about Nigeria's Boko Haram Killings? Arent those also Islamic Extremists?<br />
<br />
Only few months ago, many innocent lives were harvested in Gaza by the evil terrorism of occupation including tens of children and a number of journalists. Why didn’t any world leader come to Gaza and march? Why didn’t Arab leaders visit Gaza and speak up against Israel? Why did my own president visit Paris yet didn’t visit Gaza after it was burned by Israel?<br />
<br />
The answer is simple and easy. Our lives don’t matter. Our blood is cheap. As humans, we are less. I cant help but respect Europe for honoring their blood and forcing the whole world to do so. But as an Arab, I feel ashamed and let down. We once were a nation that was the most advanced, respected and imitated. But now, our blood is worthless, even in our own eyes.<br />
<br />
Paris urged Netanyahu not to come to the march, he wasn’t invited. Haaretz wrote about it. Hollande, the French President, wanted to focus on the matter in hand and didn’t want any other spotlight to deviate the attention to other mundane issues, say for example the Israel-Palestine conflict. Yet, Netanyahu, and as usual, did whatever he liked without giving a damn about what others think. So he attended uninvited. Just like he keeps killing Palestinians. The world won’t stop him after all. <br />
<br />
Only then did France invite the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was also asked not to come at first. And ofcourse, Abbas rushed over there. So we are not considered equals. If Netanyahu didn’t come uninvited, Abbas wouldn’t have been invited. Why did Abbas decide to go march and walk side beside with leaders who failed Palestine so many times? Why didn’t he visit Gaza after the Israeli war? Its beyond me. Oh, and Netanyahu was only a few feet away. <br />
<br />
Which brings me to a very sad melodramatic conclusion: The world is so obviously blunt about my worth as an Arab Muslim Palestinian. I AM NOTHING. Many countries think I don’t exist, and those who recognize my existence do it in a symbolic way. I am already considered as a terrorist even when I am not. As a holder of Palestinian passport, I need a visa everywhere, and nowhere would grant me a visa unless I pay loads of money or ask for a divine intervention. And when\if I make it, I will be interrogated, searched and perhaps strip searched at most airports. I will have a target on my back everywhere I go. I am under the microscope. I am forced to respect and support all freedoms even though the world denies me my basic human rights. I will be labeled, narrowed down, ridiculed and automatically seen as a suspect of any incident around the world. Freedom of speech is exclusive for the West.<br />
<br />
Ironic how I feel like my life’s mission is to fight for human rights when I, myself, don’t exercise any basic human rights. It’s actually funny and a little melancholic. Don’t you think?<br />
<br />
But the question remains: Till when will I keep fighting for ultimate equality when most don’t even care about my blood, worth or rights? I honestly don’t know.<br />
<br />
I might get fed up one day soon. And I might end up in California, become a plastic boy and binge on Sangrias all day. Oh wait, that’s only if the US gives me another Visa. And I don’t end up being jailed or spied on because I am an Arab and a Muslim. Sigh. Now even silly dreams are not an option.<br />
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From Gaza with whatever love left inside,<br />
<br />
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Omar Ghraieb</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com226tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-44792586724285920002015-01-10T03:45:00.000+02:002015-01-11T00:10:14.534+02:00Why I am not Charlie Hebdo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"> Why I am not Charlie Hebdo</span></b></div>
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Gaza, January, If you haven’t heard about the "Paris attacks" you probably have been living in a parallel universe. And if you did, then you probably didn’t hear about the police officer Ahmad Merabet, a Muslim, who died while trying to defend Charlie Hebdo even though they were insulting his religion. <br />
<br />
#JesuisCharlie hashtag took over the world and the cyber sphere, people from around the world rushed to show their support to Charlie and ofcourse took a chance to attack Muslims spewing all kinds of profanities and racial commentary. A campaign to #KillAllMuslims was launched by those who support Charlie, ironically. They think violence is the answer to violence. How ignorant can people be is beyond me. <br />
<br />
Muslims, as usual, rushed to declare their innocence by trending the #NotinMyName hashtag that is trending often since Islam and Muslims are constantly under the microscope. <br />
<br />
I am not Charlie, nor did I participate in the #JeSuisCharlie phenomena. I also didn’t participate in the “Not in my name” campaign as a Muslim. Why you ask? I will tell you. <br />
<br />
Lets me start by saying that the world doesn’t think all lives equally matter. I condemn Paris attacks. Yes, I think of Charlie as a racist who manipulates Satire into insulting religions to get his few minutes of fame and become a hero. However, I don’t believe that violence is the solution and I condemn Paris attacks. Killing 12 people doesn’t help, did it ever? No. It never did. Islam never asked us to kill in its name. ISIS are already doing enough to deform Islam and make it look like a religion that is based on terrorism, we don’t need to add to that. Even if the world denies me of all freedoms, I still strongly believe in them and support them. <br />
<br />
Murders, killings and crimes are committed every day by people from different nationalities, backgrounds and religions but they are never labeled or narrowed down to a certain race or religion unless they are Black, Arab or Muslim. If you are all three, then you will probably be a suspect even if you did nothing and happened to be passing by an incident. <br />
<br />
I will not defend myself or my religion simply because not every individual represents their nationality or religion. Some people are stupid and they do mistakes. Stupidity and terrorism have no religion. So blame the person not their background. And judge yourself before you judge others because you are not perfect and if you feel like all Muslims should be killed because two Muslims committed a crime, then you are no better. <br />
<br />
I am perplexed by a world that is so biased. Where were those who defended rights, freedoms and journalism when Israel was blowing Gaza up killing children and journalists? Where were they when Muslims were going through mass killings in Burma? Or is the European blood more worthy than other blood? Or are freedoms exclusive to Europe only and shouldn’t be defended everywhere else as well? Or are Muslims and Islam easy targets and speaking up against Israel is a taboo? <br />
<br />
I stood with Paris against the attacks even though Paris didn’t stand by me or Gaza. They tried hard to oppress and prevent protests in our support when Israel was burning Gaza and the government stood still. Yet, I am the one who need to be defending myself as a Muslim? Why? And how is that fair? <br />
<br />
I am not Charlie. Je Suis pas Charlie. Je Suis Gaza, Je Suis Muslim, Je Suis Palestinien, Je Suis Palestine and Je Suis Ahmed. I am Gaza, I am Muslim, I am Palestinian, I am Palestine , I am Ahmed and that doesn’t mean I am a terrorist. I will not defend myself because I did nothing. I stood by Paris yet France only recently and symbolically recognized Palestine. So for the past 26 years of my life I didn’t exist in France’s eyes. Yet I support Paris. Because I am a human being, a Muslim, Arab and Palestinian. I don’t condone the killing of innocent people and I support all freedoms and equality, yup, believe it or not. My dream is ultimate freedom and equality.<br />
<br />
I will never be like Charlie but I would definitely look forward of being equal to Charlie. When I feel like my life matters, my blood is worthy, when I live in an equal world that will stand by me like I am willing to stand by it. When the world recognizes that I exist and gives me my rights. When people defend all innocent people the same. I will be Charlie when I find any authenticity in what he does and in the world we live in.<br />
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From Gaza with dreams of peace and equality,</div>
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<br /></div>
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Omar Ghraieb</div>
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<br /></div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com137tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-4713046301777157552014-12-20T14:32:00.000+02:002014-12-20T14:32:54.247+02:00Sex: Don't let words deceive you<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sex: Don't let words deceive you</b></span></div>
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Gaza, December, I am not known for choosing controversial
headlines to spark traffic or discussions, not that is a bad thing. But perhaps
I needed to start this post by a reminder to myself and to you all: Don’t be deceived
by headlines, words, covers and\or preconceived notions.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s always better to dig a little deeper. I know that
sometimes we end up discovering a rock after digging up hard, but sometimes we
come across a diamond while excavating. I don’t know about you, but personally
I think that risk is worth the effort. You will either find a diamond or find
the truth. Arent they both worth the digging?</div>
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By sex here I mean gender. Males and Females, and everything
that falls in between. I am not here to lecture you in science or repeat
historical theories and findings about males and females and the endless yet
limited differences between them. I am here to talk about a whole different
dimension.</div>
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I wish it stops at education and science, when it comes to
learning about males and females, but it doesn’t. Everywhere around the world,
whatever the diverse culture is, we are all raised on pre-defined notions and
definitions. Whether its related to morals, or religion, or traditions, or
terms or even the simple meaning of things. We are grown to absorb everything
as it was decided by others. And we are told that asking questions is bad, it
might even label you as an outcast or a rebel.</div>
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We become adults based on very old stereotypical definitions
that were passed through generations without any effort of thinking things over
or adding value to those terms. I am not talking about “modernizing things”, I
am just saying that we were given a brain for a reason. Therefore, we should
use it and learn that it is ok to challenge old or new meanings. We will either
be convinced that they are right\enough, or maybe add to them or change them. </div>
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Nobody can define love in a specific way, or success. Love
is said to be so many things. Some say it’s a feeling, others say it’s a state
while its also said to be a chemical or scientific process. Success too. How
can you define it? Is it having allot of money? Or being happy at what you do? Or
is it being famous? Or have allot of following? Or maybe all the above? Who knows.
And why should we know? Why do we have a hunger to define things and pass them
on as the “right definition”?</div>
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In different cultures around the world, including the Arab
world, we are brought up to believe that men don’t cry, men are indestructible and
super strong. Males are raised to become emotionless Hercules who will be
judged upon and measured by how much money they make and how many girls they
toy with.</div>
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Yet, men are expected to be religious and well mannered. Exceptional
husbands, amazing fathers, great brothers, obedient sons and good friends. They
are expected to remember birthdays and show emotions and really care. But how? And
what emotions? If they are raised to be heartless and strong?</div>
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Females are raised up to be weak and soft. “The weaker you
are, the more men you attract”, and then she falls in love with someone who
tells her she is too weak and breaks her heart. Women are told to be stupid,
because if they are smarter and more successful
(and they usually are) then men will feel threatened and run away. Women
are expected to be a superwoman who happens to be a great wife, marvelous mother,
tender sister, obedient daughter and a true friend. She is asked to “find a
balance” and “juggle everything at the same time”. She is expected to be the
first in her class, yet act dumb. She is expected to soar for success yet let
the man feel like he has the superior upper hand. She is expected to be amazing
at work and home. She should raise kids, cook, clean, be the perfect maid and
yet take care of herself for her husband while she studies and works and does a
million thing at once.</div>
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But how? And why do you expect her to be strong when she is
raised to be weak? How will she believe in herself when she is told she is dumb
and must always submit to men? How can she be confident when she is degraded to
feel like a maid in her own house?</div>
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Men are not brought up to respect the sacredness of
marriage. In most cultures, men aren’t shamed for infidelity. And women are
raised up to be in competition with each other, not in work or education, but
in getting men. So its ok for men to dive into betrayal and infidelity yet they
are grilled for it. What do you expect from them when they are raised to fall
into such patterns? </div>
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Women are raised to be emotional yet oppress their feelings.
“Don’t challenge your man, don’t speak about your feelings, don’t complain …..etc”
and the list of “Don’ts” continues. Women are told that divorce is shameful and
a disaster and that they are too weak to handle it. Yet, they are blamed for
staying with abusive or womanizing men. And women are asked to never discuss
sex with their own husbands, its an indicator of bad upbringing yet its ok to
talk about it with her mother and girlfriends. How do you expect women to be
strong and stand up for themselves if they are raised to be mute obedient
maids?</div>
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And let’s not forget the old tale of all times: “Men are
breadwinners, their duty as fathers and husbands is to put food on the table”.
Then we blame men for being unfit fathers who don’t help their wives with
anything. </div>
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“Women are the center of the house, you are expected to do anything
and everything and never ever complain or ask for help”. Then we blame women
for being too weak and handling too much and neglecting themselves and not
caring for their husbands.</div>
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Gladly, we reached an era where we are aware and educated
enough to use the unlimited resources we have to questions things and redefine concepts
that perhaps we feel like we need to make better. We are no angels and I know
no matter how hard we try not to judge, we end up judging. Fine, judge people
and things but do go a step further to explore whether your judgment is right
or wrong. At the end of the day, you are not god and you are not always right. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We always try to grow as humans, which is necessary and
good. But we should also care about the growth of the surrounding environment
and the society you live in. Otherwise, your growth will feel minimal. Yes, you
need to start within but do aspire to external and widespread change after you
start with yourself. And think, by questioning and challenging preconceived constants,
you might be paving the way for a healthier better generation.</div>
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Writing and reading are therapeutic. I hope you don’t consider
my writing as lecturing or telling you what to do. It’s more like sharing my
personal intimate thoughts so I could grow with you. We all have our trials and
tribulations. Instead of judging each other and growing apart, I believe we
should help each other and grow closer. Our time has many advantages but also
one of the downfalls is that we are becoming lonely by isolating ourselves by
relying too much on technology.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Life is tough, and a constant learning experience. But its
limitless too so never stop using your brain or advancing because nothing is
impossible and trust me, you are definitely not alone, even though it feels
like it most of the time. So let’s get it together.</div>
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From Gaza with love,</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Omar Ghraieb</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-6256432942251426542014-12-15T13:03:00.000+02:002014-12-15T13:19:24.015+02:00Gaza: Dont hit her<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gaza: Don’t hit her</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gaza, December, We grow up being lectured about
courage and taking risks and how exhilarating it is. They make it sound like
the right thing to do. Until we become adults and we start getting lectured
about not taking risks and hearing pro-cowardice sayings like this Arabic one
that says: “Cowardice makes two thirds of manhood”, meaning: “When shit hits
the fan, RUN”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Manhood” and many other terms are
being deformed recently in the Arabic region and also the world, but I will
come to that later on in future posts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw a man in the street, exiting
his house, arguing with his wife then BAM. He smacked her across the face. It
was like a scene from a movie. She held her face and started crying, he had
visible signs of anguish on his face, they both saw me standing there, and I
myself was frozen. Stunned, perplexed, speechless and thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gaza is like most Arab
countries\cities. A little society that is conservative and mainly fueled by
traditions. Old, very old ones, that are usually confused with religious
rituals. Long story short, if you are a smart person and you saw what I saw, DO
NOT INTERFERE between a wife and her man. Just walk away. Unfortunately, I am
not smart enough when it comes to domestic violence or violence against women.
I was never beaten up as a child and never saw my family or friends use
violence against women or each other so I refuse all kinds of violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought to myself: “So whats the
worst case scenario Omar “The Hero of Stupidity”? You say something to the man
and you end up getting into a fight which might turn ugly since he can call on
his sons and neighborhood backup males. I would appear wrong for interfering
and get beaten up. Or he would be a gentleman and just give me a black eye. Or
he might listen to me (Ha Yeah right)”. So I decided whatever the outcome is, I
am going for it. I would rather get beaten up than feel bad about not saying
anything. (Don’t judge, I said I am not smart enough)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I found myself uttering: DO NOT HIT
HER, AGAIN”. And hell opened. I distracted him from her but now he got all
angry, red faced, cursing me loudly and heading towards me. “Don’t flinch or
move a muscle, treat him like you learned how to act around a deadly snake”, I
said to myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He came and stood right in my face,
screaming and spitting. I acted cold and calm as quiet ice (quiet ice? Whatever). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Uncle, I am not trying to interfere. You are a respectable man and your wife
is a good woman, you don’t want people to misjudge you. Consider me your son”,
I said impressing myself but he wasn’t impressed. “You are not my fucking son”,
he spat. I knew this means trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I saw his wife making signs to me
from behind telling me to stop this and just leave. He saw her. She then told
me she doesn’t need my help, she loves her husband, its ok if he hits her and
begged me to leave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The man started going back and forth.
Furious. Brushing his hair. I think he was considering his next move. So I
jumped in quickly telling him I don’t judge him and I will not tell anyone but
its obvious how much he loves his wife and that hitting women isn’t cool. Then
I regretted saying “cool”. Like he would care about what’s cool and what isn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To my surprise, he invited me to his
house. I thought of politely declining. I knew it has to mean that I am either
gonna get killed or kidnapped or beaten. But then he looked into my eyes and
suddenly I trusted him. (Again, I am sometimes idiotic, don’t judge). Besides,
we live in the same neighborhood, its not like my family wont figure it out and
claim my body. (I hope they do)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He asked me all the formal questions,
told me he knew my dad (Phew maybe a good sign) and begged me not to call the
police or report him to anyone. I said I wouldn’t. But I got scared because it
felt like I will end up sympathizing with him and that’s bad. Then I will start
finding excuses for him and for every other man who lays a hand on a female.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We started discussing the environment
the person grows up in, how he is raised, what he witnesses and </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ofcourse how
occupation ruins everything. I usually get irritated of how much we try to
blame occupation sometimes for things that we should blame upon ourselves. But
this time he was right. As a dad of 7 children, he witnessed all Intifadas and
wars. He is trying hard to make a living, fighting Gaza’s impossible living
conditions and yet didnt lose his mind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He is double my age now, 54, he was
my age when the first Intifada happened. He was happily married with one child.
He had so many dreams and ambitions then it got all screwed and ruined. Since
then, his life has been one big ugly rollercoaster and his main goal is to
constantly have food on the table to feed his kids. And education, it’s a very
important thing for him to educate his chilldren since he holds a Bachelor’s
degree. He worked pretty much in everything. He is responsible for a number of
families including his own, his married son, his dead brother’s family and his
dad. His brother was shot during the first Intifada. Too much mouths to feed,
as he said it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His wife loves him to death. So on
the day this incident happened, the man was sick and his wife was trying to
bring him back inside telling him he should rest and she will go out try to
make a living. She admits: “He smacks me sometimes, but out of love”. He looked
like a tortured soul, a man who endured hell and yet still tries to keep
standing and make a living. Still, I reminded myself, whatever the situation is:
IT IS WRONG TO HIT A WOMAN.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He told me that his grandson was sick
and he couldn’t skip work. He needed to work so he could afford
taking him to the doctor. And he wouldn’t let his wife work. “My son graduated
a few years ago, he is my eldest, he tries to work, but as you see Gaza is the
spring of unemployment”, he said while his eyes turned red. “Do you believe
that I hold a Bachelor’s degree? Yes. Me. Yet, I have to work in anything I can
find just to keep everyone going. Its exhausting and humiliating but its worth
it. And I will never humiliate my wife or let her go and beg for work”, he chocked
as tears rolled slowly down his eyes. I couldn’t help but shed a tear as well.
But his wife broke down and hugged him. I felt weird. I looked like a foreign
journalist who is there to interview them or write their story. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Weird enough,
he asked me if I was a journalist or foreign. I said I am Palestinian and I
haven’t written in a while and I don’t use people for stories unless they let
me or ask me to share.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">They insisted I stay for lunch but it
was too awkward so I made up an excuse and left. But before that, I talked to
him about domestic violence and hitting women. I tried not to sound like a
lecturer but I did. “You need to understand uncle, hitting women isn’t right no
matter what excuse you tell yourself. I will not ask you to go the gym to
release negative energy, just walk it out or read Quran if you are too tired to
walk or just sleep it off. Anything but hitting women. I know it anguishes you
and it hurts your wife so why not just stop it?”, I said embarrassingly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“I never laid a hand on my daughters.
But sometimes I get angry, I don’t do drugs like other men here, I have a
family to feed, I need to be sober and save money. I need a release or I will
die. My wife is a good woman, she tolerates me and I swear I don’t smack her
hard. I suspect my son is doing the same with his wife and I feel guilty.”, he
said while looking down. I was saddened but understanding. He clearly appears
like he wouldn’t do anything to his sons in law if they hit his daughters, he
will feel like a hypocrite. That’s just wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Before I could respond, his wife
hurried to chip in. “Yes, it hurts more mentally than physically, I feel
humiliated but at the same time I feel like as a good wife I need to help him
get a release. Or he will die. So I let him hit me and promise myself to stop
him next time. I never did. I love him too much. I overcome my shame and pain
and anger for him. But inside, we both know its wrong. Atleast he never hit me
infront of the children, right?”, she asked me. I didn’t answer because she
knew the answer and wasn’t herself convinced that it was “right”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He promised me never to hit her
again. He realized its wrong. But I didn’t believe him, he knew it was wrong
all along but did it anyway. She promised me she will stop him if he did it
again, but we both knew it will never happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I left feeling overwhelmed, thinking
about children who see their dads hit their moms and how they follow the same
pattern. Wondering why women are considered second class citizens in their own
home? Why do we tolerate that? Why do we shove it under the rug and act like
our societies are strong and religious? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I still see him around sometimes. He waves his hand to me and all I can think of is the memory of waving his hand to land on his wife's face. He smiles, but I cant smile back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I faced the sad truth. Arab women are
oppressed, degraded, abused and underestimated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ofcourse, many Arab women broke the cycle
and soared to success. They fought against all odds, although it shouldn’t be
so hard for them to become achievers. In Gaza too, many women revolted against
traditions and violence and oppression. They became a beckon of inspiration,
hope and success. Yet, many others are still suffering, still being hit, still
being degraded and still being forced to shut up about it or lose their house,
family, kids or even life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unlike the western world thinks,
Islam honored women and actually emphasized on their rights more than men’s
rights. Women should enjoy equality and all kinds of freedoms, including the
freedom of choice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Women aren’t only our moms, sisters, wives and daughters.
They are our friends, colleagues and peers too. I see men here go from opening
the car door for their wives to being there for them and helping them succeed.
Some men here even stay with the kids or work under their wives to make sure
their business grow. And so many other sweet stuff. Unfortunately, those are
the exception to the rule, and not the rule itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Its nearly 2015, and you still hear
about so many cases of honor killing and beating up women in the Arab region
and the world. Its not acceptable one bit. And this global new trend of
promoting sexual violence claiming women love that, its beyond disgusting and
sick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you think hitting women makes you
a better man, you are wrong. Manhood is about respecting women and treating
them right, not the opposite. Don’t make excuses up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Your action shouldn’t just stop at
not hitting women. It should extend to reach much higher actions like standing
against domestic violence and violence against women. Your duty is not only to
stop yourself from laying a hand on a woman, but stopping from doing it too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Be strong by protecting women, not
hitting them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From Gaza with love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Omar Ghraieb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-42676689835000079892014-07-21T09:26:00.002+02:002014-07-21T09:32:53.813+02:00Days 9-11 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: Entrapment <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Days 9-11 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: Entrapment </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<br />Gaza - I used to look out of my bedroom window and stare at the sky at different times of the day, and lose myself in my dreams and the vastness of the skies above.<br /><br />I would think about my life, where I would be years from now, what I would want to accomplish, and so many other important but trivial thoughts. However, most importantly, I would imagine traveling to different countries and cities around the world.<br /><br />My bedroom window was like the window to the universe. Through it, I imagined the next adventure on which I would embark.<br /><br />Right now, the sight of my bedroom window makes me cringe.<br /><br />I have been housebound for more than ten days, a little prison located inside the biggest open-air prison on earth — besieged Gaza. Due to regular nearby explosions, I have been told by my family not to go near the window. It has started to look like it has prison bars.<br /><br />And when I get close to it for some fresh air, I start wondering about completely different questions, such as: When will I ever see my friends again? When will I see Gaza’s beach? When will I visit my favorite places in Gaza? Will I survive to dream through this window again?<br /> Guaranteed<br /><br />With war, nothing is guaranteed. Who can guarantee my survival when <a href="http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/children-die-playing-football-taxi-grandma-israel-bombs-gaza-tenth-day">four little kids playing on the beach</a> are killed by Israel? An Israeli warship bombed a shack near the boys — who ran away after that first strike and were then directly, deliberately hit in another strike. They had hopes and dreams too.<br /><br />“Is this the end?” I ask myself. How did I go from dreaming about the impossible to wondering whether I would live to see another day, at the same window? Ah, war. I regretted listening to Adele’s “Skyfall” song. It’s not the right time to quote it or even play it in my head. I don’t want the sky to fall on Gaza.<br /> Anticipation<br /><br />The United Nations proposed a brief “humanitarian” ceasefire of five hours on Thursday, 17 July. Both Hamas and Israel agreed to it. It started at 10am. Yet seconds before the ceasefire ended, Israel committed a massacre and killed a number of people — which ruins the whole concept or a humanitarian ceasefire. At 10am, drones and warplanes were still over our heads.<br /><br />When the ceasefire first went into effect, nothing changed. Few people left their homes. Silence was laying heavy over Gaza. Careful anticipation spread until, just a little over an hour in, people start leaving their houses in unison, as if everyone had coordinated it — but of course they didn’t.<br /><br />Cars started moving, streets became busy, people rushed to stock up on items they needed. An electric mood ran through Gaza. Ironic how life in the human body is represented by the blood flowing through the veins but death is represented in Gaza when blood is flowing in the streets.<br /><br />I stayed up all night, wondering, would the short ceasefire happen? Should I go out? Where would I go out? Who would I see? What would I do? What would I buy? A series of endless questions bottled up in a building sensation of pure anticipation. Oh, and adrenaline.<br /><br />When the time came, I went to the door, with no certain plans in mind, and started to open it when it all hit me. What the hell was I doing? I closed the door and went back in.<br /> The beach<br /><br />As much as I was dying to go out, to breathe, to see the sky and the beach, to see any of my friends, to see the streets, I realized that I was being treated like a prisoner and a lab rat — both at the same time.<br /><br />I am being confined and controlled. I am being told when I am allowed to leave and when I should return to lock myself back home and wait till we get bombed and killed again. It felt like a scam, a humanitarian scam in that we need to stock on up medicine and food, which I understand.<br />How can I ever look at the beach the same when those little <a href="http://electronicintifada.net/content/devastated-family-remembers-cheerful-boy-cut-down-israeli-fire-gaza-beach/13603">Baker angels</a> played football on the beach in the early morning, and then ran for their lives only to be shelled and killed by Israel? For playing football. Isn’t it enough that it took us years to forget the <a href="http://electronicintifada.net/content/black-weekend-bloody-mud-and-white-sand/6017">Ghalia family massacre on a Gaza beach years ago</a>? Now we have a new massacre that reminds us of the old ones.<br /><br /><div>
How will I ever look at Gaza beaches the same now?<br /><br />The beaches are some of the most beautiful jewels of Gaza. They are like lifelines that keep people sane and help them enjoy themselves beyond the siege, the occupation and personal hardships.<br /><br />Even they have been taken away from us. The beaches are now ruined and tainted. But I guess this is the effect of war and occupation. Israel wants to diminish your soul, your being. It wants to confine your existence and stain every nice aspect of your life or where you live — as if the <a href="http://electronicintifada.net/tags/gaza-siege">siege</a> wasn’t bad enough.<br /> Prison<br /><br />I boycotted the “humanitarian” scam of a ceasefire, and I decided to stay in my prison. Going out to the prison yard for a few hours won’t really take away the fact that my home is a small prison inside a big one.<br /><br />It was difficult, but my heart felt like it was the right thing to do. I will boycott every humanitarian ceasefire until the war ends and children stop getting killed.<br /><br />Israel kept threatening us with ground invasion every day for days, until that one night. I felt it before it was reported. We were attacked by land, air and sea. Gaza was turned into a scene from a Hollywood movie, except we were living inside of it.<br /><br />The sky turned red, night turned to day and you could hear every kind of weapon being used. The ground was shaking, the house was lit like a discotheque and the loud blasts were no longer a background sound. The numbers of deaths and injuries have started increasing dramatically since the ground invasion, which proves how vicious it is.<br /><br />War continues. New lives, dreams, hopes and existences are being killed. New bombings are everywhere. New bloodshed. New massacres. New families wiped out completely. A daily renewed contract of imprisonment.<br /><br />Can you see the light at the end of tunnel?<br /><br />First appeared on Electronic Intifada: <a href="http://electronicintifada.net/content/how-will-i-ever-look-gaza-beach-same-again/13611">http://electronicintifada.net/content/how-will-i-ever-look-gaza-beach-same-again/13611</a></div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-74183609923619363772014-07-21T09:08:00.001+02:002014-07-21T09:08:41.925+02:00Surviving Israel's bombs: Dos & Donts War-zone guidebook<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Surviving Israel's bombs: Dos & Donts War-zone guidebook </b></span></div>
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Gaza – Every night I seem to think it’s the worst night, until I go through the next one. I got so used to the house shaking and moving from the consecutive blasts that it now feels weird when everything is still. Flashing lights, the ground shaking all around, that’s my house during the current Israeli war on Gaza.<br /><br />Every day, Israeli warplanes bomb a new house; a mosque is hit; a car is blasted; a hospital is attacked. Even cemeteries and handicap associations are no longer safe. Every day, new people die, people who were once alive with hopes and dreams, are now nothing but a number in a news report. Life is so vulnerable in Gaza right now that your life can suddenly become a statistic. No one knows who will become a number, or when.<br /><br />When you live in a conflict zone, like Gaza, experiences force you little by little to create the best “Dos and Don’ts” warzone guidebook. After three wars in the space of six years, you manage to figure out the best ways to survive with the limited options available to you:<br /><br />Warzone guidebook<br /><br />Anticipate and don’t hesitate. Don’t wait for it to happen, and head out of your house in the daylight to stock the basics. Make a plan and a list of everything you need and make sure to calculate the distance between the places and the time you will need. You are not going on a fun ride. Make sure all the places are nearby and easy to reach without wasting too much time. You will need a good amount of clean water because no one knows how long it will last.<br /><br />Life is so vulnerable in Gaza right now that your life can suddenly become a statistic. No one knows who will become a number, or when.<br /><br />Stock up on bread and canned food, they last longer than fresh food. Do not go out at night, unless it’s an emergency. Make a list of all numbers you will need in urgent times like numbers of hospitals, doctors, family members, friends, pharmacies and such.<br /><br /><br /><br />Stocking up on medicine is more crucial than stocking up on food. Don’t only get medicine that you take or your family takes, make sure you stock up on emergency medicine, such as a first aid kit, bandages, plasters, medical cleansing alcohol, burn soothing creams, anesthetics, dehydration solutions, painkillers and anything else you might think you will need during days of war. Remember, during war, anything can happen, so it’s important to be vigilant.<br /><br />Earplugs, earplugs, earplugs. Especially for those who have issues because the sound of the blasts might cause infection, pain and/or damage to the ears.<br /><br />Use water and electricity wisely, moderately and efficiently. Make sure everything is recharged whenever possible. Stock up on candles or emergency flashlights, and make sure you always have enough batteries. Also, be careful when using candles, be always alert and never sleep while a candle is still lit.<br /><br />Stay away from windows, unless you want to risk being on the receiving end of flying glass, or have your face cut to shreds. Stay away from doors. People say that corners are always the safest place in every house, so make sure you stay near one. Crack the windows open, because they have a larger chance of exploding if they are closed, especially when an attack happens close by and the pressure of the blast causes the window to explode. However, always keep the doors closed.<br /><br />Do not rush to look out the window if you hear anything, and avoiding running to a nearby site that got burned or hit or bombed.<br /><br />Never speak about locations or give too much information on landlines, mobile phones, or online. You are putting your life in danger and the life of other people who never gave you permission to endanger them.<br /><br />Make sure you sleep at least three to five hours a day. There might be nights where you won’t be able to sleep at all, so sleep whenever you can. It is true that adrenaline keeps you awake and running for days, but when the rush dwindles, you will need days to recover, so be cautious.<br /><br />Have a fire extinguisher in your house or building and make sure to be ready in case a blaze sparks anywhere near you. Getting burned isn’t fun. And stay hydrated.<br /><br />Stay alert. This might save your life 90 percent of the time, unless you are destined to die. When you are alert you can anticipate danger and stay away from it or get out of it fast. Listen to your gut and have your instincts always on full-drive mode. I’ve found that in some ways it is actually more beneficial to stay alert than being safe because safety isn’t ensured unless you are well aware.<br /><br />Ultimately, safety is nowhere to be found in Gaza, but you use whatever means you have.<br /><br /><br />Ultimately, safety is nowhere to be found in Gaza, but you use whatever means you have.<br /><br /><br /><br />Ceasefires and ground invasions<br /><br />The question of a ground invasion is one many Gazans were asking whenever we heard something on the news. The monster that is the ground invasion has been used as a fear tactic for days, Israel threatening Gaza with it every day, until one night: the night it happened. And I certainly felt it and heard it before it was even reported.<br /><br />Israeli tanks, already beefed up on the border line, started advancing into southern and northern Gaza. Smoke bombs and tank shells were raining on Gaza, especially in the previously mentioned areas. We were attacked by land, air, and sea. And boy could we hear it and feel it. There were sounds of consecutive and rocking explosions, then it started getting harder to guess from where they were originating and where they will fall.<br /><br />Since the ground invasion, the number of fatalities and casualties has been increasing dramatically by the minute, which only indicates how vicious it is.<br /><br />Another issue we’ve been pondering revolves around the question of a ceasefire. My neighbors from one side are with it; they are tired and can’t handle any more madness. My neighbors from the other side are against it; singing melodies of how strong Gaza is. I, on the other hand, am sitting in the middle wondering when I will see the beach here again, or if I ever will.<br /><br />Gaza is like one small village where everyone knows everyone. Everybody is related in one way or another. And those who you don’t know in real life, you befriend through social media, essentially turning Gaza into more than just a village, but a home which significantly helps when it comes to finding out what’s happening, and trying to figure out what to do. But even these connections don’t change the fact that we still face limited options.<br /><br />Two nights ago, for example, many of my friends received Israeli recorded evacuation calls, all of whom live in the same area I live in. We quickly realized that we needed to formulate a “safety” plan, but in order to establish a plan, you need to understand the very real but almost comical situation on the ground. Imagine this scenario: Nalan al-Sarraj, who lives in Tal al-Hawa, tweeted that she got an evacuation call and was heading to her friend’s house which isn’t far from her’s. While I didn’t get a call myself, we still worked on scenarios of what we should do. Say I got an evacuation call and went to seek refuge with a friend, they might have already left their house because they too got a call. We both, then, would seek refuge with a third friend, and while we are there, he gets an evacuation call. “Where should we all go?” a question myself, Nalan and many others keep asking.<br /><br />Truth to be told, nowhere in Gaza is safe. Some refugees sought refuge in UNRWA schools, but these were bombed by Israel during its “Operation Cast Lead.”<br /><br />There is also the sound of actually hearing the missile falling and then a blast. That’s the best and our favorite kind here. Hearing the missile fall means it probably won’t be targeting you.<br /><br />Having lived here long enough, sometimes trapped for days because of wars or attacks, I’ve realized I’ve become a sound expert. Now, instead of getting bored of seeing my family and neighbors all day every day for days, I decided to develop this skill, and I can now differentiate between rockets and their sounds’ impact.<br /><br /><br />Say an Apache [helicopter] is nearby, very loudly roaring above the house; that’s bad, right? The answer is yes and no. On one hand it’s a good thing because it means your house won’t be targeted. Unfortunately it also means another house will be targeted from a place in the air above your house. Also, Apache rockets are mild in comparison to the loud, devastatingly damaging and explosive F-16 rocket.<br /><br />Blasts have different sounds too. A tank shelling, for example, doesn’t sound like a warship shelling. Then there is this sudden huge blast, caused by an F-16 rocket. It will take your breath away, literally. F-16 blasts give mini heart attacks. But that’s only if you are lucky. If it’s closer, you are probably flying due to this sudden blast. There is also the sound of actually hearing the missile falling and then a blast. That’s the best and our favorite kind here. Hearing the missile fall means it probably won’t be targeting you.<br /><br />I jump even when the door slams. There is a buzzing in my ears now as a result of the proximity of the explosions. My heart stops for a few seconds each time I feel a blast. I haven’t slept for nine nights, and I’m fasting during the day. My mind and body are in overdrive; tracking the news; preparing for an evacuation to I don’t know where any second now; preparing to die, stuck at home. My fear now is turning into a zombie.<br /><br />At least 335 Palestinians have been killed, and a further 2,390 others injured, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Several new massacres were committed by Israel, including those against the Abu Dagga and Bakr families. Seven fatalities from which five are children. Four children alone, brothers and cousins from Bakr family, aged 9 to 11, were hit by a warship shelling on Gaza beach while playing football. Heartbreaking. My humanity is hanging by a thread, especially after I hear such news.<br /><br />Don’t people in Gaza deserve to have human rights? How about the children?<div>
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First appeared on Al AKhbar English : <a href="http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza-personal-account-trying-survive-israel%E2%80%99s-bombs" target="_blank">http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/gaza-personal-account-trying-survive-israel%E2%80%99s-bombs</a></div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-51614247297773041172014-07-19T18:11:00.002+02:002014-07-19T18:11:51.001+02:00Day 7-8 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: Nakba two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Day 7-8 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: Nakba two</b></span></div>
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Gaza, July 16, Israel launched a new aggression\operation\offensive against Gaza and decided to name “Protective Edge” also known as “Solid Rock”. Israeli warplanes, tanks, drones and warships participated in bombing places across Gaza all day long. This makes it the third Israeli open war against Gaza in 5 years or less. This isn’t a report, this is a personal account of what I lived today through the seventh and eighth day of Israel’s new aggression on Gaza.<br />
<br />NOTE: Due to lack power and too much news to track, I stopped for a while but I am trying to make up for it now. Blogs of the past few days will be posted successively. <br /><br />Israeli warplanes, tanks, drones and warships have been participating in bombing places across Gaza for ten days now. This makes it the third Israeli open war against Gaza in five years or less.<br /><br />Every night I seem to think it’s the worst night, until I go through the next one. I got so used to the house shaking and moving from the consecutive blasts that now it feels weird when everything is still. Flashing lights, the ground shaking all around, that’s my house during the current Israeli war on Gaza.<br /><br /><div>
Every day, Israeli warplanes bomb a new house. A mosque is hit. A car is blasted. A hospital is attacked. Even cemeteries and handicap associations are no longer safe. Every day, new people die, people who were once alive with different hopes and dreams, are now nothing but a number in a news report. From life to statistics, that’s how vulnerable life is in Gaza right now. Who knows who is about to become a number, and when?<br /><br />When you live in a conflict zone, like Gaza, experiences force you little by little to create the best “dos and donts” warzone guide book. First, the autopilot mode is ignited. You stock up bread, water, canned food, medicine and first-aid kits in no time without even thinking about it. You know which is the “alleged” safest spot in the house - usually the corners - and you know to stay away from windows and doors. Safety in Gaza is always missing and never found, but you use whatever means you have.<br /><br />The question discussed among most of Gaza’s homes and neighborhoods has been around ceasefire or no ceasefire? My neighbors from one side are with it; they got tired and can’t handle any more madness. My neighbors from the other side are against in; singing melodies of how strong Gaza is. I, on the other hand, am sitting in the middle wondering when will I see the beach here again, or will I ever?<br /><br />Gaza is like one small village where everyone knows everyone. Everybody is related one way or another. And those who you don’t know in real life, you befriend through social media, essentially turning Gaza into a home, not a village, which helps significantly when it comes to finding out what’s happening, and trying to figure out what to do. But even with these connections, it doesn’t change the fact we’re still faced with limited options.<br /></div>
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Two nights ago, for example, many of my friends received Israeli recorded evacuation calls, all of whom live in the same area I live in. We realized quickly we needed to formulate a ‘safety’ plan, but in order to form a plan, you need to understand the very real but almost comical situation on the ground. Imagine this scenario: Nalan Al Sarraj, who lives in Tal el Hawa, tweeted that she got an evacuation call and was heading to her friend’s house which isn’t so far. While I didn’t get a call myself, we still worked on scenarios of what we should do. Say I got an evacuation call and went to seek refuge with a friend, they might already be out of their house because they too got a call. We both then would seek refuge with a third friend, and while we are there, he gets an evacuation call. “Where should we all go?” a question myself, Nalan and many others keep asking.<br /><br />Truth to be told, nowhere in Gaza is safe. Some refugees sought refuge in UNRWA schools, but these were bombed by Israel during their “Operation Cast Lead”.<br /><br />People living on the borderline in Gaza get evacuation leaflets, calls and warnings everyday to leave their lives and home behind and evacuate. Not enough UNRWA schools to seek refuge at. And the strip is already condensed hence the dramatic numbers of fatalities and death.<br /><br />Living here long enough, trapped for days sometimes because of wars or attacks, I’ve realised I’ve become an expert in sound. Now, instead of getting bored of seeing my family and neighbors all day every day for days, I decided to develop this skill, and now I can differentiate between rockets and their sounds\ impact.<br /><br />Say there is an Apache is nearby, very loud roaring above the house, that’s bad right? Yes and no. It’s a good thing in one way because it means your house won’t be targeted. Unfortunately it also means another house will be targeted from a place in the air above your house. Also, Apache rockets are mild in comparison to the loud, devastatingly damaging and explosive F16 rocket.<br /></div>
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Blasts have different sounds too. A tank shelling, for example, doesn’t sound like a warship shelling. Then there is this sudden huge blast, caused by an F16 rocket, it will take your breath away, literally. F16 blasts give mini heart attacks. But that’s only if you are lucky. If it’s closer, you are probably flying due to this sudden blast. There is also the sound of actually hearing the missile falling and then a blast. That’s the best and favorite kind among us all here. Hearing the missile fall means it probably won’t be targeting you.<br /><br />I jump even when the door slams. There is a buzzing in my ears now as a result of the proximity of the explosions. My heart stops for a few seconds each time I feel a blast. I haven’t slept for nine nights, and I’m fasting during the days. My mind and body are in overdrive; tracking the news, preparing for an evacuation to I don’t know where any second now, preparing to die, stuck at home. My fear now is that I turn into a zombie.<br /></div>
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At least 213 Palestinians have been killed at the time of writing, and a further 1565 others injured. Two new massacres were committed by Israel today against the Abu Dagga and Baker families. Seven fatalities from which five are children. Four children alone, brothers and cousins from Baker family, aged 9-11, were hit by an warship shelling on Gaza seaport, Western Gaza. Heartbreaking. My humanity is hanging by a thread, especially after I hear such news.<br /></div>
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Don’t people in Gaza deserve to have human rights? Not even the children?<br /><br /></div>
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From Gaza,<br /><br /><br />Omar</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-86008776532181889002014-07-14T07:23:00.001+02:002014-07-14T08:41:00.678+02:00Day 5-6 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: 172+ killed, 1150+ injured<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 5-6 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: 172+ killed, 1150+ injured</span></b></div>
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Gaza, July 14, Israel launched a new aggression\operation\offensive against Gaza and decided to name “Protective Edge” also known as “Solid Rock”. Israeli warplanes, tanks, drones and warships participated in bombing places across Gaza all day long. This makes it the third Israeli open war against Gaza in 5 years or less. This isn’t a report, this is a personal account of what I lived today through the fifth and sixth day of Israel’s new aggression on Gaza.<br />
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I apologize for skipping day 5, I will be writing about both day five and six both. I had no time yesterday due to power outages, a little sleep and the intensity of the bombings. Too much news to track, allot of things to do. You try your best to keep up, sometimes your best isn’t enough.<br />
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Before I start, I would just like to say that I wish I was writing this out of propaganda, I wish we weren’t living through this brutality and I wish it was just lies I am making. Its not. You can easily Google the information now and see not only pictures but videos of what is Gaza going through. And for those who challenge my state of being a civilian, check what a civilian means and how its define by international standards, if you have a problem then blame them not me. Call me “not a civilian” all you like, I am a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian" target="_blank">civilian</a> and it is a fact.<br />
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The last two nights were intense. Many explosions nearby to an extent that I felt my ears will fall off. But how dare I complain about anything when whole families are being killed and Gazans have become refugees in their own country. Many families left their homes in the north seeking refuge in <a href="http://www.unrwa.org/" target="_blank">UNRWA</a> schools, not that its safer or anything, Israel <a href="http://www.dci-pal.org/english/display.cfm?DocId=928&CategoryId=1" target="_blank">bombed</a> them during <a href="http://middleeast.about.com/od/c/g/Operation-Cast-Lead.htm" target="_blank">cast lead</a>. An estimation of four thousand people, left everything behind seeking some peace of mind, since safety is nowhere to be found in Gaza. No where is safe. <br />
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Israel committed many massacres, new and old ones, during all wars and times of no war. Latest one was <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/multimedia/photo-gallery/2014/7/photos-gaza-al-batsh.html" target="_blank">Al Batsh</a> family. A multiple-storey house was bombed. NINETEEN were killed and more than fifty others injured. All from the same family. Imagine losing your mom, And your dad, And your siblings. Oh, And your relatives. Oh wait, there is more, And your neighbors. If you were lucky to survive this, your whole life that you once knew has ended. Maybe those who survive are unlucky. I don’t know. Imagine waking up to find your whole family dead, your house was destroyed, even your neighbors and relatives are no longer there. Would you say: Thank god I am alive?<br />
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Mothers, daughters, grandmothers, kids, elderly, families, men, boys, girls, handicapped, sisters, brothers, relatives, neighbors, and friends, all are being killed. If you were lucky enough not to lose a member of your immediate family, you will def. end up losing a relative or a neighbor or a friend.<br />
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172+ Palestinians killed, 1150+ injured, 2500+ Israeli attacks on Gaza (360 square meter of a highly populated strip), nearly 750 houses\mosques bombed, destroyed or severely damaged. Houses. Mosques. Medics. Hospitals. Ambulance centers. Cemeteries. Farmlands. Coastline. Shore. Boats. Cars. Motorbikes. Buses. Residential areas. Banks. Schools. Colleges. Universities. And pretty much everything. Depressing huh? Well, that’s what we are going through. According to UNRWA, an <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisGunness/status/488241709026127872" target="_blank">estimation</a> of about 70% of the fatalities are civilians, from which 30% of them are children. I think the percentages are even higher. Don’t believe me? Google UNRWA and Chris Gunness. <br />
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I still cant get over the bombing of cemeteries (3+), like the <a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=332413" target="_blank">English cemetery</a> in Gaza. And also the handicap association. Even handicaps are not spared. Three handicapped females were killed. Human rights much?<br />
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As we enter a week into protective edge, or Israeli ongoing aggression on Gaza, you feel a shift. Being under siege and occupation for so long makes you adapt very fast to any current situation, bad or good, which is totally unhealthy. The <a href="http://gazatimes.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-israeli-aggression-against-gaza-17.html" target="_blank">first</a> <a href="http://gazatimes.blogspot.com/2014/07/day-2-of-israeli-aggression-on-gaza-72.html" target="_blank">few</a> <a href="http://gazatimes.blogspot.com/2014/07/day-3-of-israeli-aggression-on-gaza-98.html" target="_blank">days</a> we were in denial, <a href="http://gazatimes.blogspot.com/2014/07/day-4-of-israeli-aggression-on-gaza-124.html" target="_blank">then</a> we started adjusting and now we are used to it. Yesterday, people were leading normal life in the daylight, nearly, which kind of confused me. I was sad, happy, confused, frightened and puzzled. <br />
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Now if a huge explosion hits nearby, its like: “Uhm, yeah that was near”. With no shock or terror. We got accustomed to this and its sad.<br />
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Here are a few types of explosions I noticed during this war: <br />
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1- Sudden blast. Just a huge big “KABOOOOOOOOMBOOOOOOMPAAAAAAAW” out of no where.<br />
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2- Hear a missile penetrating air and then “KAAAAAAABOOOOOOM”. <br />
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3- Hear a missile falling and then the ground shakes.<br />
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4- Tank shelling.<br />
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5- Warships shelling.<br />
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6- Apaches missiles.<br />
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7- And finally, the big F16 gigantic rocket. If you are lucky enough to just hear it without getting dead or injured.<br />
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This will sound crazy, but we all favor type “2”. We prefer to anticipate death instead of getting blown up with no further warning. We think its safer, when its actually not safe. But hey, if you hear a missile falling it means you’re lucky, its near you but not targeting you.<br />
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Every time the phone rings, you assume you will get a call from Israeli army to evacuate your house, if you are lucky. Although now Israel uses the new “Warning missiles”, yeah warning missiles, you heard right. They bomb the house with a warning missile, if you were still alive, you have 1-3 minutes or less to leave. If you were lucky. Many houses got bombed with no warning missiles, hence the huge numbers of deaths and injuries or fatalities and causalities if you want fancier definitions. I don’t.<br />
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Homebound for a week now. I try all ways with my family to let me go out. Its always a big fat resounding NO. I tried negotiation with my dad, using Maya Angelou quotes of empowerment, beg, childish sounds, fake tears, threatening to do it behind his back and finally I played the “Adult” card. You would think this powerful card would have an impact on my dad, right? NO. He said if I was an adult I would know better than wanting to go out during these difficult times. He is right. I put my head down and dragged my defeat away with me.<br />
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Every morning I hear the birds chirping and the sun filling the place, I miss Gaza. I miss the beach. I miss the freedom of choice whether I want go out or stay home. I miss my favorite places here. I miss my friends. I miss the streets and the feelings. I miss walking around. Seeing your family for a week, every day, nonstop, while you are homebound and under war is kind of a challenge. I hope none of them read this entry. If they do, I hope they know I love them, but I need space (or a change of face) so I hope they don’t end up hating me. What? I promise my readers here brutal honesty. <br />
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It hurts when you see children die. People with names, lives, families and a being turn into numbers. A statistic. Its like you can smell death, overshadowing the smell of gunpowder. Its like blood is running through the streets.<br />
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Life was never normal here, ever, by all means, but I miss my normal life, whatever that was before the Israeli ongoing war. Every day you live through the fear of losing a loved one. Its nerve wracking. <br />
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As usual, the house was all shaking while I was writing this blog entry. Or diary. Whatever you want to call it. Explosions in the background. Like I am watching an action movie, but instead of watching it this time, actually living it.<br />
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Once again: A shout out to medics, nurses, doctors, journalists on the grounds and everyone who risk his\her life for the sake of others. Heroes is a cliché, so you all deserve a better definition.<br />
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And A shout out, also a HUGE thank you, to all the big numerous <a href="http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/protests-around-the-world-call-for-end-to-israeli-assault-on-gaza-in-photos-gazaunderattack/" target="_blank">protests</a> around the world in support of Gaza. We love you.<br />
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Let’s see what the 7th day will bring, if we live to see it.<br />
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From <a href="http://gazatimes.blogspot.com/2011/05/gazas-avant-garde-beauty-revealed.html" target="_blank">beautiful Gaza</a>, lingering to hope,<br />
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Omar</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-90649890043642442022014-07-12T12:43:00.000+02:002014-07-12T12:43:33.726+02:00Day 4 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: 124 killed, 925 injured<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 4 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: 124 killed, 925 injured</span></b></div>
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Gaza, July 12, Israel launched a new aggression\operation\offensive against Gaza and decided to name “Protective Edge” also known as “Solid Rock”. Israeli warplanes, tanks, drones and warships participated in bombing places across Gaza all day long. This makes it the third Israeli open war against Gaza in 5 years or less. This isn’t a report, this is a personal account of what I lived today through the fourth day of Israel’s new aggression on Gaza.<br /><br />I wanted to write this blog earlier, since we are half way through day five but the power was out and I had no battery. Another intense night in Gaza under the nonstop bombings of Israel. What a day. Actually what a week. Also, since we are at it, what a night.<br /><br />I will sound like a repeated record for a minute when I saw Israel bombed everywhere across Gaza and the targets were mainly houses, although the targets did expand to include new things, but that’s the reality of daily life here through this barbaric Israeli war or offensive (call it whatever makes you happy) against Gaza.<br /><br />The Israeli targets in Gaza remained the same but expanded to include a handicap association Northern Gaza, which caused the death of two or more handicapped females. Mosques and houses were bombed as usual, also cars and motorbikes and all the usual targets. Oh and humans ofcourse. Another cemetery was bombed, and the old cemetery was bombed again. Basically, everything in Gaza is a potential target.<br /><br />Latest official statistics from different official governmental and media sources say: 124 Palestinians have been killed, 935+ others got injured. Israel carried out 2025 bombings across Gaza so far, or even more, using 400 tons of explosives every day, give and take. Yesterday, people noticed a fog covering due to smoke bombs fired from Israeli tanks. It might contain poisonous gas, cast lead flashbacks. Most casualties (dead and injured) are women and children, as usual, and dare to tell me they aren’t civilians.<br /><br />I will not lie and say life here is normal, but it hasn’t stopped either. People do be careful and stay homebound (not that it saves you or anything, no place here is safe) but also go to work and buy groceries and the usual stuff. Its Ramadan, although its hard to feel the blessings and magic of this holy month through all this madness. We went through similar situations to the extent that each one of us become a walking guide book on how to survive though war, and also sound experts. You know to immediately stalk medicine and all the basic needs like water, bread and canned food when such things occur (they usually occur out of nowhere) but during times like this, even basic needs become trivial.<br /><br />Many explosions were nearby to where I live, but one explosion was so nearby that I lost hearing for a few minutes. But it came back, thankfully.<br /><br />Israel didn’t start a ground invasion yet despite the media declarations. <br /><br />Oh, an explosion just happened nearby, ok, back to writing.<br /><br />800 foreign passport holders issued requests of departure to leave Gaza through Erez. I guess some people just cant handle it.<br /><br />Egypt opened Rafah, let some bad injuries through but their priority was letting through Egyptian citizens in Gaza. Despite some bad Egyptian media, celebrities, public figures and people who actually support Israel’s war on Gaza, many others actually support Gaza and are highly criticizing those who don’t. <br /><br />Arab leadership and governments are disappointing as usual. No reaction. In some Arab countries, regimes oppress protests in support of Gaza even. <br /><br />Heartwarming protests across the world held Palestine flags and protested for Gaza, which is always heartwarming. We are so grateful. But perhaps my favorites are London, Yemen and Japan.<br /><br />Britain’s “Blair” will arrive to Egypt to discuss a potential ceasefire, Obama is also working hard on obtaining one by pushing Qatar and Jordan and Turkey into extensive talks of forming a solid ceasefire.<br /><br />Mainstream media remain either silent or biased towards Israel’s massacres in Gaza, which isn’t new at all, but some media and journalists are doing a great job.<br /><br />Another huge shout out to medics, doctors and journalists on the ground who risk their lives to shed a light on others.<br /><br />Do I wonder about the time frame of this aggression or when will it end? Maybe I do. But when you are in it, you are caught up into living the moment. Its puts you in a certain mode. I don’t know how to explain it.<br /><br />Last night and during the first hours of this morning the Israeli bombing intensified. Israeli warplanes, warships and tanks were all bombing Gaza at once. It was kind of surreal, like you are watching an action movie, except you are actually living inside it, or living it.<br /><br />I will post below some useful links regarding most of the things I mentioned here, feel free to check them out.<br /><br />From Gaza, survived another day,<br /><br /><br />Omar<div>
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GRAPHIC VIDEO: WARNING: Not for those with weak herts: Heart shattering video of a Palestinian father in Gaza trying to wake up his dead child, he tells him to wake up and see the doll he brought him:</div>
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<a href="http://www.alwatanvoice.com/arabic/news/2014/07/11/565748.html" target="_blank">http://www.alwatanvoice.com/arabic/news/2014/07/11/565748.html</a><br /><div>
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Names of those who got killed by Israel bombing so far (English):</div>
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<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/gaza-under-seige-naming-dead-2014710105846549528.html" target="_blank">http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/gaza-under-seige-naming-dead-</a><a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/gaza-under-seige-naming-dead-2014710105846549528.html" target="_blank">2014710105846549528.html</a></div>
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Names of those who got killed by Israel bombing so far (Arabic):</div>
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<a href="http://www.alwatanvoice.com/arabic/news/2014/07/10/564909.html" target="_blank">http://www.alwatanvoice.com/arabic/news/2014/07/10/564909.html</a></div>
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Pictures of some of the worldwide protests in support of Gaza:</div>
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<a href="http://www.dawn.com/news/1118609/view-of-worldwide-protests-against-gaza-assault" target="_blank">http://www.dawn.com/news/1118609/view-of-worldwide-protests-against-gaza-assault</a></div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-48626373282867191122014-07-11T10:10:00.000+02:002014-07-11T10:27:07.855+02:00Day 3 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: 98 killed, 675 injured<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 3 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: 98 killed, 675 injured</span></b></div>
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Gaza, July 11, Israel launched a new aggression\operation\offensive against Gaza and decided to name “Protective Edge” also known as “Solid Rock”. Israeli warplanes, tanks, drones and warships participated in bombing places across Gaza all day long. This makes it the third Israeli open war against Gaza in 5 years or less. This isn’t a report, this is a personal account of what I lived today through the third day of Israel’s new aggression on Gaza.<br />
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Third day is over, it was yet more intense than the second day. Israel didn’t stop bombing Gaza for a second, consecutive explosions spread across Gaza shaking the ground under us. Israel used Apaches, drones, F16s, warships and tanks against Gaza. Israel expanded its targets in Gaza and bombed houses, school, university, hospitals, cars, media, motorbikes, bus, mosques, A CEMETERY, humans and pretty much anything and everything.<br />
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Its getting a little boring to stay homebound and depressing to watch Israel commit repeated massacres like Kaware’ family (bombed a house while people where around it forming a human shield to protect it), Khan Younis beach Café, Ghannam houses and others. Five to eight people were killed, or even more, due to every massacre and many others injured.<br />
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What bewilders me is those illogic bombings on ex-Gaza international airport that Israel already flattened to the ground so many years ago, yet this airport, in Rafah, Southern Gaza, got hit so many times between shelling and bombing the past few days. Why? Its already destroyed.<br />
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Also, bombing a cemetery? Seriously? Cant the dead have some peace? <br />
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And then comes those double and triple bombing of houses that were already bombed. Why use six+ F16 rockets on a house when the first rocket already blew up the hell out of it? Well, my dear Americans, that’s your tax dollars at work.<br />
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Israel bombed everywhere across Gaza. The northern and southern parts took all the heat as usual but also the eastern and western parts weren’t left alone.<br />
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Israeli warships bombed Gaza’s coastline which set Gaza Ark and other boats on fire.<br />
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Diane Sawyer, of ABC news, made a stupid mistake by airing photos of Palestinian war victims claiming they were Israelis, but thanks to alerted Palestinians and pro Palestinians who immediately pressured an apology out of them on air. <br />
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Allot of news was spreading about a possible ground invasion. Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbass, said a ground invasion will happen in the matter of hours, while Israeli defense minister, Moshe Yaalon, went out and announced the start of a ground invasion against Gaza, but then Israeli news said it will happen on Friday (Today) without mentioning a certain time.<br />
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Israel also threatened to cut water, electricity and internet in Gaza to isolate it from the world, not like they haven’t done it before.<br />
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In times of this, you try to hold onto the last once of your humanity because its very easy to lose it and become inhuman. Its an inner conflict that goes on every day.<br />
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I am a civilian, yes, but where are my civil rights? Hell, where are my human rights?<br />
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Palestinian life matter, even if the world wants to turn its head to the other side and act like nothing is happening. <br />
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It hurts more when you see children dying, or elderly people, or mothers. This war is witnessing family love even in death. Many mothers were killed with their children, a pregnant woman and her infant were killed, a mom died shielding her children who died with her too. Siblings were bombed while they are holding each other or sleeping next to each other, twins too. Dr. Anas Abu AlKas, owns a pharmacy, was killed yesterday after his house was bombed. Anas was an only child, his mom and dad were killed by Israel during cast lead, and he was killed yesterday. <br />
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Again, when I choose not to sleep and track the news instead since its too noisy to sleep anyway, I start thinking about life and wondering about humanity. <br />
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Egypt opened Rafah border to let Egyptian-nationality holders pass before the wounded. And decided to extend Rafah border’s opening till today to let them pass, but not let the wounded pass. Also, some Egyptian media are actually supporting Israel’s aggression on Gaza. <br />
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Not that we ever had hope in Arabs, but the lack of reaction or media coverage is shameful. Some Arabic hotshots on twitter choose to tweet about random stuff instead of covering Gaza news.<br />
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We are nearly half way through Ramadan, the first few days were actually amazing until Israel began this new aggression in Gaza. We got so busy with tracking the news that Ramadan is down to fasting for us, it makes me sad because I was enjoying Ramadan this year.<br />
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Living through this war is like living through multiple dimensions at once. Life here is normal but not normal at the same time, if you get what I mean (you probably wont unless you live in Palestine or somewhere similar). There is a point where you go through a normal life but then it clashes with the point that you are actually living through a full blown war. Yeah war. Such an easy word to say if you lived through old wars before, but nonetheless a war is a war with all the ugliness and darkness it brings.</div>
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US consulate in Jerusalem sent emails and text messages to American citizens in Gaza asking them to immediately depart and offered them assistance but didnt comment yet on Twitter regarding Israel's aggression against Gaza.<br />
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Day four has started. If you look at how sunny and beautiful Gaza is this morning, with the birds chirping, you wouldn’t think it’s a wounded city that is being bombed viciously and actually bleeding.<br />
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Shout outs: To medics (several got injured), to doctors, journalists on the ground, Palestinians inside and out of Palestine and also occupied Lands of 1948, Pro Palestinians everywhere and to the special friends and people who send their daily support, love, compassion and prayers.<br />
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Will we witness an Israeli ground invasion in Gaza today or not? I don’t know. Time will tell so stay tuned.<br />
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From a beautiful but wounded Gaza,<br />
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Omar (@Omar_Gaza) #GazaUnderAttack #GazaUnderFire #ProtectiveEgde </div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-66256452450050402952014-07-10T05:00:00.004+02:002014-07-11T09:17:47.266+02:00Day 2 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: 72 killed, 550 injured<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Day 2 of Israeli aggression on Gaza: 72 killed, 550 injured</b></span></div>
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Gaza, July 10, Israel launched a new aggression\operation\offensive against Gaza and decided to name “Protective Edge” also known as “Solid Rock”. Israeli warplanes, tanks, drones and warships participated in bombing places across Gaza all day long. This makes it the third Israeli open war against Gaza in 5 years or less. This isn’t a report, this is a personal account of what I lived today through the second day of Israel’s new aggression on Gaza.<br />
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I am writing this blog at 5 30 am, as the house shakes repeatedly from Israeli bombings nearby. I wish I was making this up, but I am not.<br />
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Israel said they bombed Gaza with 400 tons of explosives the first day, you don’t need to be an expert to know that this is too much. They also said they bombed over 550 targets across Gaza, might I remind you it was just the first day. The second day was much more intense. <br />
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Israel amped up their policy of targeting houses. They targeted 50 houses the first day. Maybe 50 more yesterday. Hence, the death toll kept increasing by the minute, too much deaths and injuries. What was weird is how Israel would bomb again houses that got already bombed earlier or the day before, also the repeated bombing of Gaza International Airport that Israel bombed\destroyed\flattened years and years ago.<br />
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Israel bombed a media car in Rimal, Gaza’s downtown, also bombed Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s ambulance center Northern Gaza, three medics got injured. A medic died due to an Israeli bombing that targeted Northern Gaza as well. Yeah, it was a hell of a day, and it wasn’t over yet.<br />
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Israeli targets in Gaza: Houses, cars, media, hospital, university, rests, motorbikes, medics, humans and pretty much everything.<br />
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Israel’s bombings spread across Gaza. From North till South, from West till East. Nonstop. No breaks. <br />
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A pregnant woman, the child in her belly and her two year old were killed in one of Israeli bombings on a house in Gaza. New massacres were committed by Israel yesterday in a few of the targeted houses and also a rest in Khan Younis Southern Gaza.<br />
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Israel used\uses tanks, warships, drones and warplanes against Gaza, it’s a full-fledged open war. Most of the killed and injured are women and children, which is personally heart breaking for me and obviously children and women are civilian. <br />
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It sucks to be homebound. I miss sleeping, going to my favorite places here, OFCOURSE THE BEACH and just touring around Gaza. It also sucks to see all this human loss and damage. Your humanity starts shrinking and you struggle to keep it intact.<br />
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It also bewilders me how people assume that all Palestinians who live in Gaza are militants, when most of us are actually civilians. Its depressing to try to prove to the world that your life matters and that you are a civilian even though they already cast their judgment on you.<br />
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When you hear that 72 Palestinians were killed and 550 injured in two days, its tough and horrifying imagine living it. New bloody memories in Gaza, something none of us signed for, especially the kids who always pay the price.<br />
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I will try to write more details and post more pictures and the name of the dead and injured but the information is just too much and I am trying my best to keep up.<br />
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I am holding onto my last threads of humor, which shows in my tweets, but its more like dark humor. Like smiling when you are sad. After all, we are all trying to survive. <br />
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It was heart shattering to see the pictures of little boys and girls viciously killed. Also how an elderly woman was killed while she was having her iftar at Maghreb prayer by bombing her house. She died holding the spoon in her hand, an image that will need allot of time to leave my head. I kept feeling like this Ramadan is like no other, but I didn’t expect it to happen during such mad times.<br />
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I feel guilty because I should be posting pictures, more statistics and being more professional, offering a report at the end. But, when I sat down to write this while Gaza is still being bombed, I felt like its ok to show emotions and humanity even though some will way all I am saying isn’t true, all you need to do is google it.<br />
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From a Gaza that is drenched in blood, <br />
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Omar</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com87tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-55604231501285614672014-07-08T21:17:00.000+02:002014-07-08T21:24:17.001+02:00New Israeli aggression against Gaza: 17 killed, 106 injured in 24h<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">New Israeli aggression against Gaza</span></b></div>
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<br />Gaza, July 8, Israel launched a new aggression\operation\offensive against Gaza and decided to name “Protective Edge” also known as “Solid Rock”. Israeli warplanes, tanks, drones and warships participated in bombing places across Gaza all day long. This makes it the third Israeli open war against Gaza in 5 years or less. This isn’t a report, this is a personal account of what I lived today through the first day of Israel’s new aggression on Gaza.<br /><br />Israel started bombing houses this time, deliberately, with no intent to apologize or stop. So many houses got bombed that we lost count. Families whose houses got bombed are: Hashash, Za’bout, Yaseen, Shabat, Agha, Kaware’, Al Ghalban and a few others. Israel committed a massacre when they bombed Kaware’ family house directly when people were forming a human shield around it to protect it from being bombed. Many died and got injured, most of them were children. <br /><br />Israel attacked lands, mosques, houses, cars, motorbikes, free zones, humans and pretty much anything and everything in Gaza. You can hear consecutive explosions across Gaza, even if they far away, ground keeps shaking, the house keeps shaking and the windows nearly fly.<br /><br />Israel admitted bombing 90 targets a few hours ago. And they never stopped.<br /><br /><div>
Ministry of Health, Gaza, said a little while ago, Israel’s new aggression left 17 dead and more than 100 injured in less than 24 hours. And far from over.<br /><br />Israeli PM, Netanyahu, said that a ground offensive is being set up. Israeli government called upon 40 thousand or even more reservists to be ready for duty to escalate the aggression against Gaza.<br /><br />Among the dead and the injured are allot of children.<br /><br />No place in Gaza is safe, Israeli bombing is louder and stronger than ever which makes it even more dangerous especially that houses are being targeted now. <br /><br />Gaza remains under fire even during Iftar and Suhoor time which shows that Israel has no respect for religions whatsoever and doesn’t care that we are in a holy month called Ramadan. Gaza remains under fire even as I write this blog.<br /><br />Its expected to get worse tonight, so stay tuned.</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-83993002830873146702014-03-31T08:37:00.000+02:002014-04-02T07:46:37.710+02:00Gaza: The Hunger Games<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Little did the millions who watched “The Hunger Games” film
series know that a similar reality actually exists, its not a fictional realm that
the creator came up with. Yes, its called “Gaza”. A beautiful little coastal
enclave that the least adjectives you can use to describe it are those like “impoverished”,
“suffocating” and “Primal”. A little place on the map that suffers from an Israeli
imposed siege and is always tightly sealed by Egypt. We can safely and
accurately say that Gaza is the biggest modern open-air prison.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You might go through a dilemma or two in your life, but
if you live in Gaza, your mere existence is a dilemma in itself. Your life is
like a Marionette except its extra polarized and the strings pull you in
different directions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You are expected to aspire for better and higher education,
yet thanks to Israel and Egypt you’ll need 10 miracles to get out of Gaza to
seek such education. Palestinians are among the most educated and clever
nations, we land scholarships so easily (which is supposed to be the hardest
part) but visa and border issues always halts the process. Your dream is
murdered, sometimes repeatedly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You read serious reports made by NGOs like UNRWA who
say that Gaza wont be livable by 2020, population will grow and life will
decline. Many other reports mention the high rates of poverty, water pollution
and scarcity, weak infrastructure, unemployment rates skyrocketing, inflation
in the population and diseases widespread (like cancer).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then comes the regular Israeli attacks on Gaza, plus
the daily violation of the air space that usually leads to a major headache
after all the buzzing and hovering over on low altitudes. People injured or
killed, buildings are destroyed, blood is spilled and life is disturbed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The whole world expected the “Arab Spring” to “blossom”
in Palestine, or more particularly, in Gaza. Palestinians living in Gaza have
turned into numb robots who are always judged, attacked and bossed around by
every other country\nation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are asked to topple Hamas. What then? Settle with
the PA? No, topple the PA too. Ok, but don’t forget that our main concern is
ending the occupation. Yeah, we are expected to also topple the occupation.
Wait, so we should end the internal Palestinian division, then topple both
factions, then free Palestine? All that while we are hated, judged and attacked
by the Egyptian media on a daily basis, which is starting to affect the Egyptian
people who are now hating on those who live in Gaza, only because Hamas rules
Gaza. Hmmm, collective punishment comes to my mind here, similar to Israel’s
way in dealing with Palestinians. Interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh, and let’s not forget how we are always judged by
the international community. Every Palestinian living in Gaza is considered to
be a Hamas member (terrorist) just because it’s the ruling regime, even those
who didn’t vote for Hamas, which is highly and very inaccurate and wrong.
Nearly two million people reside in Gaza, how is it fair to assume that all of
them are Hamas? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As if Gaza isn’t separated enough from the West Bank,
and we already feel the internal division and Israeli siege and separation, you
have those who live comfortably and safely in their homes abroad and yet sit
behind a screen to tell you that Gaza isn’t occupied. Yeah, Israel withdrew,
ok, but Israel has a siege imposed and attacks Gaza whenever they have free
time or extra fuel. Whatever you say, those people wont change their minds, they
don’t know the kind of life you are living.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The US promises and swears to always be Fidus Achates
with Israel. Hence AIPAC and all the Israeli domination and prominence. But who
will support Palestinians if they aren’t even capable of supporting themselves
or each others?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lets put all that aside for a minute. Lets analyze the
daily life here. Due to the high poverty and unemployment rates, people are
occupied by making a living. If I had to pick one thing that stands out as the main
common factor between Palestinians here in Gaza, or in Palestine, its going to be "HARD WORK". Yes, they just want to earn a living, no matter what it takes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Rich, middle class, poor and homeless people are always
busy making a living or thinking of ways to secure money and put food on the
table even if its through street begging. Yes, even rich people here aren’t safe.
Plus, those who actually afford to “live a little” rarely do because they are
either afraid of the future or feeling guilty. Guilt springs from the horrible situation that explodes by the minute and its all before your eyes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are\were slowly trained to adjust to any living
situation, no matter how bad it gets. Guinea pigs? Yes. We are opened to any
situation. You might think it’s a positive thing, but if you don’t grasp the
seriousness of this issue and how dangerous it is, then you’ll never get it. It’s
the main reason behind us settling with being mediocre and thinking its okay.
Well, its not okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We go through daily power outages, 8-12 hours cut, and that’s
during the good days. We went through three weeks of no electricity during
Israel’s first full-blown war on Gaza. Our sea is polluted with sewage water,
so the water is also polluted. You can put two and two together and imagine how
all of this highly affects and complicates every aspect of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Those who appreciate the beauty and nature of Gaza, or
love the “Arts” and decide to defy their families and society by choosing such an
understated field that generates no money, are usually ridiculed or accused of
living in denial. You find yourself lost between feeling guilty of being
hopeful and seeing the bright side, instead of being obsessed 24\7 with the
ugliness of the details of life here. God forbid you say Gaza is beautiful,
people will say you have gone mad. Even you, in your own mind, you scold
yourself for believing in the obvious yet ignoring the common dark side of this
same obviousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are resilient. Life doesn’t stop here. But we don’t realize
how much we are paying for this resilience. A very high price, in such a harsh era
we live in. We are losing our humanity. We are becoming rude, inconsiderate and
cutthroat. I wish this was a desultory fact, but it isn’t. We are detaching and
becoming despondent. We are becoming less human and more animal-like who are
only bothered by surviving in the forest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If you yearn for a normal life in Gaza, you are in big
trouble. Life can never be normal here, and if you try and live a normal life,
you’ll be abnormal. People will judge you and make you feel less patriotic or
passionate about your country. If you ever craved traveling for vacation,
forget it, both Erez and Rafah are journeys from hell, assuming ofcourse you
were lucky enough to have 10 miracles that might secure you a chance of exit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you yearn to Jerusalem, then wait till you are 50,
or till you are very sick or you are blessed with a good job at one of Gaza’s
many useless NGO’s who milk the Palestinian cause and launch huge donation
campaigns with no real effect on ground. Or else, Israel won’t let you past Erez.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you have best friends in the West Bank, then plan a
meeting in any country but Palestine, for a chance to see them, only if Egypt
has Rafah opened and you are okay with humiliation and being treated like a
herd of sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you live in Gaza and you want to excel, then good
luck and may God be on your side. With very few opportunities around, little
resources and no major organization to support you, the competition is really
high, like really really high and super tough, cutthroat. You have to shine
brighter than the sun to be recognized. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you live in Gaza, you realize that you CAN NOT live
in it and you CAN NOT live out of it. When you are in, you will yearn to go
out, and when you are out you will die to get back in to your family and your
land. You are destined to a polarizing life. You are required to master the art
of survival.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you live in Gaza, you should smile and move on, but
hold on very tightly to your humanity and everything that makes you the way you
are. Live, love, be happy and be sad. See the obvious, with all its
colors\shades\sides. Try to be a bit normal, but be clever enough to recognize
that you will never be completely normal. Be humane, be you and be strong. Lets
survive, without turning our surroundings into a jungle. Lets keep dreaming of
a better world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Omar Ghraieb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-73538527508621113932013-12-25T13:00:00.002+02:002013-12-25T13:00:33.897+02:00Samer Issawi is free, renewed belief in popular & nonviolent resistance<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Samer Issawi is free, renewed belief in popular & nonviolent resistance</span></div>
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Gaza, December 25, Samer Tariq Issawi, born December 16,
1979 in Issawiyeh, north east of Jerusalem, is a Palestinian iconic hero of
nonviolent resistance. On 15 April 2002, Samer was arrested by the Israeli
army in Ramallah as part of “Operation Defensive Shield” during the Second
Intifada alleging he was affiliated with the Democratic Front for the
Liberation of Palestine.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Nearly 10 years later, in October 2011, Issawi, then serving
the ninth year of a 30-year jail sentence, he was released along with 1027
Palestinian prisoners as a result of an Egypt-brokered deal between Hamas and
the Israeli government for the return of Gilad Shalit, Israeli soldier
kidnapped by Hamas on Gaza’s borderline. However, on 7 July 2012, he was arrested
again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His lawyer Andre Rosenthal stated
that he had been taking his car to be fixed at a garage in the West Bank.</div>
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<br /></div>
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He was convicted of an 8 months sentence so he went on an
open hunger strike since August, 2012. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Palestinian political prisoner and resistance icon Samer
Issawi was released on Monday after spending over 17 months in the Israeli
occupation detention centre Shatta Prison.</div>
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"Samer Issawi's family was ordered by Israeli terror
police earlier today not to celebrate and to take down the flags raised at
their home," according to The Free Samer Issawi Campaign page on Facebook.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Issawi ended his 265+ day long hunger strike on 23, April
2013 after accepting a deal brokered by Israeli and Palestinian officials to
serve eight months on charges of violating bail conditions for an earlier
release.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The law, which has been in place since the end of the
British mandate in Palestine in 1948, allows for the arrest of Palestinians if
they are deemed a "threat" to Israel's national security.</div>
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Palestinian hunger strikes have posed a new challenge to the
Israeli government, which has come under international criticism for its
practice of detaining prisoners without trial.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Samer endured hell from his warders happen to be the occupiers
of his land. They tried every possible physical and mental torture strategies
to stop him from hunger striking but they failed. He stayed strong, he
represented steadfastness and preferred death than giving in to injustice.</div>
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Samer said it loudly to the Electronic Intifada: “ I would
prefer to die on my hospital bed to being deported from Jerusalem. Jerusalem is
my soul and my life”, and he meant every word. He defied occupation with
nothing but an empty stomach and won, he never compromised. They offered him a
deal of being released and exiled to Gaza, he refused, he insisted on returning
back home to Jerusalem and he got what he wanted. His defiance gave hope to the
Palestinian masses inside and out of Palestine, he reignited the spark of
popular resistance and proved that nonviolent resistance actually works. His
release inspired festivities and celebrations across Palestine.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Samer’s family got popular too, they showed the same
defiance when they talked to the media but the rising star was his sister
Shireen Issawi, who represented the strength of Palestinian women. Shireen
never gave up, she fought viciously for her brother on social media and stood
by him every step of the way. Shireen became a role model and a symbol of
strength and endurance, just like her brother.</div>
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Medhat Issawi, brother of Samer Issawi, was released only a
few days before Samer after spending nearly 20 years off and on in Israeli
jails for participating in protests and intifadas. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It was definitely a happy day for Palestine and a historic
one nonetheless. Gaza united with the West bank and was anxiously waiting for
Samer’s release. It was a national celebration and Gazans made sure they are a
part of it and sent their love and support to the Issawi family even though
many couldn’t track his release through live coverage due to daily power
outages.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Samer Issawi is free, Palestine will be free.</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-83152395439061768752013-12-24T19:28:00.000+02:002013-12-24T19:28:38.769+02:00On Christmas Eve: Israel attacks Gaza, 1 child dead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">On Christmas Eve: Israel attacks Gaza, 1 child dead</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Gaza, December 24, As Bethlehem gets ready for Christmas eve,
Israel attacks Gaza killing one child and injuring nine others. Israeli tanks,
un unison with Israeli drones and F16s, carried out 15 attacks across Gaza
targeting Western, Eastern, Southern and Northern areas in two hours.</div>
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Homes, camps, training sites and free zones were among the
targeted places. Israeli shelling on Maghazi camp, Southern Gaza, caused the
death of Hala Abu Sbeikh, 3 and a half year old. Hala’s mother and brother got
badly injured too. Nine got injured, four of them are children, during the
attacks.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As Christians celebrate Christmas around the world, Gaza’s Christians
are terrorized by heavy Israeli attacks on Gaza. Ho Ho Boom, Have a Merry Safe
Christmas.</div>
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<br /></div>
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That’s life in occupied Palestine, thanks to the Israeli
occupation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-5190191833761722982013-11-22T00:59:00.000+02:002013-11-22T01:03:15.265+02:00Gaza's 1st lion cubs die after 3 days of birth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Different Roar in Gaza</b></span></div>
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<u><br />Written by: Omar Ghraieb</u><br />
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This week, the Gaza Strip witnessed the unprecedented birth of two African lion cubs at the Beesan Zoo, a facility in the northern part of the densely populated Strip that was built and opened by the Islamist Hamas movement. But just three days later, the cubs died, from unknown causes.<br />
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The mother lioness, who was discovered to be pregnant nearly six months ago, received extensive medical care, including vaccines, vitamins and good nutrition, before delivering the cubs naturally.<br />
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“Immediately after their birth, both cubs were moved into a warmer room to get the necessary care and they were regularly checked by a professional team of local veterinarians,” Shadi Hamad, general manager of the zoo, told The Media Line. “We called the cubs ‘Fajr’ and ‘Sijeel’ -- ‘Fajr’ after Hamas’s Fajr 5 rocket that was launched into Israel during the second war on Gaza, and ‘Sijeel’ after the name that Hamas decided to call the second war on the Strip that took place in November of 2012.”<br />
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Sijeel is also mentioned in the Qur’an as fiery rocks that rain down on unbelievers.<br />
The birth of the cubs had taken Gaza by storm, with their pictures going viral on social media. Palestinians say it’s nice to have some good news out of the area that is better known as the site of heavy clashes between Israelis and Palestinians.<br />
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“The lioness got pregnant one year ago but suffered a miscarriage during ‘Pillar of Defense’ in November of 2012,” explained Nahed Al-Majdoob, head of security at Beesan Zoo, referring to an eight-day military incursion in Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces with hundreds of Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Hamas fired hundreds of rockets at Israeli cities. “She suffered psychologically, which affected her physically.”<br />
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The parents of the cubs are the only lions in Gaza. They were smuggled in from Egypt four years ago, when they were only three months old, through the Rafah tunnels, which previously existed on the border between the Palestinian territory and Egypt. The Egyptian and Israeli armies have since destroyed most of these smuggling tunnels.<br />
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“They suffered at first because they were accustomed to the tropical weather of Africa, their origin, while Gaza has a cold winter,” Hamad said. “But they survived.”<br />
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The new cubs, too, had to be warmed due to the current cold temperatures in northern Gaza.<br />
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“The zoo isn’t well equipped to raise two cubs,” Al-Majdoob told The Media Line. “Therefore, the Hamas Ministry of Health employed a team of professional local vets to track the health of the cubs and their medical care.”<br />
Gaza’s three small zoos include apes, monkeys, parrots, lions, snakes, ostriches, various kinds of birds and chickens.<br />
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Mohammed Jumua owned a small zoo that was completely destroyed by an Israeli rocket in 2008.<br />
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“I lost everything,” Jumua told The Media Line. “Most of my animals died. I paid extra to get the animals smuggled into Gaza from Egypt. My collateral damage reached half a million dollars. I was devastated and broke.”<br />
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Dr. Saud Shawa, owner and founder of Vetco, Gaza’s first veterinary services center and clinic, said that Gaza doesn’t have the proper capabilities to raise cubs or lions. He predicted that if not done carefully and correctly, the lions could die or become dangerous. His prediction came true three days later.<br />
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“Cubs need special care, vaccines, nutrition and vitamins. Not all of them are available in Gaza,” Dr. Shawa told The Media Line. “Raising lions isn’t easy and needs to be done professionally and safely based on a background and knowledge of that tropical world.”<br />
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First appeared on: <a href="http://themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=38913" target="_blank">The Media Line</a><br />
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-7143070486722143042013-04-29T12:26:00.000+02:002013-05-01T08:06:55.077+02:00Why I’m happy ‘5 broken cameras’ didn’t win Oscar - Review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Gaza, April 29, ‘Five Broken Cameras’ is an award-winning documentary
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(94 minutes) that was directed and
created<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi. It’s
also an Academy Award nominee for “Best Documentary feature”. The plot is a
mere adaptation of reality. Its about a portion of a Palestinian farmer’s life,
Emad burnat, and his nonviolent resistance against occupation and oppression
which leads to the damage of five cameras. Emad never stops filming even after
getting shot, being arrested and facing a lethal accident that left him with
serious injuries that took a long while to heal. But will his emotional scars
ever heal?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Its important that Palestine was represented at the Oscars this
year, although our existence doesn’t need any further proof. Most predicted
that the documentary wont win, but its participation was enough. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m happy that the documentary didn’t win an Academy Award
because it deserves more, its beyond Oscar winning. If it won an Oscar it will
be known as the Palestinian Documentary that won an Oscar, which in my opinion
is very limiting and handicapping, this documentary held the plight of the
Palestinian people and their devotion for peace, freedom and resistance. Its
better be known as the documentary that told a huge part of the Palestinian
story from a native narrative. Its larger than any award it can ever win.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Five Broken Cameras’ won the “World Cinema Directing” award
on the category of Documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival, and the “Special
Jury and Audience” award at IDFA Film Festival. It was described by The New
York Times as “A moving and rigorous work of art”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You would think 94 minutes are too long but not in this
case. I sailed through those long minutes very smoothly yet very emotionally
provoked by the organic, real and raw material. It’s a very colorful documentary,
lets not forget that black is also a color.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Its narrated by Emad Burnat, who is also one of the directors and
the one who took most of the footage since this revolves around his family, his struggle,
his village and his friends. Emad is a self-taught cameraman who found in
filming a passion and a way of resistance, nonviolent resistance.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It starts with the birth of Gibreel, Emad’s fourth son, in
2005, Emad gets his first Camera. Gibreel comes with the spark of popular
nonviolent resistance in the form of peaceful unarmed protests against the separation
wall and the gobbling of Palestinian lands by violent and vicious Israeli
settlers who are always backed by the Israeli police and army.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Emad takes us through his first-hand accounts of the
gathering and organizing of the nonviolent protests that happen each week in
the West Bank and gives justice for the Israeli and foreign activists who help Palestinians a
great deal in this peaceful resistance. Many of them have died and got
seriously injured by the Israeli Army but they are always there to help
Palestinians.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The documentary pinpoints many other crucial issues that the
mainstream media tends to neglect:</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span>Palestinian women and the
importance of their role in the society.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span>Children arrests that are
usually done by the Israeli army at night, <span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">dragging
little kids out of their beds (not shown in the documentary, only the arrests
are shown).</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span>How vicious and violent the
Israeli military is, and how they can arrest anyone unrightfully.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="mso-bidi-language: AR-EG;">How vicious the Israeli settlers can be, and how violent, especially
when backed by the Israeli military.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span>The amount of teargas that
Israel uses against civilians protesting nonviolently is like pouring rain,
teargas is very dangerous and suffocating, and if the canister hit the body
directly it can cause death.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span>How the Israeli military
jeeps are always around in the West Bank. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span>How united Palestinians are
in both Gaza and the West bank despite the political separation.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8-<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span dir="LTR"></span>How selfless Israeli and
foreign activists are, they endanger their lives to protest peacefully side by
side with the Palestinians and always pay a high price for it by either being
killed or injured or deported.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Perhaps one of the most shocking
and frightening scenes was when Bassem Abu Rahmah’s brother gets arrested by
the Israeli army, they blindfold him and then shoot him in the leg on a very
close range. The documentary included many chilling scenes like the weekly
protests and how violent they can get, Emad’s lethal accident that leaves him
nearly dead and the arrest of little children and how devastated their mothers
would be.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But the most chilling, horrifying
and most devastating scene is when Bassem Abu Rahmah gets shot directly in the head and
chest with a teargas canister by an Israeli soldier and dies nearly
instantly. I lost my breath. The ambiance that you feel whenever the scenes
included Bassem was happy and smiley and hopeful. Children loved him and he was
always smiling, singing and spreading hope. He was never violent or armed, they
killed him when he was shouting “You just shot an Israeli girl”, he was trying
to save the Israeli activist. His death shocked the whole village and everyone
participated in his funeral.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The documentary is filled with a
mixture of happy and sad moments, not really ambiguous, just the contradictions
of real life that we all pass through, sometimes on a daily basis. I will be contacting both Guy and Emad for a possible screening and appearance in Gaza, hoping that this will shorten the gap between Gaza and the West Bank.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The documentary offers a native
narrative and personal accounts not just a perspective. Its very raw, real and
revolutionary. Its shows, even if on a small scale, the Palestinian determination
and their defiance of oppression and occupation. Nonviolent resistance has been
a trending method in Palestine adopted by many people and backed by
international activists.
</div>
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<br /></div>
This documentary turns the
Palestinian life from a number or a name into a story and an existence. Emad
keeps the camera rolling even during his most intimate moments, he shows us his
family and home, he shares his friends with us and fights against occupation
with a camera, or shall I say Six cameras? Each Camera has its own story and
marks a phase in Emad’s life.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The documentary ends with a
promise (or a pledge) made by Emad to keep filming no matter what it takes,
which resembles and the fight of Palestinians against occupation which also
continues no matter what it takes.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Audio bridge was on point. Le
Trio Jubran’s music made the documentary even more chilling and supported the
narration and the events very well.<br />
<br />
'Five Broken Cameras' generated a huge media buzz, specially in the US. Many interviews conducted with the directors and many articles tackled different sides of it whether its the production or the funding or the experience. The documentary even made it on HBO's "Veep", a television comedy series. It was mentioned in a provocative way, it sparked a controversy that many stood with and against, watch the segment here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3POTr9poyIs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3POTr9poyIs</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In conclusion, ‘Five Broken
Cameras’ is a must watch, see it for yourself and tell me what you think. You can
watch it online here: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://viooz.co/movies/15366-5-broken-cameras-2011.html" target="_blank">http://viooz.co/movies/15366-5-broken-cameras-2011.html</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And if you are interested in a
more detailed look into the pre and post production info, budget and filming, you
can check: </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_Broken_Cameras">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_Broken_Cameras</a>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Peace and love,
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Omar from Gaza</div>
</div>
Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-63212281644644542442013-04-23T09:05:00.000+02:002013-04-23T09:06:30.957+02:00Tell the world: Samer Issawi is coming home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Samer Issawi is coming home</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu7StQTLlWFNgDfGhVsPdVlMpQ2YebZDGMTK4aNmqSKxfFtbLyxPD7rFdrre86gQ4LvkdNOuAZpKZkPwcCdoXHGpHmQCJzhEiGCpPx1vapQpf6wNLiFMFVbl7K8fNy0CI22h3h4RzneI/s1600/524702_457360937684816_1922883820_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLu7StQTLlWFNgDfGhVsPdVlMpQ2YebZDGMTK4aNmqSKxfFtbLyxPD7rFdrre86gQ4LvkdNOuAZpKZkPwcCdoXHGpHmQCJzhEiGCpPx1vapQpf6wNLiFMFVbl7K8fNy0CI22h3h4RzneI/s320/524702_457360937684816_1922883820_n.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">(A poem I wrote for Samer is at the bottom of this post)</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Gaza, April 23, Samer Issawi is set to be released 8 months from now.In a brokered deal between the Israeli authorities and Samer's lawyer and family, Samer Issawi will serve another 8 months starting from today and then be released and back to his home with no conditions or any foreign exile.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Rumors have been spreading online for a while about so many deals with so many different details but this deal was confirmed by Samer's family and lawyer, which means that it will happen if Israel doesnt break its promise and slam the deal against the wall. Its noteworthy that Israel is unpredictable and doesnt keep promises, so lets pray and hope and see.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Samer Issawi was released back in October of 2011 as a part of Shalit's release deal. Israel released 1027 Palestinian prisoners in return of Hamas's release of Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Israel then re-captured Samer Issawi in 2012 and held him with no charges or trial. Samer started hunger striking for freedom and till yesterday he passed over 8 months of hunger striking breaking any world record out there. No word yet whether Samer ended his hunger striking or not, but he went back to taking his Vitamins after stopping for a day or two in a step of escalation. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Samer Issawi has seen unprecedented support from inside and outside of Palestine, people everywhere stood by him and showed support by taking the streets and hunger striking in support of him and honoring him in a way by appreciating his bravery.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Samer Issawi's family, especially his sister Shireen who works as a lawyer, played a great role in imposing pressure and raising awareness about Samer's case. Social media also helped in channeling support and creating awareness and pressure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Perhaps Samer Issawi's release is the most anticipated event in Palestine these days. This is a picture of Samer Issawi's mother after hearing about the deal of her soon-to-be released son:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqMSK26hpuDLlY9_QA1TRBF10JD0gc-WqzcFj2gd4TQlXeSKnabkK_dg42BnpGN4ycgYZMnK40zKL3CCsth4EipRZt4LbuoyQkufKUyY5iDoenPwbKdm317-SWSAI4W3TwZ1QNnvs1b0/s1600/525461_322759577850456_164207739_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqMSK26hpuDLlY9_QA1TRBF10JD0gc-WqzcFj2gd4TQlXeSKnabkK_dg42BnpGN4ycgYZMnK40zKL3CCsth4EipRZt4LbuoyQkufKUyY5iDoenPwbKdm317-SWSAI4W3TwZ1QNnvs1b0/s320/525461_322759577850456_164207739_n.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In 8 months from now, and only a week before 2014, Samer Issawi will be released and back with his family so Palestine can enter a new year full of hope and anticipation for freedom and justice.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Samer Issawi turned into an iconic figure, a hero and a representative of Palestine's steadfastness and strength for choosing to starve himself for freedom. Palestinians look up to him for he has given them hope and faith in a better tomorrow, Samer will be free and Palestine will be free.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Samer Issawi lost allot of weight and his health is in mere danger, he will need a long rehabilitation time after his release to revive his weak body who kept fighting while being fueled with a strong will and a thirst for freedom.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v7On-nd8gynLL63YQcDp5Cds0g40D0KnDcgxLIR_Zl7H3fKlj5nOU33DGqTEZ1AYVGmNW21SYgEr3n_vdKUEa0p9jnQ-39Ze78QMdMqO_lu04FAVzCWj3dQROBa94SFKv3Tr0irHZD0/s1600/935085_479472185464321_1435604129_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v7On-nd8gynLL63YQcDp5Cds0g40D0KnDcgxLIR_Zl7H3fKlj5nOU33DGqTEZ1AYVGmNW21SYgEr3n_vdKUEa0p9jnQ-39Ze78QMdMqO_lu04FAVzCWj3dQROBa94SFKv3Tr0irHZD0/s320/935085_479472185464321_1435604129_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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You were born to fly</div>
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With a strong will</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And a head held up high</div>
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And steal wings</div>
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<br /></div>
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You were free before humanity came</div>
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A hero with a special name</div>
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A truth stronger than a claim</div>
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bringing your jailers to shame</div>
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<br /></div>
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Your mother prayed and prayed</div>
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you were never afraid</div>
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you knew you would win</div>
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you knew you would prevail</div>
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<br /></div>
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Your body is weak</div>
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But your soul is not harmed</div>
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You will soon be released</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Received with cheers and open arms </div>
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<br /></div>
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No matter who doubts or hates</div>
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No matter what it takes</div>
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The world awaits</div>
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For you to come home</div>
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<br /></div>
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You are coming home</div>
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To where you belong</div>
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To Jerusalem </div>
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To the rock covered by a dome</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>From Gaza with love and hope,</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Omar </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-23123378811310611072013-01-13T10:50:00.000+02:002013-01-13T10:50:52.529+02:00Bab Al Shams - The Gate of The Sun<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Bab Al Shams - The Gate of the Sun</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Bab Al Shams doesnt need any introduction but for those who wonder what I am talking about, check this link:</div>
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<a href="http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/defying-occupier-palestinians-establish-bab-al-shams-village-land-seized-jewish" target="_blank">http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/defying-occupier-palestinians-establish-bab-al-shams-village-land-seized-jewish</a></div>
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This was very inspiring, I couldnt sleep last night. I was glued to my laptop keeping a close eye on Bab Al Shams until Israeli heavily armed forces barbarically attacked and dismantled Bab Al Shams, arresting and injuring Palestinian and foreign activists who were peaceful and unarmed - Link: <a href="http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/babalshams-photos-israeli-soldiers-attack-evict-bab-al-shams-arrest-dozens/" target="_blank">http://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/babalshams-photos-israeli-soldiers-attack-evict-bab-al-shams-arrest-dozens/</a> I cant be present at Bab Al Shams so the least I can do is write an inspired poem about it. And it goes like this:</div>
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<b>Bab Al Shams</b></div>
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Freedom is set to come</div>
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Shining through the gate of the sun</div>
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Darkness, we will overcome</div>
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Everything in our power will be done</div>
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Look at those idiots</div>
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Trying to defy the universe</div>
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Closing the sun’s gate</div>
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Fighting against fate</div>
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Don’t you know the sun will always shine?</div>
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Don’t you know that the land is mine?</div>
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Break my bones and cuff my hands</div>
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I’ll come here tomorrow again to stand</div>
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I never give up</div>
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Go ahead and try to shut me up</div>
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My voice will break every silence</div>
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Let my step set off sirens</div>
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May you fear even my dance</div>
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We are here, we are all Bab Al Shams</div>
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Taking back what we already own</div>
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Taking it back on our own</div>
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Defying barbarism with our bare flesh</div>
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Growing stronger with every thresh</div>
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They can break our spine but not our spirit</div>
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We wont abandon our land, our souls are in it</div>
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Story will be told</div>
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Whether young or old</div>
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Tell Issawi to hang in there</div>
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His hunger is stronger than thunger</div>
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The sun will inevitably shine</div>
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Over a free Palestine</div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5645314065131007138.post-63858608114759473362013-01-07T20:48:00.000+02:002013-01-07T20:48:24.153+02:00Between Freedom & Emancipation: I found myself<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Between
Freedom & Emancipation: I found myself</span></b><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Gaza, Ever thought about Freedom? Silly question, I know for sure that
indeed you thought about it allot, but what I meant is: Have you ever looked
the meaning up in the dictionary and thought about it? As you can see in the
picture above, “Freedom” has several meanings. But in my personal opinion,
Freedom is a feeling that only you can interpret in your own way and words.
Which definition suits you from the above picture? I chose one, I will come
back to it later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As a Palestinian, I was born to seek freedom. But also as a human I was
born with a thirst for freedom. Its not just about indulging in a free
independent country, no, its also about setting yourself and humanity free then
using this freedom to fight cruelty, poverty, inhumanity, war crimes…..etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Gaza is the biggest open air prison that earth has ever known, these aren’t
just words, I live in Gaza, I live in that prison. Waking up every day in a
besieged big open-air prison isn’t easy, thirst for freedom elevates every
second and it turns into a pressure or a duty or a must or maybe all three
together. I never felt unsafe in Gaza, but I never felt safe either. I never
felt free but god knows that I tried so hard to find white canvases to paint
freedom on, believing that freedom can be found in little details and can be sparked
within little steps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My daily routine consists of power outages, Israeli warplanes either
bombing or violating the sanctity of Gaza’s sky or both, water shortages, daily
news of Israel’s violation of human rights in Palestine, Palestinian prisoners
on hunger strike, Fatah-Hamas division, news about Syria, Egypt and the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Then I traveled to the US. I lived in Manhattan for a month, I was
always busy with UN media training and discovering every place I can. Suddenly,
my body gets accustomed to a whole new system. Suddenly, every pressure is
lifted. Suddenly, I feel like a normal human being who is living in a familiar easy
place. Suddenly, I think I feel a certain definition of the word “Freedom”, I
feel “improper familiarity”. Why do I feel this sensation of improper familiarity?
Because I am not designed to feel like a normal human being. HELLO, I am
Palestinian and I live in Gaza, if that doesn’t scream “abnormal”, I don’t know
what does. And I shouldn’t feel any familiar to a place other than my homeland,
especially if it’s the US which has a government that is supporting the
occupation of my homeland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I also felt guilty, I felt like I am betraying Gaza. Hell, I felt like I
am betraying Palestine, all Palestinians and the Palestinian cause. How can I
forget everything and just dare to feel free while my country is still occupied
and my home is still besieged? HOW? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What felt like a sweet moment quickly turned into bitterness and guilt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But “Freedom” is overpowering, let it not kid or fool you. Freedom is
indeed dangerous. I couldn’t stop it or help it, I was feeling “FREE” and I
felt fear clenching over my heart and taking over my body.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">What happens after I go back to Gaza? Will I crave this rare sensation? Will
I seek it out of Gaza instead of needing it for and in Palestine? What if I
feel free out of Palestine and never in Palestine? What if freedom out of
Palestine becomes a goal instead of seeking freedom inside and for Palestine? What
if feeling free out of Palestine becomes a comfort zone and I end up forgetting
about freeing my country?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I got confused, then angry, then frustrated and I nearly cried in the
middle of a street in Manhattan’s upper east side. Yet, I kept walking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt the most free when I was alone walking around New York. I will
never ever forgot the first moment of recognizing a weird sensation that was
running slowly but majorly through my blood. I was walking aimlessly through
the streets of Manhattan, losing track of time\place\directions. It was a
Saturday and I had nothing to hold me down, I knew I would end up getting back
home if I get lost anyway, so I just kept walking with nothing on my mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I reached a corner and was about to cross to the other side of the
street, not caring where it leads me, then I stopped. Time stopped, I froze. I
felt no pressure or stress, no worries or cares. I felt free. I could go
wherever I want, do whatever I may and no matter what I will get back home
safely at the end of the day. Is that freedom? Or is it emancipation? Or maybe
both? Or I simply might be losing my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I continued walking. It was a very cold but sunny day. I had my headphones
in my ears, some music was jamming and I just smiled. I had many mixed emotions
but I decided to confront them later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I went to bed that day knowing that eventually I will have to face the
inevitable. I need to figure out what happened with me that day and how and why
I felt what I felt. I looked the word “Emancipation” up online to see if I felt
any literal meanings of it. I gave up but then I came across the medical
meaning of it, shown in the picture below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Yes, that was me, I was the original </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">homogeneous</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> embryo. I gradually separated
my mindset from Gaza and I found myself entering new fields with potential of
development known as “New York”. I felt worse. I don’t want to separate gradually
from Palestine and Gaza. I want to remain a loyal concerned original </span></span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 21px;">homogeneous</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> embryo. I was confused, and I thought I have lost my mind already.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I found myself between “Freedom” and “Emancipation”, I found my home
between them. I might feel the same feelings in other countries and cities
around the world but none of them will resonate until I feel them in my own
homeland (Palestine). So I had to accept how good those feelings felt and yet
remind myself that I need to keep seeking freedom for my country until I feel
those same exact feelings in my own homeland.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We are all born free until something or someone tries to oppress us. We
are willing to spend our lifetime seeking freedom and even risk losing it for
the sake of freedom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">So until Palestine is free, I won’t rest. I might travel, take breaks
and cherish instantaneous freedom but I won’t give up, hopefully. My thoughts
also are with Syria, Egypt and all oppressed nations around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Love, peace, humanity and hugs,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Omar from Gaza<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Omar Ghraiebhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03460340809253616762noreply@blogger.com0