Looking for Trouble

Sunday out of Gaza by Gerri Haynes

(For the past few days, I have been running a guest blog by Gerri Haynes, a former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. Gerri, a nurse from Kirkland, Wash., was in Gaza with 11 other people in an effort to help the people there and also to better understand the situation.)

We return today to the U.S. – nine days and eight nights we have been away. We have listened and watched, discussed, served and learned. We said “good-bye” to our hosts in Gaza – knowing that we will take home with us the pain and courage of the people we met.

We exited Gaza through the Erez checkpoint Friday morning and returned for one last night in Jerusalem. At Erez, our luggage was thoroughly examined. On the Israeli side, the thoughtful and competent Israeli lieutenant who helped us gain entry to Gaza greeted us. She and her supervisor noted the large border facility that is the Erez checkpoint and told us they hope for the day that passage will be easily accomplished in both directions.

Now we examine our memories, our notes and our hearts – looking for ways to tell our stories. What words and pictures can we use to awaken in the citizens of this country and in our friends in Israel the need to be directed by our common humanity? We need a humanity that will end the siege on, and the imprisonment of, the people of Gaza. The horrendous situation in Gaza is a blight on humankind.

Our Israeli friends want to live in peace, but it is difficult to imagine how anyone on earth can live in peace while the lives of the 1½ million people in Gaza continue to be threatened every day. Their water is polluted, access to paid work is minimal, education suffers, food is scarce, medical care is disrupted. Leaders of Palestine and Israel have the power to alleviate all of these problems, but hope fades among the people at risk. It falls to the wider world to speak for the people of Gaza. Statesmen/women of wisdom and compassion are urgently needed.

A bright and accomplished young woman, Sahar from Gaza, served as my interpreter for two of the four days I taught last week. She wrote these words:

“As a Palestinian girl of 22 years, I’d like to tell you that I never wish anyone in this world to witness the life I am leading here in Gaza.

I witnessed two uprisings and one war launched over Gaza by the Israeli Occupation. Until this moment, I didn’t lose a loved one, but my lovely friends are frequently leaving Gaza, searching for a peaceful, secured place where their dreams can be achieved.

In spite of the hardships I am passing through, I still believe in the inherent humanity in mankind and that’s why I am sending this message.

I believe in the American’s power and responsibilities by which they can change the policy of war and unrest.

We are all human beings and deserve to lead a decent life. And we need to help the others lead good lives.”

Please take this personally. Please help Sahar.

Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. In the Old City, the three Abrahamic faiths come together. We call on the world – all of humanity - to free the people of Gaza.