Looking for Trouble

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility delegation returns to Gaza by Gerri Haynes

(Gerri Haynes, former president of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, has returned to Gaza with a delegation of doctors, nurses and others interested in helping the people there. Gerri will be sending back reports.)

Day One: Gaza, April 2013

Another delegation from Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility has come to Gaza to learn and to provide medical service and consultation. This delegation is composed of physicians, nurses, massage therapists and one student. Eight of us entered Gaza through Erez/Israel and four entered through the Rafah Crossing from Egypt. Those who entered through Israel were invited by Israeli security to watch a Power Point presentation regarding the services their organization provides to Gaza. The presentation provided a view of the relationship between Israel and Gaza that was not often consistent with the view from Gaza. However, Israeli security personnel have consistently provided excellent assistance to our delegations.

We passed into Gaza through the Hamas checkpoint quite quickly – a large crowd of family members, friends and armed resistance members had assembled at the checkpoint to eagerly welcome home a young man released after more than 20 years in an Israeli prison.

After two weeks of closure by Israel (we were told the closure was due to rockets being fired into Israel from Gaza), the checkpoint at Erez was opened for only one day. Monday and Tuesday, the checkpoint is closed for Israeli Memorial and Independence days. As Erez is the only passage for pedestrians to enter Israel from Gaza, these closures create a sense of imprisonment. The Rafah checkpoint from Egypt has remained open, but passage there is also severely monitored and restricted, adding to the sense of imprisonment.

In the evening we met with our hosts, the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme, hospital representatives and the coordinator for international cooperation to preview our work for the coming week. We are generously received and this morning, our work was initiated by a reception with hospital medical directors. According to specialty, members of our group will be in medical clinics, on hospital wards, in operating rooms, in women empowerment clinics and teaching in hospitals.

While waiting for Erez Checkpoint to open, those delegates traveling through Israel were hosted in Bethlehem by Zoughbi, Director of Wi’am, the Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center. This group had a lovely opportunity to visit the Golan Heights – in its springtime floral display! We looked across borders to Lebanon and Syria and learned of the ongoing conflicts in this area – with Syria continuing to hold that the Golan should be a part of Syria. The area is heavily mined and mine fields abut residential areas.

We heard from a clinic director of the Druse clinic in the mountain town, Majdal Shams about the work they are doing to serve their community. This clinic provides primary care, some specialty care, and outreach to the community in music, art, drama and health education. We were inspired by the work of this clinic!

Now again in Gaza, the resilience and determination of the people here are palpable. We are greeted with grace and are again grateful to be able to be here.