Gaza

It has been almost a month since my last post, so in the next few posts I will attempt to catch you up with what has been happening in my life and in Palestine. As many of you know, there is a crisis in Gaza right now. On November 4, when the eyes of the world were turned to the US Presidential elections, Israel found an opportunity to close Gaza off from the rest of the world. This means that nothing has been able to pass through Gaza, including food, water, and fuel. Today, the Israeli adminstration has once again announced that Gaza is under complete closure. Because no fuel can pass through Gaza, it's final power plant had to shut down last night. On the news a few weeks ago was a story about Gaza and the effects that closure has on its people. Especially pertinent is the effect that the electricity shortage has on hospitals. All appliances in the hospitals are electrically attached, so when there is a shortage of fuel (as there has been), the hospital has to run on a generator. However, generators only last so long, so doctors were forced to take extreme but necessary measures of manually pumping oxygen to the patients. As if this were not enough, many drugs have reached 0 stock levels.
The people of Gaza are in the midst of a "humanitarian crisis", and all for what reason? The closure supposedly happened in response to rocket attacks by Palestinian militans, and this rocket attack was a response to an IDF raid that killed six gunmen on November 4 (according to Haaretz News). I certainly do not condone the rocket attacks or raids, but is it fair to punish the 1.5 civilians of Gaza in such an extreme way? In reading a little more about the situation, I came across an article written by a public speaker on Middle Eastern affairs, and he raised an interesting point about the Gaza situation:

"What, after all, can one expect from a child who endures, with his family and whole community, slow death and daily humiliation; degradation, denial of food and basic medical care? For sure, he or she will never forget or forgive. Are we aware of the future price we will all pay for this suffering? Do we recognise that our kids shall face the Gaza’s kids, at some point in the future; can we imagine the contours of this dialogue? "

It is true that people in Gaza are suffering on a daily basis...what does this mean for the Palestinian/Israeli conflict and hope for future peace? What will happen to the current generation of children (the future leaders) if all they are taught is to fear and hate the "other"? Vounteering in the kindergarten has given me a uniqe perspective on the situation here. Sure, I see hope and love in the eyes of these children. But I also see anger and fear, especially when the first thing they construct with blocks is usually a gun. While it is frightening for me to see armed soldiers walking down the streets and standing at intersections, it is part of the every day schema for them. To see something other than that would be peculiar to them.
I don't know what will happen with the situation in Gaza, but I ask that you keep the Gazans in your prayers. And I also ask that you pray for Israel and for wisdom for its leaders that they can make good decisions.