Gaza, Palestine

About 2 weeks ago, we had two guests, Sue and Rev. John, from England staying here at Bethlehem Bible College. John is a pastor and chairman of a Christian charity in England. Sue used to be a teacher, but now works at the charity. They were coming here with the hopes of bringing much needed supplies to a Christian School that they sponsor. It is the only Christian school that they know of in Gaza. They had also wanted to visit some people there to find out their situation and the needs that they have. We were their transportation to and from Gaza.

It takes a little over an hour from Bethlehem to Gaza, driving on Israeli-only roads. On our way there we passed, Sederot, a town that Hamas has launched several rockets into. John and Sue have been to this town and have seen the pile of rockets stacked against the back wall of the police station. Sue commented about how horrible it must be to live with the fear that rockets, which could potentially cause damage or death, are being blindly launched into your town. We knew that no matter what devastating things John and Sue saw in Gaza that may have been caused by the Israeli government (e.g. atrocious living conditions due to the restrictions of foreign aid not being allowed in for months leading up to the rockets from Hamas and ultimately the war), nothing gives Hamas the excuse to commit violent atrocities against the neighboring villages of Israel.

After driving a few more miles past Sederot, we arrived early Sunday morning at the Erez Crossing into Gaza which is Israeli controlled. John and Sue walked up to the outside checkpoint and, after several minutes had passed, were informed that John was allowed in but Sue was not. She, of course, was very disappointed that she had traveled so far and would not be seeing her friends in Gaza, the children at the school, observing and training the teachers, or bringing in much needed supplies. She was also baffled as to why he was allowed in and she was not. After all, they did both have previous permission from the Israeli government and had entered in on several occasions to Gaza during her previous visits in the past few months. They both submitted the same applications at the same time to obtain renewal of their permission. Not giving up hope, she asked if there is anyone that she can speak with who could approve her entry. She was given the number of an Israeli official and was told to call him. John then spoke to an Israeli soldier who offered to go into the building to talk to his superiors to see if they would grant her permission. John stayed back with Sue to help contact the Israeli official since he had spoken personally with him a few times. We also waited there with Sue because if she could not get in, then she would be returning to Bethlehem with us along with her luggage full of supplies (John already had a full bag).

After several unsuccessful attempts to reach anyone who could make a difference in the situation, an older man (with sagging black jeans and a black t-shirt on that barely covered his mid-section) came up to us and tasked if we spoke Hebrew. We said no, so he proceeded through broken English to ask us what the problem was. We weren’t sure what he wanted, but Sue went ahead and explained the situation to him, at which point, he kindly offered to help. He said he would try to call some contacts that he had. He went to his car and, after a few phone calls; a higher ranked Israeli soldier came to the gate. He was respectful, but in the end, he could not grant permission. We appreciated the soldier’s efforts as well as those of this unknown man.

Come to find out, this helpful stranger’s name was Booma; he was an off-duty Israeli police who was waiting there for a Palestinian Muslim family. The young boy (about 4 years) in the family had leukemia. Booma was trying to get him, his mom, and his older brother out of Gaza to an Israeli hospital so his older brother can give him a bone marrow transplant (since he was a match). We don’t know Booma’s whole story, but he did tell us that he comes to the Erez Crossing seeking permission from both the Israeli government as well as the Palestinian government (which in Gaza, it is Hamas) to bring children out of Gaza into Israel for medical treatment. He also tries to take the Gazan children for a school field trip to see the sights and get their minds off of their loss and devastation. He wants to just to get them out of a poverty stricken war zone even if only for a week or two. He told us that after some effort, he had received permission from the Israeli authorities for the field trips, but that Hamas had not yet granted approval for these children to leave even for a short while.

Hamas had just finally allowed this young boy to leave for medical treatment after much persuasion on Booma’s part. We were fortunate to be there to see Booma with a smile on his face run to greet this little sick boy as he came through the checkpoint clinging to his mom’s side and his big brothers hand. It was a great joy to witness this demonstration of love that crossed the lines of race and religion. Booma is a Jew, but with the best English he knew and while fighting back tears, he shared with us how he wants to still believe in God “but just can’t.” He told us that God doesn’t love him because he let his (Booma’s) son die. He pointed toward the checkpoint and Gaza and said that “none of this is good – fighting between Israel and Palestine – what do we get from it – many die.” At this point, the tears welling up in his eyes were even more noticeable, his face became red, and after a few second to regain his composure, he said “my son was killed.” We don’t know why or how his son’s life was taken or even if it was related to the conflict, but our hearts went out to this man who was trying so hard to help another man’s son while grieving the loss of his own.

He was pressed for time and had to leave after but we were able to express our sorrow for the loss of his son, as well as, to assure the man that God does still loves him and will not forget him. Before he left, he said that he was sorry he couldn’t help, that he hopes Sue will be able to get in, and that maybe one day we can help give him faith. We thanked him deeply for his sincere efforts, told him that he is doing great work here, and that we would be praying for him. He thanked us and walked away. I was on the verge of tears as I watched him get in his car; and I wondered if I would ever meet this kind stranger again who from his appearance didn’t seem to care what people thought about him and only cared for helping others. I hoped that I would get to see him again, if only to give him a hug. We do pray for Booma, for his work with the Gaza children, for his family, and for his heart – that Jesus would heal his broken heart and restore his faith. He seemed to genuinely want to have faith. Although we may never be able to take him up on his offer to help him find his faith, we pray that someone will.

At this time, we had been there a couple of hours and the first guard that John spoke with who went up to talk to his superiors came back down and informed Sue that she still didn’t have permission. We attempted once more to have the security lady at the crossing to check for permission. Sue still had none so John proceeded into Gaza with his suitcase while Sue, fighting the urge to cry, returned to Bethlehem with hers. Sue tried several times throughout the next few days to get permission, but to no avail. She did keep calling over and over until she left; but even though everyone was cordial, it was same story with each person she spoke to – someone was waiting on someone else to give permission.

Needless to say, we were all eager to hear John’s report of Gaza when we went to pick him up at the end of his stay. He said that the effects of the war were disturbing to say the least. A premeditated air, land, and sea assault on Gaza wiped out large areas to rubble reducing it to nothing. Livestock appeared to have been deliberately shot. He counted at least 24 cows dead in a field on a farm. Businesses had been destroyed and orchard groves had been plowed down. Neither of them were demolished by bombs, but by what seemed to be tanks purposely leaving them unusable. Some project that 35-60% of the agriculture industry was damaged.

According to John’s opinion, the war was unnecessary, devastating, and ineffective. Even after the war was over, Israel was still not letting much needed life-saving resources in (from what he could tell and from what had been reported). The UNRWA has stated that their supplies for the schools (e.g. paper, books, etc.) have also been refused entry. It is estimated that over 70,000 Palestinians are now homeless due to the Israeli air strikes. John said that people (families including small children) are living in make-shift tents, if anything at all. Most are still without food, water, shelter, electricity, medical treatment and other basic human needs. A large sign hanging up on the Israeli side of the Erez Crossing says that a “regional medical clinic for the people of Gaza” has been provided. However, according to John there was absolutely nothing on the other side or inside the check point area. John’s assessment was that there was a greater evil in making something bad appear good. In his opinion, the atrocity of insufficient care for rehabilitation of the areas destroyed or damaged is worse than the sins committed during the war.

For many months before the war, Israel had Gaza under siege – blockading it from essential supplies. This had created, according to numerous relief organizations, “catastrophic” humanitarian conditions. Christian Aid stated that Israel was using food and medicine as weapons against Gaza's 1.5 million men, women, and children. Over three-quarters of the people in Gaza are already refugees that were displaced from their homes in what is now Israel. Gaza has been referred to as an open-air prison. The war has been described as shooting fish in an over-crowded barrel since the refugee camps in Gaza strip have one of the highest population densities in the world. One doctor explained it as bombing in a cage – since they are completely surrounded by wall with no way out due to Israel’s sanctions. In three weeks Israeli forces killed over a 1,000 Palestinians – many of them women and hundreds were children – and injured over 5,000 men, women, and children. Palestinians killed around 10 Israelis during this time which makes it roughly 100 eyes for 1 eye.

We believe that no lives (Israeli or Palestinian) should be taken. Obviously, not all Israelis believe that what their government is doing or has done is right. Many Jews around the world are also speaking out against the actions of Israel. Since Israel call itself “a Jewish state” some Jews are afraid that Israel’s misrepresentation of them are causing many to view Jews from all over in a bad light. Of course though, not all Jews everywhere or even here in Israel for that matter agree with the Israeli government.

Our friends, David and Joseph – both are Christians from Gaza – are not allowed into Gaza to see their family. Joseph has 3 younger sisters still there with the youngest only 9. He hasn’t been able to see his family for almost a year and a half now even though they live so close. Imagine not being allowed to see your family for so long especially after being extremely concerned for their safety through such a brutal war. If Israel does allow them into Gaza, they would be stuck there – not allowed back out to return to Bethlehem to finish their theological education at BBC. Despite the conflict with Israel, Joseph and David constantly worry about their family because of the Hamas government and the other militant Islamic groups there. Hamas will cut your hand and/or leg off if they think you stole something. They will shoot you in the arm or leg randomly. The militant Islamic groups will kill you as a Christian if they feel you are a threat to them.

Over a year ago, a 26-year-old Christian man, named Rami, who worked with the Bible Society, was martyred for his faith at the hands of and radical violent Islamic group. He was kidnapped outside the only Christian bookstore in Gaza (where he worked). After being beaten, stabbed, and shot, he was left dead near the bookstore. Many believe it to be because he would witness to Islamic leaders of many different militant groups. Some claim it was Hamas that killed him while others say it was another militant faction of Islam (which there are many). Rev. John told us that he has had a meeting with the leaders of Hamas. They explained to John that they don’t have problems with the Christians and that they didn’t kill that man. Regardless of who did it, Rami left behind a wife, Pauline (who was pregnant at the time), and two small children. Pauline and their 3 children are all here in Bethlehem now. We have been to the church that this man’s family attends. Pauline is also is taking English classes here at the college.

Joseph and David’s pastor as well as a few others here in Bethlehem had to flee from Gaza after this man was killed because they were also on a ‘most-wanted’ list. They too have been sharing the gospel of Christ to Islamic leaders. Joseph says that his family in Gaza just goes to school, to work, and home – nothing else because they are afraid. We have met several others from Gaza who stories are similar – fear from all sides. Persecution from the Palestinian government in Gaza which is Hamas, oppression from the Israeli government, and possible death from the Islamic Militant groups especially if you are a Christian.

Our prayer is that those suffering in Gaza will have relief from it all – that Israel will allow all aid into Gaza so that the Gazans may try to salvage what little remains; and that Hamas and other Islamic militant groups will let the people of Gaza rebuild their lives in peace without fear.