Massachusetts women march for freedom in the Middle EastDate: 12/14/2009 By Katelyn Gendron
Reminder Assistant Editor
The Gaza Strip has been a hotbed for occupation, oppression, internal conflict and war for decades. The continuous clash between Palestinians and Israelis throughout the region appears to be without an end.
Several women from Western Massachusetts - Ellen Graves of Westfield, Paki Wieland of Northampton, Ruth Hooke of Amherst and Priscilla Lynch of Ashfield - are traveling to the region, bordered by Israel and Egypt, to join hundreds of others representing 40 countries who are taking a stand for the people of Gaza. The Gaza Freedom March, organized by the non-profit CODEPINK, will commemorate the one year anniversary of the 22-day Gaza War, which began Dec. 27, 2008 when Israeli forces initiated "Operation Cast Lead."
"On Dec. 31, we will be linking arms together with the people of Gaza [and marching to the Israeli border]," Graves said. "Our marching together is in remembrance of the invasion and the bombing, which took place one year ago. This march is also to bring attention to the ongoing [Israeli] blockade, which is badly hurting the women and children of Gaza."
According to a 118-page report, "Israel/Gaza Operation Cast Lead: 22 Days of Death and Destruction," published in July by the human rights organization Amnesty International, 1,400 Palestinians were killed in this conflict, including 300 children and unarmed civilians.
"More Palestinians were killed and more properties were destroyed in the 22-day military campaign than in any previous Israeli offensive . it was often the result of reckless and indiscriminate attacks, which were seemingly tolerated or even directly sanctioned by the chain of command," the report stated.
Israeli and Egyptian forces sealed their borders, trapping Gaza's 1.5 million people while also obstructing civilians' access to medical care, according to the report. The document also stated, "Hamas and other Palestinian groups also violated international humanitarian law in their conduct with Gaza."
Medea Benjamin, cofounder of CODEPINK, told Reminder Publications, "We're amazed by the response [in favor of the Gaza Freedom March] from [people] all over the world. We have people in their teens to those in their eighties [participating]."
Benjamin explained many in her organization and others are working with the Egyptian government in Cairo to sort out logistics and safety concerns. She said the group will be marching from Egypt into Gaza and then will attempt to enter Israel.
"Unfortunately, the Israelis refuse to let us in [to Israel]," Benjamin explained. "We feel that on the one year anniversary of the Israeli invasion of Gaza that the governments of the world have abandoned the people of Gaza.
"They are still living in a prison, without the ability to move in and out of [Gaza's] borders or conduct basic commerce or receive humanitarian aid," she continued. "There has been no rebuilding. We feel it's our job as world citizens to take a stand and demand justice."
Graves agreed, adding she witnessed such atrocities firsthand while camping at the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza in June.
"We were sleeping under a carport for taxis and we were living right on the tar," she explained. "Most of the time the security [forces were] not happy with us being there; they would do things like lock the toilets."
Graves recalled many Palestinians were denied passage back into Gaza. "My feeling is that people have the right to go into their own country," she said. "We have the right to go into our own country, why shouldn't everybody?"
Wieland explained she had similar experiences when visiting Gaza with a mental health delegation last spring and then on a separate visit during the summer.
"There was a woman wailing at the gate, holding her papers, wailing to get in [to Gaza]," she recalled. "She was a Gazan but they wouldn't let her in."
Wieland explained witnessing Operation Cast Lead's destruction firsthand was life-altering. "It was terrible," she said. "A hospital had been bombed. All the government buildings had been bombed . There was just so much destruction of human life, [people] who had nothing to do with any political organization. I was just really moved by that [and] how senseless and cruel this occupation has been."
Wieland said she hopes the Freedom March later this month will show the people of Gaza that they've not been forsaken by the international community.
Hooke agreed, adding she's hoping the march will draw widespread media attention and a renewed consciousness for those in the region.
"I'm hoping that because there will be a thousand of us over there that there will be an impact on the Egyptians and Israelis [to move toward changes for the better]," she said.
Benjamin, Graves, Wieland and Hooke all said they will not fear for their safety during the march. Benjamin added the Hamas government "has pledged to ensure our safety."
Graves, Wieland and Hooke will travel to Cairo on Dec. 26 to meet with those participating in the Freedom March. They will return home on Jan. 7.
"Even more important than the Freedom March is returning to our governments [to demand change]," Benjamin said. "Our real work begins back at home."
Graves, Wieland and Hooke are raising funds to pay for the roundtrip airfare to Cairo - an expense of $1,250 per person - by selling raffle tickets for a weeklong stay at a vacation home on Cape Cod; a three-course in-home Arabic meal for four; and a bottle of Palestinian olive oil. Tickets are $5 a piece or five for $20. To purchase raffle tickets, call Graves at 734-4948.
For additional information about CODEPINK and the Gaza Freedom March, visit www.codepink4peace.org.
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