UPDATE: (please share) Just spoke to my family here is their situation, feelings and update as of now: After a brief conversation of how is everyone holding up: Asmaa (14) We just finished eating iftar. What did you eat, I ask? For lack of conversation that always revolves around bombs, danger and death. Addas, she replies. (Lentils) We are going home, maybe today or tomorrow, back to the Shujaiya. WHAT!? You cant go back there! I raise my voice in utter FEAR. You do know they are still bombing Shujaiya and....? She interrupts me, We are watching the news there is a man named Ban ki Moon (Secretary General of the UN) who is going to stop them, they are going to stop either today or tomorrow. The shelling is getting nearer to us, this house has 300 people in it, most of us in this neighborhood have fled, people are all packed into houses theyve opened to us. I reply, YOU CANT GO BACK, NOT NOW. WHO IS SAYING THIS? She says, My mother. I tell her there was a video released of a man shot in her neighborhood of the SHUJAIYA as he looked for his family in the rubble. Let me talk to her, I ask. Here, talk to her, tell her NOT TO LEAVE, if she leaves we all leave and DIE TOGETHER, her reply is one of fear and now confusion. BAN KI MOON is a cowardly spectator as are many other leaders, yet theyve set their HOPE on him. (SIGH) Her mother gets on the phone and I say, what do you mean you are going back?! Her mother replies with a tone of despair and a tone I cannot adequately describe with words. There are, I swear, at least 300 people here. My youngest keeps asking to go home, he has torn my heart to pieces. The IOF forces are not far from us now, they are two streets down, even HERE we are not safe. I answer, YOU CANNOT go NOW they are sniping people in the streets, its all over the news, reports from people in GAZA. I dont know. I dont know. I dont know either, I only know that SAFETY does not exist anymore, and in DANGER there are places MORE DANGEROUS than others. Stay where you are, promise me? WE are working to do SOMETHING to stop this, all over the world. Akhhhhhhh, the WORLD HAS TURNED ITS BACK ON US, she replies. Not everyone, I reply with less confidence and the REAL voice inside me saying she is right....the voices of MANY children in the background echo between us. Playing. PLEASE stay where you are, if you HAVE TO LEAVE THEN LEAVE, but not back to the Shujaiya...NOT NOW. Tayib, habibti, tayib, she says. (ok, my dear, ok) I tell her there are people EVERYWHERE working to stop the massacre, be patient, I say, be patient. How dare I tell HER to be patient, I think to myself, I feel shameful I just said that to her. We will keep working, PLEASE dont leave and stay safe. May God listen to your prayers, to your work where ever you are, OH GOD who is watching and listening, listen to those who are standing up for us! Let me talk to Asmaa, I ask, promise me youll stay? I promise, she replies. Did you talk to her? What did she say? Are we staying? Asmaa questions me. Yes, you are staying I reply. I will visit you in Gaza, one day soon, I promise, I tell her. I cant wait to see you, I hope WE will be ABLE to see you, she ends softly.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 19:06:24 +0000
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