Monday, October 25, 2010

Dinner in my home anytime you're in town

It was a mad rush to Cairo airport yesterday. The buses left Rafah at about 5.30pm & we were informed that the ride would take between 7 - 8 hours, a downer for us as we were booked on the midnight flight out of Cairo. We were pretty sure then we were gonna miss our flight.

We made frantic phone calls to a friend in Cairo & considered all other options but decided to wait it out hoping for either one; the flight being delayed or the bus ride not taking as long.

Kevin having been informed made haste & we only had 2 stops, one very brief & the other slightly longer. Everyone was informed that we were rushing so that the Malaysians & Indonesians could catch their flight. The meal stop was thus a hurried one.

The convoy family was by & large very cooperative save for a couple & Julie actually voiced her annoyance at being rushed & asked why couldn't we change our flight. If only it was that simple.

Anyway, we got to the airport at 11.30pm & the Egyptian authorities were quickly informed of the delegation of 17 waiting to board & were kind enough to hold the flight. And we whizzed through check in, immigration & straight to our gate. The flight took off some 20 mins later than scheduled.

To all who patiently endured the rush to the airport a BIG THANK YOU. For missing out on your dinner I invite you anytime you're in Kuala Lumpur to my home where I promise to cook you a storm.

These past 6 weeks are not gonna be easily forgotten. I've met many, many lovely people & sadly didn't get to bid them farewell. To all at VP 5, you're simply wonderful & thank you for a truly memorable journey.

End the occupation, Free Palestine

All 14 Malaysians home from Gaza!

End the occupation, Free Palestine

VPM convoy members back in Malaysia!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

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Update as of 8:47pm (GMT +8)

We are now at Rafah crossing and will soon leave Gaza soil

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Balah refugee camp sits very close to the beach and at times faces fire from Israeli navy ships

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Gaza coast with Israeli gunboats in the distance. We counted at least 8. Pretty much surrounded

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Greens grown for the people of Gaza by the people of Gaza.

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Update as of 7:02pm (GMT +8)

We just left the hotel for Rafah crossing. 1st leg of our return trip home.

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We are at the home of Ahmed Barakat.

Ahmed is from Gaza and is now studying in KL and is very active with VPM. Ahmed's family visited KL over Ramadhan and Eid and were over for dinner at my house on Eid.

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The home of the late Sheikh Ahmad Yasin, the martyred founder of Hamas. It sits in a sports compound started by him

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This twisted piece of metal is what's left of a car. Its occupant was a young Palestinian who destroyed a tank with 6 Israeli soldiers. He was subsequently taken out.

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The original stone

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With little Hafiz to be

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At the oldest mosque in Gaza Masjid Umari. It was built by the 2nd caliph Umar al Khattab

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Saturday, October 23, 2010

Update from DV/DrM as of 08:59PM (GMT +8)

We listened to about 12 project proposals
This we will bring home for close scrutiny by VPM
It was past midnight and we were like soo exhausted
The gym is a rehab program by one charity
We wil also propose for one of our vans to be donated to them to ferry their disabled & wounded patients








At the international conference of palestine prisoners. It is a very soul drenching moments for many. Families of the syuhada n prisoners r in droves filling the hall carrying placards picturing their martyred or imprisoned loved ones. There are probably no more tears left in their sorrowful eyes.
O Allah grant these noble souls the highest of your gardens in paradise. O Allah have mercy on their families n give them sustenance from the heavens to enable them to continue with the jihad.
Mathias Chang speaking at the international conf for palestine prisoners on behalf of mahathir who is sick
Dr Zulaikha in front seat
Ex IGP Norian Mai also in same hotel as us



Women & children with pictures of their loved ones martyred in the jihad






Reporter caught in the cross fire 
Collateral damage
Bilateral amputation
I still think he wheels faster than mils on her 5 inches high heels or zabrina in her kung fu slippers :)



The spirit refuses to be broken

Gaza is slowly unravelling itself. Its dirt & rubbish strewn streets. Its sewage problems. Its incomplete buildings & homes. Listen... Gaza's pain speaks to you.

Last night I sat through speech after speech by selected members of the convoy. It must have gone on for over 2 hours & although I understood hardly anything, save Kevin's, I thought, what can we possibly say that hasn't been said already?

As each person took the mike & I tried to make some sense of what was said, I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that how can we possibly even begin to imagine what it must be like for them? How can we stand before them & offer words of advice?

They keep thanking us but it is we who should be thanking them. These courageous people teach us every day, every hour, every moment what its like to be brave, strong and resilient. They live against all odds, & we are humbled by their unbroken spirit. Unbroken spirit that still soars even with clipped wings.

Brave people of Gaza, may Allah grant you more strength, bravery & fortitude. May your spirit remain unbroken & irrepressible. May you stand united, firm & defiant against the enemy. Brave people of Gaza, we salute you & we await the day when victory greets you.

Insha Allah.

These guys have been next to our bus for as long as we've been here

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Security security everywhere and not a shred of fear.

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Security in Gaza is very tight.

Security in Gaza is very tight. All I did was step towards the hotel door and 2 security detail rushed up and asked madam where are you going. These guys look impressive. Fit and fast

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Picture of couple of Palestinians being held prisoner by Israel

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The panel which includes Mathias Chang

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The Gaza strip

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Picture

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Update as of 5:52pm (GMT +8)

We are at a conference for Palestinian detainees. Mathias Chang gave an emotional speech

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Short Meeting with the Gazan Ladies

I sneaked out of the event last night. I was so tired and nearly dozed on stage:) Wonder what i did in 2+weeks to share the stage with big guns ? I was just so happy being mr ordinary; unnoticed; just a jundullah. Adnan got someone to pull me out and we went on three trips ending only at past midnight. Wwere taken to a 3 level  shop lot rented by a group of very beautiful gazan ladies! They had a cottage indsutry going:making cookies, sewing, running a kindy and nursery, embroidery and finally we were brought to their shop at the GF, ne of the lady did a ppt presentation; 2-3 cud speak english
the one who spoke was an industrial engineer. They empowered women but have to learn to profit sikit la! We both agreed a good project for VPM to fund. We gave USD  5K and Adnan will write a letter to make sure they get one of our vans for their daily use.
DV
ps:
Pix shows adnan givign away the cheque
TV3 camera recorded the event
 



The soil from the graves of 2 martyrs being handed over to Ismail Haniyeh

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This is what I got

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And yours truly being presented a gift by Ismail Haniyeh. Alhamdulillah. :)

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Ismail Haniyeh presenting a gift to Kevin for George Galloway

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Zaher being presented a medal by Ismail Haniyeh

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Nicci being presented a medal by Ismail Haniyeh

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Kevin being presented a medal by Ismail Haniyeh

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Ismail Haniyeh speaking now.

I'm still on the stage but Musa has long abandoned me :(

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Ismail Haniyeh in the middle.

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The crowd on its feet at the arrival of Ismail Haniyeh

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Update as of 1:29am (GMT +8)

Another speaker at the mike. Don't understand what he's saying because its in Arabic but he's bringing the house down.

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Update as of 1:20am (GMT +8)

Kevin just gave a rousing and brilliant speech.

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Kevin at the mike with Zaher as translator

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The crowd totally whipped

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‎​The crowd on their feet

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Beautiful cultural dance being performed


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