Azra to Gaza

Sunday, October 24, 2010

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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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.