Israel moves to further isolate Gazans

Mon Aug 29, 2011 4:25PM GMT
Interview with Sharyn Lock, author of ‘Gaza beneath the bombs’
A series of Israeli air strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip has killed at least five people over the past weeks. The recent killings of the people of Gaza underscore the brutal nature of the Israeli regime.

Moreover,Israel has also imposed a blockade on Gaza since the Hamas government took control of the territory in 2007.

The blockade has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the impoverished territory.

Press TV talks with Sharyn Lock who worked with the Palestinian medics during Israel’s operation “Cast Lead” and the author of ‘Gaza beneath the bombs’. What follows is a transcription of the interview:

Press TV: Sharon, it must have taken you back to “Operation Cast Lead” hearings doctor under pressure like that.

Lock: Yes, definitely. I guess. I and other ISM [International Solidarity Movement] volunteers were accompanying at the ambulances during the “Cast Lead” where we were in the usual situation where Israel did not respect rescuers or hospital. There was a hospital that was bombed. So I was constantly with the medical staff who were doing their best in the impossible circumstances.

You know, rubble looks the same every time that it is someone’s house every time and the fact is that since “Cast Lead” a lot of those homes have not been rebuilt because the materials are not allowed through by Israel and when you keep an area on a trickle of supply which includes medical supply and people will die because there is not the ability to give them the basic treatment, then he will take just for granted.

Press TV: We talked about PPE and you were nodding. I did not understand what they meant.

Lock: Yes, that’s Personal Protection Equipment. So when a doctor is working or a nurse is working or a medic is working, they should at the very least be able to have gloves to protect themselves and in many cases masks and obviously they are risking their lives simply to do the rescuing and then working in medical bases which are also under threat.

But also here a medical person would be horrified at the thought of working without their basic things just being able to keep safe and it is not just the medical personnel but transmission from one patient top another can happen via the medical care if there is not the right equipment that can be disposed or that can be cleaned in the right way.

Press TV: Your blog which was made into the book that you have got that is called ‘Gaza, beneath the bombs’ was important during the “Cast Lead” because it was one of the few avenues of information coming out.

Do you remember what it was like hearing snippets of news from the outside world during “Operation Cast Lead” and comparing it to what was going on, on the ground?

Lock: Yes, I mean we were obviously volunteering there and we were in communication with the West Bank International Solidarity Movement and directly to our own countries and people taking action around the world and Palestinians would say to us what are they hearing outside, are they showing what you are seeing and the thing is that there would be snippets.

That is what it would be. It would be a sound bite. But the fact was that the actual events that were going on were constant on an enormous scale and they were breaching so many international laws and we never felt like what was coming outside in terms of international mainstream media was actually acknowledging any of those aspects.

Press TV: Sharyn, you know a bit about convoys and about breaking the siege, if you could remember, in 2008 arriving by sea to Gaza.

I think what I’d like to know is does it do good for the people there? You were there for a long time, a year, weren’t you?

Lock: Yes, well, I always find it hard to speak for Palestinians but you know I guess I can speak for people I consider as my friends and I think the thing is that occupation has been going for so long and with so little attention from most of the outside world that I think people feel extremely isolated and you know I have had people asking me in the past, why the Palestinians do not matter to the world?

You know, we see Western countries taking action on other issues but somehow we do not matter. We were just bypassing our governments because they are not doing what they need to be doing.

I think that is direct connection with other people who have the same cares and concerns but they have to leave under incredibly difficult circumstances. So my impression is that having that connection with people from the outside world who care so much about the situation that they overcome quite a lot of obstacles, you know, as these folks [Gaza aid convoys] did, as the ‘Free Gaza’ movement did, as people continue to do, I think that gives people a sense of hope because there is a sense that there is a solidarity movement that is very strong and very passionate.

Press TV: Can we talk a little bit about protest now? Because it is Al-Quds Day internationally and we have seen protests now in Saudi Arabia against Israel, the Israeli flag being burnt.

You have protested with Palestinians in the West Bank before. How were these protests that you have been on met?

Lock: Well, one of the ones that I remember, which is still inspiring me, was when we were alongside Palestinians and Israelis together. It was in Bilin [a Palestinian village located in Ramallah].

It was one of the early Bilin protests against the wall [separation wall around Gaza Strip] and I remember being in a situation where we all met in the village and we met out obviously with the Palestinians whose village it was and others who were coming in solidarity and who could get through the checkpoints and also the Israeli anarchists against the wall and other Israeli peace groups and we went out together on to the land unarmed, all of us, and this was the land that was being stolen for the wall.

I think the actual mix of that group, internationals, Palestinians and the Israeli who were working for peace were coming together to confront armed soldiers with empty hands, it is an incredibly strong feeling and actually you do not feel like the ones who are weak, you feel like the ones who are using no violence, using solidarity across many nations are the strong ones.

Press TV: And finally, have you been shot yourself?

Lock: Yes, but you know it happens for many people.

MSK/JR

Watch the video of the interview here

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