Sunday, November 05, 2006

Body Count Gaza or The Daily Shrapnel

Zein El-Amine has been reporting on Lebanon with a piece he calls "The Daily Shrapnel," but the real body count has been in Gaza.

While North America's leftist have been fixated on the violence and uprising in Oaxaca, Israeli forces have killed some 42 people in Gaza since Wednesday. In the most dramatic violence, Hamas radio called on local women in Beit Hanoun to rescue local militants who were held up in a mosque by an Israeli seige. As a march of the women entered the mosque and took the men out, dressing them in women's clothing. Israeli police fired on the crowd, killing two women, and injuring ten people including a Palestinian cameraman. That brings the death count in Gaza due to the Israeli military to 300 since June.

These reports also talk about the terrible living conditions, lack of electricity and water, as well as a de facto curfew keeping people off of the streets. An interview on Democracy Now with American Amy Lowenstein talks about the conditions in Gaza hospitals among other things.

3 comments :

Scats said...

would you rather north america's leftists didn't focus on oaxaca?

Si Fitz said...

since your blog "coprophagia" is named after the affinity for eating poop, I'm assuming you have a sense of humor. Obviously I have been focusing on Oaxaca as many others have. It is important to remember that many other people are suffering in less dramatic (or perhaps romantic) fashion.

The murderous daily grind of Gaza Strip life is just one example.

CSC said...

I don't think people are "focusing" on Oaxaca enough. There is a real need for worker mobilizations around the world to defend those heroic folks.

Indeed, alot of people didn't take notice of Oaxaca at all until a U.S. citizen was killed there.

At some pickets held in front of the Mexican Consulate in New York held in September and October, only a few dozens folks showed up.

After the U.S. citizen was killed, hundreds came out.

Don't get me wrong, hundreds, and even thousands SHOULD have come out; but they should have been there for the people of Oaxaca aswell.

That's my two sense anyway.