Taghreed Al-Khadary is a Gazan-born journalist who lives and works in Washington, D.C. Salon has an interview with her, written by Natasha Lennard. It needs to be read in full, but here are some excerpts:
On the aid ships (emphasis is mine):
… The people in Gaza don’t need the flour or the rice or the dolls that people bring for kids. But it’s nice, it’s a gesture, it gives them moral support.For people in Gaza, young and old, it’s impressive that these ships are even able to come from Europe to Gaza — that they’re able to move, to travel. They’re fascinated by that element; I was very moved by that. You’re talking about people who have never left Gaza.
On the humanitarian crisis:
Listen, you have the United Nations and they’re the ones taking care of the refugees on the ground, as well as many NGOs. What is needed is not humanitarian aid, but dignity for the people[.] …
I left Gaza a few months ago and I lived that siege, and it’s horrible; you feel like you’re in a cage. …
I’m shocked because here in the States they only talk about the humanitarian side. For many politicians it’s easier to talk about Gaza as a humanitarian case, whereas the issue is purely political, the siege is purely political.
On U.S. media coverage:
I was shocked when I was watching CNN domestic, which I’m not used to watching. CNN international is different. But I was truly shocked at the level of reporting and how misleading it was. All the CNN analyst could say about why there is a blockade on Gaza was that it is to prevent weapons crossing the border. But everyone knows weapons can make it through anyway; everyone knows it’s a political issue, a policy to put pressure on Hamas and weaken them.
I’m not angry that the American people don’t understand the reality on the ground if the media is like that.
On the political consequences of the Israeli assault:
It’s unbelievable, really: Israel has given Hamas a present. Hamas’ morale is high; it’s a boost for them. They feel stronger and that’s what they needed at this time when they had been weakened somewhat. …
On Hamas and its relationship with the Palestinian population (emphasis is mine):
Only in the States do they not see Hamas as a reality on the ground, and that Hamas is the result of a failure of the policies, and of the failure of the international community to impose a fair policy for the Palestinians.
[…]
And now children are growing up in an isolated Gaza and they are only exposed to Israel as M16s and apaches; they don’t know Israelis as civilians.There are those who support Hamas, but there are also those Palestinians who are sick of Hamas and Fatah, but cannot see an alternative, because the policies — the siege — do not allow an alternative to emerge.
No need for any commentary from me. Res ipsa loquitur.
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