An aerial view of destroyed apartment buildings in Gaza, October 21, 2023. (PHOTO: © SHADI TABATIBI.) Who can still live here?. Yet voices still come from under the rubble. Read my exchange with a friend in Gaza this week…
Somewhere in the rubble of Gaza City is a friend. A middle aged Professor of English Literature with a terrified wife and family. He teaches at the Islamic University of Gaza. Mosheer was a Fulbright Scholar who did his Masters degree in the USA, followed up by a Doctorate in Australia. He returned to Gaza to be with his extended family (and because he loves Gaza, he told me). He also wanted to share his knowledge of English and American literature with students in Gaza. I met him on several occasions. He has a kind smile and a self deprecating sense of humour. But he will need more than a kind smile and a sense of humour to live from one day to the next under the murder that comes from the sky.
Here is a transcript of a recent WhatsApp exchange I had with him.
October 9
PL: Hello Mosheer, I am thinking of you and all Palestinians at this moment.
MA: It’s terrible my friend. I am in the midst of heavy bombardment. Horrifying for my little kids
PL: I feel as helpless as you, even tho I am miles away and not directly in danger. Courage.
MA: Much appreciated 🙏 keep us in your thoughts
October 14 (a few days later)
PL: Still thinking of you. I was at a demonstration in Ottawa today. (NOTE: I attached a photo of the demonstration here in Ottawa)
October 15
MA: Much appreciation and love my good friend. It’s horrifying beyond description, every minute passes means people are killed and maimed, and there is a serious threat to my family’s life and mine and to thousands of families lives. If any intervention has to take place, it must happen now. Your solidarity and support give us that there’s still goodness in this world. Keep us in your thoughts 🙏
October 20 (another 5 days later)
PL – Hi Mosheer, I want to write but fear what I might discover. Are you still ok? Inchallah.
MA – I am ok, but in grave danger. Bombings are near and far and one cannot know if his home is the target of the next missile strike. People are torn into pieces under the rubble of their own homes. It’s horrendously unprecedented in savagery and atrocities. Pray for our safety my friend 😔🙏
PL – My goodness. Thanks so much fir for answering. I wake up each morning wondering what more I can do. Letters, emails, demonstrations… The Canadian government is right with Israel. We will do another demonstration Sunday. I pray for you and your family.
October 21
MA – Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Every effort to save lives counts 🙏
PL – Of course. I am trying to get my government to speak up.
STOP THE BOMBING!!
Mosheer and his family need our help, as do 2 million other people trapped in Gaza. Write Prime Minister Trudeau (justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca) and demand that he call for a stop to the Israeli genocide on Gaza. Copy your friends.
Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 
Peter,
Thank you for using the word “murder” in your introductory paragraph. People need to hear that. It is not self-defense. Nobody is safer because of Israel’s murderous actions.
If we look for a moment with honesty at the big picture, what we see.
A people who came from Europe with a detailed plan of taking over Palestine. These people had no connection to this land, for hundreds or a thousand years, not the same looks as the locals, not similar culture, language or any right to do that. Soon after arrival they started with violence, against the locals who lived in harmony with others of different faith.
In 1948 they managed to take over 78% of Palestine, using utmost brutality imaginable. Since then they pursued their wishes of expansion. Using sophisticated weapon, the help of Zionists all over, the help from Christian Zionists and Western government.
All subsequent policy makers in Israel never wanted real and equitable peace. Only waiting for an opportunity of stealing more land, using the barrel of a gun.
This is a most criminal state ever. Their crimes are ongoing for over a hundred years.
Most of the world is brainwashed to believe that they are the victims, not the victimisers. Of course there are other political or otherwise reasons, as to why they were/are being supported in inflicting horrendous atrocities on millions of innocent people, with impunity.
The attack from Gaza, is testimonial to the above. And now the same criminal victimisers are pushed by many governments, to commit genocide. What a corrupt world.
The majority of Israelis are descendants of middle eastern Jews , but you must already know that, because your sister is one of them
Intereresting: How influential are they? How many members of recent governments are descendants of middle eastern Jews?
The majority among the cabinet ministers are of ME origin
Gila Gamliel – Yemen
Ophir Akunis – half Turkey (Tsaloniki )
Arie Deri – born in Morocco
Miri Regev -Morocco
Ophir Siffer -Libya
Idit Sylman – Morocco
Eli Cohen – half Iraq
Itamar Ben Gvir – Iraq
Amichai Eliau – his grandfather was the chief Sefaradi Rabbi
Galit Atabrayan – Iran
Haim Biton -Morocco
Yakov Mergi -Morocco
Micki Zohar -Morocco/Tunis
Shlomo Karai – Yemen
Yoav Ben Zur – Yemen
Amichai Chickli – Tunis