Sharif Abdel Kouddous on Gaza’s "Severe Damage" and Why Truce Won’t Stop the Violence of Occupation
Monday, Nov. 26th
From Democracy Now: AMY GOODMAN: As we continue speaking with Democracy Now! correspondent Sharif Abel Kouddous in Cairo. He just returned to Egypt on Saturday after several days in Gaza. On Wednesday, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi brokered a deal to end Israel’s assault on Gaza that killed 170 Palestinians. During that period, six Israelis were killed as well in Palestinian rocket attacks. Earlier today, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak who presided over the assault on Gaza announced his resignation. Sharif, can you talk about the terms of the cease-fire and the reactions in Gaza afterwards?
SHARIF ABDEL KADDOUS: The reaction was one of celebration in Gaza. It was a very bizarre countdown to the 9:00 P.M. deadline which marked the end of the violence. The bombs were falling up until the very last minute. A Palestinian man was killed in the final minutes right before the 9 P.M. deadline. When it did come, we very quickly heard in Gaza cheers going out, mosques going on the loud speakers and claiming victory over Israel, cars whizzing in the streets, and it turned into a massive street celebration by many Gazans.
As you mentioned, the death toll is around — somewhere around 170. They are still getting the accurate figures. At least 34 of those are children. Over 100 are civilians. The destruction in Gaza is severe. The Israeli military targeted many civil institutions, a massive civil administration complex know as Abu Hudra that — where Palestinians would go to get Ids and documents, a bridge, dozens of homes and offices and apartment buildings have been reduced to rubble.
So, in asking Palestinians why they consider this a victory, it’s that they feel that Israel did not achieve any of its objectives, that they managed to avoid a ground invasion by Israeli forces, and they overwhelmingly put this to the resistance, to Hamas’ and other Palestinian factions’ resistance and rocket fire. Many Palestinians that you speak to say that this is the reason that they got a cease-fire, that what they view is on favorable terms.
in full: http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/26/sharif_abdel_kouddous_on_gazas_severe
= new reply since forum marked as read
