Because no bombs are falling, most of us assume that there is some kind of peace in Gaza; that is, if we think of Gaza at all. Not so. On July 21 the Jewish Voice for Peace reported how a silent war continues on this densely populated and isolated little strip of land that lives by permission of another country in conditions similar to a prison.
The Israeli Defense Force, by controlling entries into the area, has all power over the food, medicine, building supplies, water and electricity available in Gaza. In other words, most of the necessities of life. Such power can be used to destroy a people group slowly, quietly, without the notice of the world.
Usually Gazans are provided two to four unpredictable hours of electricity out of every 24. Thus the people must survive with no dependable refrigeration, no potable water, infrequent relief from the heat, and often no light in the evenings. Even hospitals are handicapped to provide care for critical patients. Then, in a recent 24-hour period, Gaza received zero…no electricity.
This situation is not about a shortage of resources or some accidental break that will be fixed as soon as possible. This is about the deliberate oppression of an occupied people by the occupier. Apparently this tactic, applied for a decade already, is designed to break the spirit of the Palestinians. And do it without attracting the world’s attention. Denying people their basic needs is an act of war that rarely makes it into headlines.
We know that God is attentive. Let us pray for Gaza.
The JVP asked their readers to sign a petition addressed to the New York Times and the Washington Post asking them to put the news of Gaza’s power crisis on the front page. They just want you to know what is going on.
I signed. Will you?