Erez Crossing at the Gaza Strip
What if a military force came to your neighborhood built walls all around your block and refused to allow you to go and come as you please. How would you feel about that? What if they decided to attack your walled-in neighborhood from the sky and sent troops in to kill people too. How would you feel?
Those are two of the questions that I had to wrestle with while standing at the walls of one of the world’s biggest prisons. It’s called the Gaza Strip and has 1.5 million Palestinians as its prisoners. In the name of security, the Israeli Government decides who comes and who goes. It decides what is allowed in and what is not.
This is not something that I just heard about – I’ve seen the Gaza Strip with my own eyes. It was almost unbelievable to think that this could be happening in our world today. We claim to be so progressive as a global community. When certain natural tragedies strike, there is often quick and worldwide response. But this day, I stood at the walls of an unnatural tragedy – a government sponsored, world “leader” endorsed tragedy. 1.5 million Palestines in the largest open air prison on earth!
Our group got off the bus at the Erez Crossing which is a tightly controlled entry/exit point for the Gaza Strip. Only Palestinians with Israeli issued ID cards are allowed to enter and leave and even then there’s no guarantee. The guards at the gates saw us coming and began to gather – noticeably irritated by our presence. Some Palestinian taxi drivers were sitting nearby and some of us went to speak with them. Mustering up more courage, some others of our group walked right up to the gate to speak with the “security” officials and demand entry.
There were people locked up behind those walls. The world’s governments know it. President Obama knows it. But they won’t do anything of substance about it. Forget everything you hear them say. They are all lying and should be tried – all of these “world leaders” for crimes against humanity. You may read that and say I’m being harsh, but if your eyes had seen what my eyes saw this day, you would completely understand. To collectively punish and imprison human beings – HUMAN BEINGS! – behind “security” walls and restrict the flow of food, fuel, medicine,etc. is a crime. History will look back in shame at a world community that allowed this to happen.
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Hi Pastor Brown!
It's Angela Johnese. I am very glad to read your blog this morning! It's one thing to watch the world news and hear what is going on in the Middle East and something else to hear such news when someone you know is walking and working in the midst. We are keeping you and your fellow travelers in our prayers and pray you a safe return.
Hey Sis! Thanks for this note. Tune into WEAA tonight sometime between 5 and 7pm. I should be on the air. Thanks!