These pictures of kids in Gaza celebrating the end of Ramadan stopped me in my tracks this morning. The celebration, Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of Ramadan, the 30-day period of daylight abstinence from food and drink observed by Muslims. It's a three-day "festival of the fast-breaking," a joyous time to visit friends and relatives and to give to those in need ensuring that everyone will have a holiday meal — especially important this year as more and more feel financial woes.
on Yahoo! |
Security and financial concerns are preventing some patients' ability to receive medical care both in the US and Palestine.
American hospitals are independently deporting seriously ill or injured undocumented immigrants because of the financial burden, according to an extensive report in the New York Times. Without any intervention of federal or state officials, hospitals privately employ ambulances, air ambulances, or commercial plans to send home immigrants that can't find US nursing homes that will accept them without insurance.
on Yahoo! |
Gaza residents are tunneling through sand, in their latest attempt to withstand the Israeli blockade of the region. Israel has shut off access to the Gaza strip, in response to attacks and in an attempt to put pressure on Hamas.
The tunnels bring electricity, phone lines, cigarettes, food, petrol, and weapons.
on Yahoo! |
on Yahoo! |
Israel's
on Yahoo! |
on Yahoo! |
on Yahoo! |
Egypt is hosting Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and a delegation from Hamas for separate talks regarding the latest border crisis. During talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Abbas demanded that rival group Hamas give up control of Gaza.
These groundbreaking talks mark the first time ever that Egypt will receive a Hamas delegation, as neither Egypt nor Israel recognizes Hamas as Gaza's legitimate authority.
Following Israel's sealing of Gaza's borders after a missile attack last week, Gaza has been plunged into darkness. Israel has cut off the delivery of fuel, food, and supplies following the attack, and now Gaza's only power plant no longer has the fuel it needs to operate.
A complicated conflict, the current blockade has led Hamas, the armed Islamic movement that controls the Gaza Strip, to announce that hospitals are operating on generators and that the situation is dire.
An Israeli missile struck the Hamas interior ministry headquarters in Gaza City on Friday, killing a Palestinian woman and injuring 40 people. Israel has shut its crossing with the Gaza strip, preventing even UN relief workers from entering. The latest violence came after rockets, coming from the Hamas-run territory, hit nearby Israeli towns.
Enter your email below:
|
