‘Gaza on the Ground’

The realities of war in the Gaza Strip came to life here on Dec. 5 as photojournalist Mohammed Omer presented “Gaza on the Ground” at the Quaker Center. The presentation included slides, video footage, related stories and a first-hand account by Omer that left unforgettable images in the minds of his audience.

The 22-year-old Palestinian, who is on tour with his photos, is winner of the Best Youth Voice category for the first National Ethnic Media Awards. He overcame many travel restrictions to share a bone-deep slice of life in Gaza and to take home a firsthand look at the people of the United States. “Too often the only impression of America arrives at the end of a gun or bulldozer,” he said.

“Gaza on the Ground” begins in Rafah refugee camp and an adjacent corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border, an area Israel is said to be interested in reoccupying. Rafah is a distressed area under siege. People are confined to their homes. Water stations have been destroyed. Little food is available—not even milk for babies.  

Omer’s video footage shows unarmed residents gathered in the streets to protest lawless Israeli attacks that continued for 17 days and that stripped people of their rights, homes and even their lives.

In Palestine, where over 60 percent of the population are under 18, Omer’s camera captured the moment when the mostly youthful crowd was fired on with bullets, tear gas and shrapnel. Some people were hauled away by Israeli soldiers, adding to the swelling prison population of over 10,000. Some were wounded but still standing, while others lost limbs. The seriously injured were carried off to wait for medical help.

Ambulances along with fuel are in short supply, so help is sent only in critical cases. In this situation people were packed in the vehicles and rushed to the hospital. There, Omer captured disturbing footage of an unattended man standing, arms held stiffly by his sides, his mouth open in an endless scream. A doctor reported witnessing this in other patients who had suffered exposure to white tear gas. He wondered what chemical had been devised to cause this horrible delirium.

As the hospital morgue filled beyond capacity, bodies of dead children were placed in refrigerators along with food items.

As his presentation moved from video to still photographic slides, in a quiet voice Omer named faces on the screen, gave ages and personal accounts.

”She is 80 years old, not military, not political. She cared about harvesting oranges and almonds.” The woman’s eyes convey the loss of her trees and home, which Israeli soldiers systematically bulldozed from front to back.

Another slide showed little boys peeking over a pile of debris as their home was buried. When Omer asked them why they risked their lives at such close range to the soldiers, one replied, “I’m looking for my bicycle.”

Omer’s neighbor was shot down in front of his home. He lay in a puddle of blood as his children inside screamed. His wife ran to his side and was hit: more blood, more screams. The puddle grew into a pool as two more people, including his child and an ambulance driver, tried to help and were shot.

Omer presented video coverage of the International Solidarity Movement trying to stop the rampaging destruction of homes and property. Among his photographs was the maimed face of U.S. citizen Rachel Corrie, whose solidarity work ended when she was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer. Omer, who had met Corrie, said he was unable to sleep or eat for days after her death.

Omer had experienced his own home being bulldozed, leaving his mother and sister injured when they jumped out a back window. His 17-year-old brother, described as a dedicated student, both non-military and non-political, was killed in a spray of gunfire from Israeli soldiers. At age six, as the oldest child in his family, Omer found himself the family provider when his father was imprisoned for resisting the occupation.

The Israeli occupation of Palestine is supported by U.S. money and weapons. Banks there are routinely closed for accepting money from the Arab League. So it was no easy task for Omer to begin this tour. While he was finally able to secure a visa to leave Gaza, he is uncertain whether he will be allowed to return home.

To learn more about “Gaza on the Ground,” check out Omer’s website at www.rafahtoday.org or e-mail Moham-med Omer at [email protected].