Madison-Rafah Journal

Letters from Gaza

Prof. Abdelwahed wrote on Sat, 3 Feb 2007:

Hello there,

Unfortunately, we did not have electric power for more than 24 hours. The elecricity maintenance department said that our neighbourhood is the most dangerous one in Gaza, so that their crew could not reach the place to repair the generator which was partly damaged during the clashes.

Gaza has turned into a city of ghosts with only veiled gunmen at the corners of the streets. They shoot at everything moving. They are also scared as the fight has claimed the lives of 26 people from the two parties and other innocent citizens; add to that some 250 people injured.

The Egyptian security delegation brokered a truce and they were still in Gaza when the truce drastically collapsed. They tried again, and after they left the first meeting, the Fatah delegation was shot at and the Egyptian delegation was shot at too. Hamas officially condemned the shooting at the two delegations!

Today a new truce is declared, but unfortuantely it was only ink on paper, as I can hear mortars, explosions, shootings and what not. Eight people were said to have been injured after declaring the "new" ceasefire! Schools of the ministry of education are on a vacation. UNRWA has suspended its schools for an undeclared date!

When al-Qassam (Hamas) fighters stopped the military supplies sent from Dubai (UAE) through the Egyptian Port Said seaport and captured 4 trucks and 3 armored vehicles guarding the supplies, the President's guard went crazy as it was spread in the street that this convoy of supplies is just part of the US military support to Abbas. (the US did not build any hospital or school or kindergarten in the Gaza Strip or West Bank).

Hamas also said that the night before, 20 military jeeps entered from the Egyptian side into Gaza too. The President's guard and other security departments lost important places in a fight to the north of Gaza city and they wanted to reply and restore dignity and morale, thus, in a weird move, they attacked the Islamic University of Gaza and burnt many of its bulidings.

Hamas rumored that they captured 1300 machine guns and ammunition, 9 dead bodies of Hamas fighters and seven Iranian intelligence officers. Right form the first minute, the news was stupid. In Islam it is bad to keep a dead body when someone dies! And how and from where the Iranians came when everyone passes through with the Israeli's consent! And why Iranians!

It was a stupid rumour, but the attack of the University was meant to be a blow to burn the hearts of Hamas memebers. I consider this move as the most stupid as it is against the whole people. There are 15000 students at that university; they are from all the tissues of the Palestinian society.

I used to work for the Islamic Univeristy (1982-1992) and I left it because I did not agree with their political and religious approaches, thus, I moved to work for Al-Azhar University which was established in 1990. To be objective and honest in my witness I have to say that the Islamic University is more organized, more disciplined and has a serious and professional administration and leadership, plus that Hamams is very carefull about keeping that institution away from any conflict. They are not stupid enough to keep arms somehwere on campus. I do not beleive that big lie!

Al-Azhar University is affiliated to Fatah. It is where I work. There, students can bring in pistols, guns and hand grenades too! On many occasions shooting took place at Al-Azhar and students were injured. At the other side of the fence, there is no incident in the history of the Islamic University where shooting took place! It is known for everyone that when Arafat visited the two neighbouring universities, he praised the Islamic University whereas he did not answer when he was asked about Al-Azhar! I think that this witness is important. Ironically, the same situation happened with Mr. Abbas when he was invited to visit the Islamic University. Hhe expressed his "pride and admiration" of the Islamic University.

By the way, the Ministry of Higher Education classified the Islamic University, more than once, as the best in Gaza Strip and West Bank (There are nine univeristies and other colleges). Al-Azhar has never received a good ranking! This is the truth of the situation. I beleive that Abbas and Dahlan have lost much at the popular level when they burnt the Islamic University under several fake and silly excuses. Right now I can hear showers of bullets from various sides!

All the best,
Said Abdelwahed