Akashma Online News

This is no ordinary place.

One Norwegian doctor recommends that Obama spend the night here. – that it might change the course of western history. Frankly, I think that he should – and it could..

My soul has become accustomed to a view of the world that just four weeks ago was foreign, but I still began to weep as I walked the grounds of Al Shifa just now. I could not help myself.

Certainly there are similar places throughout our world, and many are much, much worse – but Gaza is a place of epiphanies for me – Al Shifa is a place of awakening.

But today was a challenge.

It was challenging to witness three burial parties within five minutes carrying the dead to the nearby mosque.

Challenging to see two ambulances arrive with passengers whose faces were shrouded.

Challenging to see a dozen children and their mother crowded inside of a makeshift structure that was smaller than my bath in Santa Fe.

Challenging to see hundreds and hundreds of refugees stuffed into every corner – in parks, under staircases – lean-twos against every wall – foam mattresses with people sleeping everywhere – trucks and cars crammed with families,

Challenging to see children whose heads or limbs are wrapped in bandages – a young man in total shock with arms in casts – supported by his friends.

And among them walked men carrying the dead – Allahu Akbar – Allahu Akbar

Allahu Akbar

This is a place of life and death, my friends, laughter mingling with intense grief.

Six boys carrying bags of bread and skipping along – six men carrying a body whose soul has been transported to Jannah.

Allahu Akbar

A screaming tribe of children using a broken wheelchair for roller coaster rides down the short hill beside the hospital.

An old woman sitting expressionless.

A young boy alone and broken in the ICU – his entire family murdered.

In spite of all, Al Shifa is a particularly peaceful place today as people sit and wait…. perhaps there is a level of peace that is reached when you have only the belongings that you could carry as you ran from attacks on your home – on your street – on your city. The makeshift structures were filled with people and little else. This is a city of people and not of things.

This is a city for the living

Allahu Akbar