Israel Turns Palestinian Umra Dream Into Nightmare

GAZA CITY, October 7, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - Israel have played havoc with Palestinian dream of performing Umra (lesser pilgrimage) during the holy fasting month of Ramadan with 5,000 Palestinians with Saudi visas appealing to the parties concerned to step in.

"I'm overwhelmed by feelings of depression at the prospect that I won't be able to perform Umra this Ramadan due to Israeli control over the Rafah crossing," Mohamed Higazi told IslamOnline.net on Friday, October 7.

"I heard a lot about the breath-taking atmosphere in the holy lands during Ramadan and I planned to spend the entire month there, but the Israelis are turning my dreams into a nightmare now," added Ahmad Al-Madhoun, another Palestinian who was also blocked on the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.

Before Israel withdrew from the Strip in mid-August 2005, the occupation authorities closed Rafah checkpoint. It further maintained control over other crossings, the airspace and the Gaza harbor.

The checkpoint was only opened for a few days after Israeli pullout to allow those stranded on the Egyptian and Palestinian sides to return home.

"It seems as if the Israelis want to cast a pall over Ramadan and suppress our joy," said Widad, who planned to accompany her aging mother to the holy lands.

"I decided with my next-door neighbor to travel together to Saudi Arabia to perform Umra during the last 10 days of Ramadan," said Um Ahmad, an elderly Palestinian woman.

"I pray to Allah day and night that we can perform Umra during the last days of Ramadan," elderly Um Ahmad said with tears in her eyes.

Rafah checkpoint is factually the only exit for the Palestinians to the outside world.

Experts say the occupation army has developed a habit of blocking hundreds of Palestinian pilgrims, especially relatives of those who carried out operations against Israel, as part of punitive measures.

Intervention

The Palestinian pilgrims and Umra organizers called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) to intervene in the repetitive standoff.

"Generally speaking, closing the crossing is unacceptable," said Palestinian Minister of Information Technology and Communications Sabri Sidam.

The minister warned that the Israeli measure could be further prolonged to Hajj time.

Sheikh Hisham Sharab, the director of the Palestinian Hajj and Umra Authority, said 5,000 Palestinians do have Saudi visas to perform Umras.

"We hope that the Palestinian Authority to do something and put an end to this recurrent crisis," he said.

Palestinian sufferings are swelling at a dozen Israeli military checkpoints across the occupied territories.

Beatings, shootings, harassment, humiliation in front of children and wives and life-threatening delays are but a few examples of the appalling conditions at the crossings, according to human rights activists.

Qalandia, Hawara and Rafah crossings in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip respectively are among the worst nightmares for the Palestinians.

In August of last year, the occupation army closed the Rafah checkpoint for up to 17 consecutive days.

Some 3,000 men, women and children of all ages were crammed into a parking lot about half the size of a soccer field with only two doors for ventilation and straw mats serving as beds.