No medicine left, Gaza pharmacy forced to close

Anvi Bursh, a Palestinian pharmacist who received his education in Turkey and owns a pharmacy in the Gaza Strip, has been forced to close shop because there’s no medicine left.

Bursh is one of the 1.5 million Palestinians suffering in the Gaza Strip under an Israeli air strike campaign that began over the weekend. When Today’s Zaman initially tried to reach him for a telephone interview this week, a shout of “Allahuakbar� (God is Great) preceded the line’s disconnection. After a few more attempts, Today’s Zaman was able to reach Bursh, who explained that during the first call, a bomb had fallen, so he had shouted before running in the direction of the explosion to assist any injured people.

In an interview with the Zaman daily in June 2007, Bursh had said the medical supplies at his pharmacy were on the verge of depletion because of the Israeli embargo on the area. Because that embargo continued, he told Today’s Zaman, he was forced to close down his pharmacy because no medicine or medical supplies were allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.

Explaining life in Gaza during the current Israeli onslaught, Bursh said: “Every moment, there’s a bomb exploding somewhere. Israeli tanks have entered and will enter. Our people are now just waiting for death.� The pharmacist said the Israeli attacks were clearly launched against Palestinian civilians, noting that six mosques, a university and school buildings had been demolished in the attacks since the weekend.

Turkish citizens try to escape Gaza massacre

Meanwhile, Turkish citizen Işıl Zakkut, who lives in Gaza with his five children, told Today’s Zaman that they were trying to return to Turkey to escape the bloodshed. A couple of days ago, the apartment building across from the Zakkut home was demolished in an air strike, killing many civilians, including women and children, Zakkut said. The Zakkut family has asked Turkish Embassy in Palestine to help them return to Turkey, and the embassy has applied to the relevant Israeli authorities to secure permission for their safe passage. The area has been declared a military zone and closed off by Israeli defense forces. For now, though, there is no word with regard to the application, and so the Zakkuts continue to share the uncertain destiny of the Palestinians in Gaza.

MUSTAFA KÄ°RAZLI Ä°STANBUL