FIMA Year Book 2010-2011 - Federation of Islamic Medical ...

VIVA PALESTINA 5
focus. This was not about us or how far we had
travelled or how tired we were or how we felt.
It was and will always be about them and the fact
that all of us were living their dreams.
The anticipation of the go ahead from the
Egyptian government was a roller coaster ride and
there was a number of false starts. After about two
weeks of waiting restlessness began stirring in
some of the members who had pressing issues
back home. However the majority were prepared
to wait it out with some willing to risk their jobs
back home, trusting Allah as the provider. We did
our utmost best to keep each others’ morale and
spirits up.
Good news finally descended, like the blessed rain
on a parched day and on the 20 th of October we
departed Latakia for al Arish in Egypt. All our
vehicles were loaded onto a ship with thirty of our
volunteers, and the rest of us flew into al Arish in
two flights. We bade farewell to Latakia and its
beautiful people and asked Allah to take us safely
and speedily into Gaza.
Breaking the Siege of Gaza:
We left Latakia with much pomp and pageantry
with police escort all the way from the camp to the
airport. The Syrians lined the streets in farewell.
The flight was all about precision, not a passenger
less or more. And as it turned out, a Bahraini
brother was left without a seat and there was great
disappointment all around, although the dear
brother remained calm and accepting of his fate.
Then the Bahraini sisters sprang into action and
squeezed themselves four to three seats. A
headcount found a seat available and our brother
was able to join us. Such was the spirit that
everyone on board kept this secret.
We landed in al Arish, Egypt and made our way to
the humble hotel where we fell exhausted in the
wee hours. The next morning soon after breakfast
we were taken by buses to the port where our
vehicles awaited. It was a strange bond between us
and our vehicles, we actually missed them. We
wasted no time in getting into our vehicles and
soon were on our way to the Rafah crossing.
Egyptian police accompanied us all the way and
the people poured into the streets in greeting. The
drive was heavily laden with expectations and
anticipation of a mission so close to
accomplishment. Convoy members sat on the
window sills of their vehicles, with flags and
banners coloring the air. Chants, shouts and
tooting, very little could calm the excitement.
Then we saw it, the Rafah gate, and knowing Gaza
laid just beyond it was surreal. Two hours were all
the drive took and then we were in Gaza. No
words could capture the outpouring of emotions.
Tears of joy mingled with tears of sadness. The
two you-tube referenced pictures the jubilation
upon breaking the siege as captured by the
Malaysian National News Network and Al-
Jazeera 17-18 .The Gazans welcomed us like no one
else had. We were in Gaza, in Palestine. The
blessed land, so beyond the reach of its own
people was going to be home for us for the next 4
days, this mish mash of people from all over the
world, coming together with the same passion.
After the official reception at the border, our 147
vehicle strong convoy made its way to Gaza city.
Women, men and hordes of children waved all the
way through, calling out “Welcome to Gaza!”
Convoy members were happily distributing sweets
when the drive slowed to a pace that allowed it
and the children gleefully accepted them. And
even in the shade of the night Gaza did not bother
to conceal herself. We were greeted by her cries of
welcome as much as her cries for help.
The convoy members were put up in various
hotels and the Malaysian team stayed at the Beach
Hotel, aptly called as each morning we were
greeted by the sounds of the waves lapping up the
shore and the sight of the Mediterranean Sea
stretched before us. Soon after our arrival, we
were taken around Gaza, to look at the ruins.
Bombed out and completely flattened buildings
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