An edited version appeared in the Indian Express on Jan. 10, 2009.
His hands trembling, Palestinian refugee Hassan Khalil, quickly drew the map of Israel, pointed out Gaza where his sister remains with her family, then paused and drew a small circle just above Gaza where about 800 civilians have been killed in the Israeli strikes so far.
"That's Al Majdal, my village. I have never seen it. I left Gaza when I was 13. Have been a refugee all my life," Khalil said. "And look now what they are doing to us now. They are killing everyone."
Khalil was among the few Palstinians, Iraqis and Libyans who had gathered at the Iraqi School in Safdarjung Enclave Friday to denounce the killing of women and children in Gaza and show support to the Palestinians trapped in the city. The war on Friday entered its 14th day of continued strikes by Israel. Women and children constitute more than 40 percent of the casualty as relief programs hit a blockade with Israel only allowing rescue and relief operations for a few hours.
Khalil last heard from his sister a few days ago when the first air strikes took place. And he hasn't seen her in the last 25 years. Now as the reports of death toll rising in the Gaza strike flash on television screens, Khalil can only pray and hope. That's what he has done for so many years anyway, he said.
'I hope she is fine. She has 14 kids. I don't know …," he said, his eyes a mix of anger and despair.
On Thursday, at a United Nations meeting, 14 countries called for an immediate ceasefire. United States abstained. With Barack Obama winning the elections, hopes rode high among Palestinians. With United States' silence on the issue, Khalil and his son Nehad Hassan no longer believe in the promise of change.
"Why are they silent? Ask anyone who has lost their country and are hounded about what does it feel like. Israel doesn't listen. How can it kill so many people? This is not human," Nehad Hassan said.
And if the governments are not doing anything, let the people unite at least and rally in support, Hassan said.
For Laila Khalid, who is half-Palestinian, it was important for the children in Gaza to know others feel for them. Hence, the event, she said.
"Let them know we are there, with them. Those are the children who live the fear … on the way to school, in their homes, everywhere. And now they are being killed," Khalid said.
Since 1948, Khalil's family has been on the run. He was born a refugee, and shuttled between places all his life, often fleeing terror and persecution, sometimes looking for home in different countries. But home remains an elusive dream.
At 55, he is again preparing for yet another move. This time, it is Sweden. Khalil and his family were approved for third country resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
There are a few Palestinian families in Delhi. Most children attend the Iraqi School. On Friday, while the strikes continued and hospitals filled in Gaza with the wounded, expatriates from Iraq, Libya, Oman and Palestine gathered to condemn the war and urge the Arab countries to stand up for the people of Palestine.
Posters lined the basement hall of the school. In bold red and green, they urged everyone – the Security Council, the Arab nations, and anyone who would care to listen – to stop the "massacres".
"Open all borders for humanitarian and medical aid", one poster said.
Another's anguish was hard to miss. "Women and children are being murdered in Gaza."
The children ran around the room, little flags in hands including that of Palestine. Iraqi women sat with Palestinian women, held hands. Children hugged and kissed each other, smiled and sang.
On the stage, students waved flags yet again. They sang "Arab Dream", a song that called for unity of the Arab world and of peace and optimism. And they repeated "My home, my home".
"And if the night is long --- sure of the morning after," they sang from the Arab Dream,and the tempo went higher, and the urgency was hard to miss.
Raheeq Khalil, an Iraqi national, said since the day attacks began, they have been praying for the safety of the Palestinian people.
"This is wrong. We ask God to protect them and lead us to the right thing," she said. "And we continue to hope against all odds."
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