Egyptian blogger and human rights activist Nora Younis [1] has been watching the situation in Gaza closely and reporting live from Rafah [2], where she spent her New Year's eve.
On the way to the border town of Rafah [3], a Palestinian town in the Gaza Strip, on the Egyptian border, Nora encountered a car accident which involved an Egyptian officer, who didn’t make her optimistic about the upcoming year:
“Turns out he is a high rank 3rd Army officer. I ask him where is our country heading? He says looking to sky pointing a cut finger “its all in god’s hands. It’s a mess”. I ask “even the army?”. He says “We’re approaching another 1967. The army has neither equipment nor human beings. We’re in god’s hands”
“It is now two hours into 2009. Israeli jets have been flying over our heads occasionally bombing Gaza side of the border. I can’t really say or wish for a happy new year. I only wish we come out of it on our feet.”
That being said Nora was also surprised with the New Year cheer [4] among her friends in Palestine:
“As clock was ticking towards midnight 31 December, me on Egypt side of Rafah border, I got this SMS from my friends in Khan Yunis, Jabalia, Rafah…:
Look outside
F-16 SMILING for you
MISSILES dancing for you
ZANNANA singing for you
because I requested them ALL to wish you a *HAPPY NEW YEAR”
Nora, who is still in Rafah, is following up on developments and updating her followers on Jaiku [5], with constant updates on the number of Palestinians injured and killed since the Israeli bombardment of Gaza started on December 27. She has also posted [6]an 8 page list of medication required for Gaza Hospital [7]:
“I was able to capture this 8 page list of medical needs in Gaza by camera of mobile phone – which explains the quality. The list was with Mr. Khalil Alniss, activist with Justice for Gaza group”