Column Basman Elderawi
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict – interview with our columnist in the Gaza strip
After 11 days of non-stop bombing on the Gaza strip by Israel, a cease-fire was announced between Hamas and Israel. At 2 am on the night of Friday May 21st the bombing ceased as promised. The conflict left 232 dead on the Palestinian side and 12 on Israeli side and 1700 wounded.
photo of Basman´s building after bombardment – He leaves on the 11th floor
We talked daily with Basman Elderawi, Vivamost´s columnist and poet, during the conflict. We are so relieved he, his family and our friends at We are not Numbers are all ok.
Basman after the ceasefire
Vivamost: How did you react at the announcement of a cease-fire?
Basman: I was relieved that the killing of people and the demolition of the houses will stop. I know we won’t be okay for a while and people who lost someone will never heal but at least the killing stopped. We can sleep now and think another day will come.
Vivamost: What was the worst for you during the 11 days of the conflict?
Basman: The lost of souls was the worst part. The bombing, the fear and being emotionally and physically exhausted were so bad as well. It was nerve wracking because all the eleven days we were waiting for them to make the threatening true while wishing inside it didn’t happen. And luckily it didn’t.
One of the worst things as well was that people around the world think of it as a conflict, like a war between two equal sides. That’s not true, it is occupation and apartheid. Actually anyone is welcomed to come and see.
Vivamost: Was this one different from the other ones you went through since you were born?
Basman: Yes, it was more aggressive. They bombed many towers, streets, banks which didn’t happen in the previous ones.
Vivamost: Where were you till the ceasefire?
Basman: I had to leave my home earlier as they threatened to bomb the rest of my building. I live in a dangerous part of town. I was at my sister’s place which is a bit safer but no place was actually safe. Leaving the house was unsafe.
photo taken by Basman today one day after the cease-fire. This is his neighbourhood. The house of a leading doctor was hit by a missile. Only his teenage son survived.
Vivamost: What happened to your apartment?
Basman: They bombed one apartment with no warning with a “warning rocket”. There were 3 killed and around ten injured. Then, we had to flee as they threatened to destroy the whole building.
Vivamost: How was it for you to have to escape your building on the 11th floor knowing you had 10 minutes time?
Basman: Literally horrifying. In this moment, the only thing you think about is to run, hurry holding your family. Like as everything else doesn´t exist. We were so scared.
This video was taken by someone trying to escape Basman´s building. The child you see in the video in the man´s arms was luckily ok. You can see Basman in the video, wearing a green tee-shirt.
Vivamost: Did you spend your nights in a cellar?
Basman: No, actually we have no cellar in Gaza. The infrastructure is quite a problem here.
Vivamost: It is amazing the internet still worked.
Basman: In some areas it didn’t work but luckily in my area, it still did.
Israel bombed many electricity wires and places. It was not okay but there was nothing we could do. We had only 4 hours on and 20 hours off. We used small batteries for the WIFI and small solar panels for the lighting here at my sister’s house. Luckily the weather is so warm at that time in Gaza.
Vivamost: The bombing didn’t decrease at all?
Basman: No, it was the same but usually the nights were the worst.
(These two videos were made by famous Palestinian artist and writer at We are not Numbers, Malak Mattar. She took them from her apartment’s window.)
We made it alive. Certainly it was not okay. They bombed madly the night of the 15th/16th of May, we thought we wouldn’t make it that night. Now luckily we were safe yet there were some harm done within the house.
The house of Basman the night a bomb damaged his sister´s home
Vivamost: Did you have time to get your personal stuff before you left your home?
Basman: No, they attacked my building without warning but they usually give 10 minutes to flee in most cases before they attack again. Everything was left at home.
Vivamost: You must be exhausted after so many days? When could you sleep?
Basman: I usually slept in the mornings for 2 to 3 hours. We are emotionally exhausted.
Vivamost: What about if the banks were destroyed, how will you get your money?
Basman: They actually destroyed many banks and I don’t know how we will get money. Maybe now after the assaults.
In the neighbourhood of Basman one day after the cease-fire
Vivamost: Did you have enough food?
Basman: Yes, we had some small shops around our home open and we still had some food in the house.
Vivamost: How was your first night since the cease-fire?
Basman: Very fine actually despite the constant buzzing of the drones.
Vivamost: Will you be able to go back to work soon?
Basman: I am physiotherapist at the ministry of health. I work primarily at a healthcare centre. If it was not destroyed, so, I guess I will but I am not sure, I have to make some calls on Sunday to make sure the streets to it weren’t destroyed (Friday and Saturday are weekends in Gaza).
Vivamost: We are so happy you survived. We hope for a better future for you and the people of Palestine.
Basman wrote a poem on the day of the cease-fire:
For almost ten days
I didn’t go outside my sister’s
House
And now at the cease-fire announced
I left hers to go to my house
I can see how the heart of Gaza is
Broken
I see the smiles on the faces of
People
while they try to hide tears
The Israeli drones keep buzzing loud
In the sky
As if they didn’t hear about the cease-fire
My heart beats fast at that moment
I want to cry
Gaza too tries to smile
But her eyes are in tears
From losing her children
She tries to breath
But her lungs hurt from
The dust of her destroyed
Homes
She tries to stand but
Her legs were injured from
The shrapnel.
She knows her legs
Will be healed with time
Yet it worries
Will her heart?
The heart of her children
Ever be healed?
