I WENT TO GAZA STRIP AND THIS IS WHAT I FOUND

Summary

This powerful story recounts a journey to the Gaza Strip, where the narrator, accompanied by Palestinian Muslim tour guides and a bus driver, ventures into a war-torn area filled with hardship. Despite fear and danger, they meet a young girl who, overwhelmed by the kindness of receiving a small gift, symbolizes the innocence lost in the ongoing conflict. Surrounded by local people expressing their struggles and need for help, the narrator highlights the shared humanity and the longing for peace, underscoring the beauty of the connections made, regardless of the political and cultural divides.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker describes a pilgrimage to the Gaza Strip, a region associated with significant political and religious challenges.
• 😀 The bus driver and tour guide were both Palestinian Muslims, and the speaker shares their hesitation and fear about entering Gaza due to its dangerous reputation.
• 😀 The speaker references a holy site in Gaza connected to an event in the Gospel of Luke, where two men are walking and encounter the risen Christ.
• 😀 Despite the dangers, the speaker insists on visiting Gaza, driven by faith in Jesus, and despite warnings from the Palestinian Muslims traveling with him.
• 😀 The Gaza Strip is heavily militarized, with a 15-meter concrete wall and gate separating it from Israel, and the speaker acknowledges the risks involved in entering.
• 😀 The bus driver lost his way, and the group encountered a dead-end road, witnessing homes that had been damaged by years of conflict but were still inhabited.
• 😀 The speaker meets a young Palestinian girl, and despite the bus driver's reluctance, insists on stepping out to give her a small gift, a gesture of compassion.
• 😀 The girl's joy upon receiving the gift is overwhelming, highlighting the power of a small act of kindness in a war-torn area.
• 😀 The situation quickly escalates when the townspeople, including hundreds of men, rush toward the speaker and the bus, fearing for their safety and asking for help.
• 😀 The speaker, undeterred by the potential danger, remains calm and engages with the locals, offering money to those in need and experiencing their gratitude for the visit.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes that many Palestinians, like those in Gaza, just want to live in peace, and draws a parallel with his positive experiences with Jewish people, recognizing the humanity on both sides of the conflict.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Gaza Strip in the story?

The Gaza Strip is significant in the story as it is the location of a holy site mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus interacts with two men walking to their village. The place has spiritual importance, as it is believed to be the site where the house turned into a church after Jesus stayed with the men.

Why were the bus driver and tour guide hesitant to enter the Gaza Strip?

The bus driver and tour guide were hesitant due to the dangerous and volatile situation in the Gaza Strip, as it is surrounded by a concrete wall, monitored by the Israeli army, and is known to be a high-risk area due to political and military tensions.

What personal risk did the speaker take when entering Gaza?

The speaker took a significant personal risk by deciding to enter the Gaza Strip, despite the warnings from the bus driver and tour guide. He chose to trust in his faith and the protection of Jesus, even though the situation was perilous for both him and his group.

How did the speaker connect with the Palestinian Muslim girl?

The speaker connected with the Palestinian Muslim girl by offering her a small gift, an Australian flag. The gesture seemed to mean a lot to the girl, as it was the first time she had ever received a gift, making her overwhelmed with joy.

What was the reaction of the local people when the speaker gave the girl a gift?

The local people were initially concerned, but when they saw the speaker giving the gift to the girl, their attitude shifted. They surrounded the bus, expressing their struggles and asking for help, showing gratitude and appreciation for the speaker's gesture.

How did the speaker describe the local community's situation in Gaza?

The speaker described the local community's situation in Gaza as dire, with people living in poverty, struggling with hunger, and facing daily hardships. He emphasized that many Palestinians simply wanted to live in peace and were not directly involved in the ongoing conflict.

What was the speaker's message about the people in both Gaza and Israel?

The speaker's message was one of empathy and shared humanity. He emphasized that both Palestinians and Israelis are beautiful, respectful people who are deserving of peace, and that many on both sides are simply trying to live normal lives away from the violence and political conflict.

What was the role of faith in the speaker's actions during this trip?

Faith played a central role in the speaker's actions, as he relied on his belief in Jesus and the protection of the Lord to guide and protect him during the risky journey. His faith gave him the courage to proceed despite the danger.

What was the speaker's interaction with the local people after they surrounded the bus?

After the local people surrounded the bus, the speaker spoke to them, listened to their struggles, and then collected some money from the group to give to them. The locals expressed their gratitude and shared their hardships, thanking the speaker for his visit and asking him to tell others about their situation.

How does the speaker's perspective on the situation in Gaza differ from common portrayals in the media?

The speaker's perspective contrasts with common portrayals in the media by focusing on the humanity of the people in Gaza. Instead of framing them solely as victims or militants, he highlights their desire for peace and the fact that many Palestinians are simply trying to survive and live without conflict.