‘Permanent’ Despair: Did Egypt Really Open Rafah Crossing?

By Ramzy Baroud For most Palestinians, leaving Gaza through Egypt is as exasperating a process as entering it. Governed by political and cultural sensitivities, most Palestinian officials and public figures refrain from criticizing the way Palestinians are treated at the Rafah border. However, there is really no diplomatic language to describe the relationship between desperate [...]

Crushed Ice in Nuseirat: My Gaza Refugee Camp Revisited

By Ramzy Baroud. “Do you remember Mahmoud?” asked Abu Nidal, my neighbor from nearly 20 years ago, when I lived in Gaza. “Yes, of course, I do,” I answered. I remembered him as yet another troublemaking child among the Nuseirat Refugee Camp’s numerous rabble-rousers. He was defined by a stream of snot that never seemed [...]

Welcome to Gaza: Revolution and Change at the Rafah Border

By Ramzy Baroud The Palestinian security officer at the Rafah border was overly polite. He wore a black uniform and walked around self-assuredly, as he instructed weary travelers on their next moves before being allowed back into Gaza. On the other side of the border, in Egypt, there was much anxiety, fear and anticipation.

Unity is Not Compromise: Towards a Real Palestinian Strategy

By Ramzy Baroud As the Palestine Papers demonstrated, the major obstacle to a real, lasting and just peace in Palestine is the Israeli leadership’s unwillingness to accept anything less than full domination over the Palestinians. Not only do Israeli leaders refuse to partake in any serious peace talks, they also refuse to agree on universally [...]

Staying Human: The Heroic Legacy of Vittorio Arrigoni

By Ramzy Baroud “Dear Mary,” wrote Italian justice activist Vittorio Arrigoni to a friend. “Do you (know who) will be on the boats?… I’m still in Gaza, waiting for you. I will be at the boat to greet you. Stay human. Vik.” “Mary” is Mary Hughes Thompson, a dedicated activist who braved the high seas [...]

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