Gaza has gone dark ... and I am very afraid!

[HeidiInTheBigCity]

Tonight, as Gaza has gone dark, tonight, as Gazan civilians have lost that lifeline that used to be "publishing their cries for help to the Internet, as they were literally dying", tonight, as even that option has ceased to exist!

I STAND WITH CIVILIANS!

Not with Hamas!
NOT with the ultra-far-right Israeli government - out for revenge!

Tonight, I STAND WITH CIVILIANS, as innocent men, women and children are dying, collectively punished, for the crime of having been born in the wrong place, at the wrong time!

Tonight, I STAND WITH CIVILIANS, as the families of Israeli hostages watch helplessly, as their missing loved ones are bombed into oblivion, and their own PM has not even bothered to meet with them! Because, once again, revenge has won! Violence has won! Barbarism has won! Death has won!

Tonight, I stand with my friend, a Palestinian-born [what he does for a living] currently getting drunk at a bar in [not where you'd expect] - because he cannot stand watching anymore! We cried together on the phone - it felt nice to know there was someone else out there - but it also felt supremely disempowered and helpless! Tonight, I stand with men, women, boys, girls ... just people, people who want to live!

Tonight, as I recall how utterly terrified I used to be when I, myself, became an accidental witness to the assault on [Palestinian city], some 20 years ago now! I also recall the good times: I recall standing on the rooftop of the [name] family's home, watching flares in the sky, deliberately pretending they were just very bright stars, kissing, and dancing with my fiancé. Snuggling up to him under the wide open sky, as we ignored the sound of shooting in the background, as we just wanted to ... live a little! ... under circumstances that didn't leave much room for living. For life! Knowing we would learn about names of people we knew and the fact that they had been killed while we had been trying to ... just live a little ... as the following day would break!

Tonight, I stand with civilians, realising that this particular, comparatively "fluffy" version of war - a version, make no mistake, that has left me deeply traumatised for life, bittersweet memories aside! - this is just NOT AN OPTION for Gazans tonight!

Tonight, I CRY FOR CIVILIANS! Especially, but not only, for civilians in Gaza!

We have GOT TO DO better!

Note: yes, I have censored a number of data points - because that is how afraid I am! I am not willing to potentially expose people I consider friends, family even, unnecessarily as I, frankly helplessly, post to the so-called Internet, pleading for their lives or, at the very least: sympathy!

It is horrifying but sadly not surprising. The world is quite capable of looking away when it suits them. May all those victims of the horror who do not survive this night and who never knew freedom rest in peace.

Agree abstaining is not the worst case scenario. At least the UK didn’t vote against the truce. That would be soul destroying. This I can live with.

Freedom comes at a cost to be honest, it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that countries make decisions often based on their own interests rather than for humanitarian reasons. It is indeed very complex and even countries in support of Isarael as it benefits them have started to be more outspoken about crossing the line (which they have of course sadly done). Of course it's devastating but there are lots of moving parts and whilst protecting innocent civilians from being effectively tortured by having basic essentials withdrawn and then being bombed should be the simplest thing in the world to support; sadly the effect of certain decisions have huge implications and its a horrible, tricky and devastating situation all round.

It’s just awful. I just find the fact that it’s being clapped on by the UK government so disgusting as well. At least they had the decency to abstain. That’s why it’s so important to go out and March and show your support for a ceasefire. Absolutely heartbreaking and I’m disgusted by the EU too generally. I’m a citizen of both Ireland the UK so at least half of me is on the wrong side of history tonight,

It's sickening that countries look away while 1000s die so they can keep countries onside etc etc... I don't have enough knowledge about the history of it and I don't want war in our streets but the world cannot and should not just be looking the other way surely...

Im really surprised at this comment. Countries turn the other cheek all the time…

Apparently 50% of Israelis think that there should be a pause for humanitarian aid too. Which given the massacre isnt insignificant. There is HUGE pressure from this within Israel.

I hope this is true and that it goes further, a ceasefire not just a pause. It must be very difficult for many Israeli civilians still reeling from the recent horrific massacre to see this barbaric revenge being executed in their name. Peace to all.

it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that countries make decisions often based on their own interests rather than for humanitarian reasons.

exactly

Abstaining is in itself quite a strong message considering to be honest.
That's a fair point and I take back some of my initial knee jerk reaction. It is a change in direction, however small. Maybe the UK government is starting to read the room.

I find it hard to stomach that anyone would oppose a halt to indiscriminate attacks on civilians and collective punishment.

If there's anyone who knows more about the countries who voted with Israel against the motion, can anyone suggest reasons they might vote so out of step with the rest of the world?

Listening to the country statements of reason for voting as they did several that abstained did so because of the rejection of the Canadian amendment condemning Hamad.

A HUGE proportion of Israelis, specifically, think that their government ought to be focusing on getting the hostages back! That the Israeli leadership ought to stop escalating and start focusing on exactly that!

Tonight, I stand with them, too!

Can you even, even remotely, imagine what these people must be going through right now? Kidnapped and taken to Gaza - and then: you spend the night not being able to fall asleep, as bombs - your own government's - explode all around you!

I do not claim to even remotely understand! But it must be utterly terrifying to an extent where even I, as someone on the record as "I have war trauma, too!" just cannot begin to imagine!

I cannot even begin to imagine what these people are going through!

So, when I say I STAND FOR CIVILIANS tonight, I mean them, explicitly, as much as children in Khan Younis!

Neither are guilty! Neither must die!

Scottish first minister has lost contact with his in laws in Gaza

Listening to the country statements of reason for voting as they did several that abstained did so because of the rejection of the Canadian amendment condemning Hamas

I think the UK abstained on that as well.

People in Gaza were showing, not telling, what was happening to them. They have been silenced. Why.

And who thinks Israel will listen to the UN?

Have caught snippets of journalist Tareq Abu Azzoum broadcasting even though he has lost contact with his news desk and nobody can hear him. It’s been making me tear up. Just horrific.

Israel has just said it cannot guarantee the safety of journalists in Gaza

Apparently 50% of Israelis think that there should be a pause for humanitarian aid too. Which given the massacre isnt insignificant. There is HUGE pressure from this within Israel

Really the current Israeli government is a liability, why don’t they just get rid?

Well considering Russia hasn't listened to a single UN vote, I can't see Israel doing so either to be honest. Sad sad world we love in right now.

Aside from that it’s got a good record of actively killing them or their families.

Oh well that's ok then. I mean as long as they're warning them beforehand, then it's ok to kill them and later say we told you so.

I have just seen on social media from one page that was able to get in contact that ground incursions has not started yet but there are a huge number of fatalities from the bombing

Because they don’t want the truth to come out.

The Gazan journalists were showing us daily their lives and surroundings. One journalist I followed was looking so much thiner in just these two weeks. Another whose family had been killed looked destroyed. The physical devastation on the streets made us understand how suddenly going south or north was a massive undertaking as there were no roads. Thats why they’ve been silenced. Where in previous wars you needed eye witnesses to share testimony; now we the world can see the eye witness accounts live in real time. We are the ones that will need to share testimony.

Honestly I pray with all my heart that the people I’ve been following, who’ve shared their reality and their families live to tell the tale.

A bit like the hospital staff/patients/refugees.

You're of course absolutely right and it's naive of me to be surprised by it tonight. It's just so awful to see unfold....