Readers might recall Bassam Nasser, head of the Gaza office for Catholic Relief Services and the subject of a recent column. He’s the man who, after an interview at CRS headquarters in Baltimore a few years ago, surprised me with a gift of handmade rosary beads. When last we heard, he and his family had fled their home in Gaza, under attack by Israel, and was unsure whether his domicile had survived. The other day, I received a reply to an email I had sent to Bassam around the time that my column was written. His letter is published in full below.
I have written this message on the same day of receiving your e-mail. I didn’t send because of ongoing communication blackout, where all means of communications are cut. So, I wrote this letter on several times, luckily, I am not reporting casualties “this would have been increased massively.” Below is the message I wrote on the same day of receiving your letter!
My first reflection about your article is to wish every Palestinian could have someone from the western world, mostly the US, to worry about him/her to pray for his/her safety”. Why? Simply because I wish people in Palestine never think their killing and murder is accepted or supported by the public in the US or ordinary citizens in the US. I hope no innocent person ever witnesses what we go through these days in Gaza.
I really don’t want you to think that I write out of desperation or lose of hope! This will never happen; I grew up under occupation, but my soul was always and will always be free. I am fighting and will fight for the last breath for my freedom, freedom of my family and society. My fight is very simple and focuses on helping those in need, or those in critical need. The problem is that I feel that my work is like a drop in the ocean! I am an aid worker and proud to be an aid worker, serving within the organization that I have strong affiliation for, but I am a Palestinian citizen and a father for four children that I wish they will not go through the atrocities anymore and to live free with dignity in their homeland.
Normally, as we assist people, we feel satisfaction and love to hear words of appreciation. We always found comfort by the end of a working day. Today, it’s totally the opposite! We finish a working day with more and more people waiting and aid is finished, not enough or not exactly or all what the families need. We can’t promise people that tomorrow will include more assistance. When a mother is begging for a blanket or a mattress for a sick or cold child, telling that mother that we don’t have any more is not bringing any comfort.
Personally, I learned and was trained on working in emergencies! This is not an emergency, or anything that aid workers were trained to handle. This is not a war or an earthquake! This is a genocide of a nation that is being covered, supported and green lighted by leaders of the free world. One day, each citizen who lived will have to stand before his/her grandchildren and tell them what his/her position was. I can identify those who will be ashamed of what they did and many will be ashamed of their silence.
I always wish to finish with a positive note, happy that Bethlehem rosary is still accompanying you and hope that God will protect you and your family. Wishing to host you in Gaza, to eat and drink at my family’s home “if it will ever make it” and if the home will not be standing, please know that our home tent will be warm and welcoming.
With love from Palestine.
Bassam
Discover more from Dan Rodricks
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Dan Rodricks 
So sad, Dan. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dan,
Owing to today’s front page announcement re David Smith’s new acquisition, I am canceling my subscription to the Sun and have subscribed to the Banner for now. I hope this does not interfere with my receipt of your column on-line. Please advise your subscribers if possible.
Frankly, your column is the most important piece of the paper for me as other news I read comes from a variety of other sources. I’m deeply distressed by the Smith deal…
LikeLiked by 1 person
How do you propose to get my column if you cancel your subscription?
LikeLiked by 1 person
So I must maintain the subscription?
I have only one word. OY!
LikeLike
You don’t have to do anything. I just asked. I appreciate your support but for now you can’t read my column without a subscription
LikeLike
For you, Dan, I’ll stay, but I hate David Smith’s politics. He employs Boris Epshteyn who is a key henchman to Trump…
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this message, Dan. I worry that the US is providing funds that continue to be used for killing more Palestinians. I know President Biden and Antony Blicken as well as the United Nations are pushing against Netanyahu bombing indescriminately without concern for the children, families, and the hostages. How do we make our voices louder to stop the killing? How can we make a difference?
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is very sad to read about your friend, Mr. Nasser. No one should have to live in a situation as he and innocent Gazans live in at this time.
Prior to 10/7, Mr. Nasser and his family were living relatively peaceful lives. But, it was 100% predictable to leadership of Hamas that the invasion of Israel on 10/7, with the raping and killing of teens and young people attending a music festival, the destruction of several kibbutzim, the burning and killing of babies and the hostage taking of young, old, disabled, and so forth, would lead to this sort of retaliation.
The world should unite to rid the region of Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthi, and other terrorists, and then Mr. Nasser and everyone else can live in peace in the region. Yesterday, Hamas terrorists in a town a bit north of Tel Aviv called Ra’anana, dragged a 79 year old woman from her car, stabbed her to death, stole her car, and then used the car to drive into a crowd of pedestrians.
Acts like that are not a recipe to encourage peace.
Meanwhile, upwards of 100 hostages remain in Gaza. If Hamas were interested in seeing the Israelis withdraw troops, they would free all of these hostages and then demand the withdrawal of Israeli troops. But, unfortunately, they don’t think that way. They don’t value life and they don’t think the way you and I think, or the way Mr. Nasser thinks.
We can only hope that Mr. Nasser survives this terrible situation and that somehow a brighter day can follow.
LikeLike
Come to think of it, in response to Ms Ruddock, if Hamas were to release all hostages, the international pressure on Israel and the domestic pressure within Israel would force the Israelis to withdraw from Gaza. The Israeli government could claim victory since the hostages were released and Hamas could claim victory by saying that their release of the hostages forced the Israelis to withdraw.
Unfortunately, though, Hamas isn’t interested in saving lives, just taking them.
LikeLike
Dan
This is a very interesting, but also very sad,
note from Bassam. I wish there was something I could do to change this horrific situation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Dan,
I just want to comment on your column re “Negative current.” Excellent, as usual. Kurt ________________________________
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am an old friend of Bassams from when he lived in Minnesota while going to the University and I lost contact with him after he moved back to Palestine. He is so very dear to me. I just came upon your wonderful story while searching to see if I could find anything on him. I sobbed reading this because you captured his heart so well. I have been so worried for him and his family. Do you know how he and his family are now? Do you have any contact information for him? I would like to be able to contact him and possibly support him and his family in any way possible. I read something that he and his family could possibly be in Rafah? Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 2 people
so sad
LikeLiked by 1 person
Could not open article when tapping the blue print….
LikeLiked by 1 person