April 25, 2002: A truck carrying humanitarian aid from the United States to Jenin refugee camp has been turned back by the residents of the camp. The aid, including baby clothes and toys, was being unloaded and the boxes were marked as ‘a gift from the United States’. Some of the goods were clearly manufactured and produced in Israel. One man pointed to the remains of two missiles fired from an Apache helicopter and stated that “this is the biggest gift we got from America.” A delivery of tents was also refused.
Despite the utter devastation and desperate need of the people, they are still able to make a political statement to the world. Children have become orphans, women are widowed, homes detroyed and America is complicit in this destruction and killing. The act of refusing this aid has empowered the people of the camp who, despite everything, wish to retain their dignity.
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