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One of the organizations that Grassroots supports for its effective response to crisis is the Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP). GCMHP emerged in 1990 to respond to escalating mental health needs from the stress of occupation and violence. GCMHP provide essential mental health services to Gaza’s traumatized population.

GCMHP’s comprehensive approach includes clinical services as well as psychosocial research studies, human rights advocacy, training and lobbying around the prevention of domestic violence and torture, the empowerment of women through economic development projects and public education (for example with Imams) for wider acceptance of mental health interventions.

After nearly one year of a suffocating siege imposed on Gaza by the Israeli military establishment, a truce agreement was reached between Hamas and Israel. This followed months of dedicated Egyptian good offices. Rockets launched from Gaza against Israeli settlements were to stop in return for gradually lifting the blockade. A cease-fire sustained for six months would then roll over to the West Bank. Gilad Shalit, the hostage Israeli soldier, would be released in a separate deal involving exchange of Palestinian prisoners. Future negotiations would set the terms for opening the borders between Egypt and Gaza.

No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.

                                                                     -  Fourth Geneva Convention, article 33

Nonviolence.  Opportunity.  Innovation.  In the wake of the recent escalating violence and food insecurity in Gaza, our grassroots partners have redoubled their quest for social change and sustainability in one of the most troubled places in the world.  We are humbled by their laudable tenacity in the face of massive obstacles.

Beginning Thursday, Feb. 7, Israel will reduce supplies of electricity it sells to Gaza, as part of punitive measures taken against Gaza's civilian population, with the approval of Israel's Supreme Court. The cutbacks to electricity were permitted after Israel's Supreme Court last week rejected a petition by ten Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations challenging Israel's planned reductions to the supplies of electricity and fuel it allows Gaza residents to purchase.

Today marks the 59th anniversary of the International Human Rights day. It is the day the UN declared the issuance of the "International Declarations of Human Rights" to put new international foundations for enforcing and respecting the sacred life and dignity of human beings. It might be a co-incidence for the birth of this declaration with the anniversary of the Palestinian uprooting in 1948, still experienced by Palestinians up until today.

Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP) is gravely concerned regarding the decision of the Israeli Security Cabinet which designates the Gaza Strip as anEnemy Entity and makes a plan to impose collective punishment against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

According to information by media sources, the Israeli plan aims to reduce providing the Gaza Strip with electricity and Fuels to the minimum level that will be sufficient only for public sector use only. This is in addition to imposing more restrictions on the movement of goods and individuals through crossings dominated by Israeli occupation forces and restrictions on the flow of money transfer through banks.

We received word last night from our friends at Rebuilding Alliance that Husam El Nounou from Grassroots International’s partner, the Gaza Community Mental Health Program, has returned safely to his home in Gaza.

Husam, like thousands of other Palestinians, had been stuck in Egypt after having been denied entry back into Gaza as Israel had sealed Gaza's borders following the Hamas takeover of the Strip and the dismissal of the unity government by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

I arrived in Cairo on Friday 15 June after a two-week visit to the US where I participated in a speaking tour with the US non-profit Rebuilding Alliance, where I had numerous meetings, interviews and lectures with a variety of audiences, politicians, and media. I was accompanied by another speaker, the remarkable American-born Israeli Rabbi Jeremy Milgrom. The American public we met was happy to see Palestinian and Israeli peace activists speaking together about peace and the importance of working together to achieve justice and end violence. The visit to the US, which was the second for me, was a unique opportunity to educate and advocate for making peace in the Middle East.

My baby son is staying with his grandparents a few blocks away and we can't bring him home because of the shootings. We struggled yesterday to send him some milk. I have to take a blood test and a medical infusion and can't have them. In our quiet street people spend sleepless nights as the sounds of bullets and bombs are horrific and none stop. Some body said that we could have defeated Israel with all these arms we apparently possess!

More than 5000 people rallied on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday, June 10th to call for an end to the 40 year Israeli Occupation of the Palestinian Territories of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. They represented over 300 organizations from around the country including Grassroots International—Grassroots’ Executive Director Nikhil Aziz participated in the rally. The organizations ranged from faith-based groups and labor unions to civil rights, students’, women’s and lesbian and gay groups. They demanded that the U.S. government act to bring about a lasting and just peace and an end to the occupation and conflict.