GAZA: Commonwealth war cemeteries survives violence in Gaza

Though violence may rage in Gaza while its residents battle poverty, a small team maintains two cemeteries for British Commonwealth soldiers killed during World War One. In Jerusalem, a memorial is held at another Commonwealth cemetery ahead of Armistice Day. Images of violence in Gaza are not uncommon. Gun-toting masked Palestinian militants, and Israeli tanks are frequent reminders of the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. And while the residents of Gaza battle poverty, there are few sanctuaries to escape from the challenges of life in the secluded territory. But there are two areas - in fact, two memorials to a past conflict - that also provide a quiet place for reflection. War-torn Gaza is home to two cemeteries managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Approximately 3,900 soldiers from British Commonwealth countries killed during World War One have found their final resting place in the embattled coastal strip. In one cemetery near Al Zawida village, Mohammad Hussain Mohammad Awaja maintains the grounds. He and his assistants tend to the landscaping with expert care. Awaja has been working at the cemetery for 20 years. Though he is a Palestinian and Muslim, Awaja says he takes great pride in caring for the cemetery where men of many faiths from across the globe are buried . While it's difficult for outsiders to visit Gaza these days, Awaja says there are occasional visitors. "Their friends and family members do come here, they cry over them, as we cry over our dead people. They bring them wreaths of flowers, and lay them on the graves. Everyone's name is written as you can see, and the age. They are from all over. There are: New Zealanders, Australians, Canadians, and even Jews. We have seven Jewish graves, and three from Algeria. We have 21 Indian Muslims, and 43 Hindus, and they are buried here. There are about 740-750 graves here," Awaja told Reuters. A few hours drive from Gaza, a ceremony for soldiers buried in Jerusalem's War Cemetery took place Saturday (November 10) in advance of Armistice Day. The event was attended by scores of people, mostly expatriates from British Commonwealth nations. Andy Fretwell is the regional supervisor for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Fretwell says approximately 16,000 soldiers killed during World War One and World War Two are buried in, or commemorated at, cemeteries throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories. Fretwell says that maintaining the cemeteries in Gaza has posed difficult challenges. "Well, we're very very lucky in Gaza, we have a group of incredibly dedicated staff who are working in extreme circumstances, sometimes dangerous circumstances, and they are maintaining the cemeteries there to the standards that we see around us here today, which is pretty much a miracle. And we are, as an organisation, extremely lucky, and extremely grateful that they're able to do that, without the normal support that they would expect from me, for example," Fretwell said. A ceremony that was planned to have taken place in Gaza to commemorate the men buried there was cancelled Friday (November 9) due to security concerns. Armistice Day is recognised Sunday, November 11.

ITN Source | November 11, 2007

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