Crisis in Gaza

A small sports ground in the West Bank city of Ramallah is humming with activity. Six-packs of blue plastic bottles filled with water are stacked all over, waiting to be sent to the people of Gaza. There are already about a dozen full pallets, tied up and ready for transport. Blankets are placed on top to protect the precious commodity from the summer heat. The water and the donors keep coming - men, women, families and workers from nearby offices.

Fadya Barghouthi also donated water in a show of solidarity with the people of Gaza. "We heard there is no clean drinking water in Gaza," she says. "So we brought some; it's the least we can do." That morning, she and her husband had tried to donate blood at the hospital in Ramallah. But so many people had lined up to do the same that the couple decided to supply water instead. Getting ahold of water is difficult, with many shops having sold out.

Ten million liters

Ministry of Public Affairs employee Basel Abu Zayid is leading the campaign. In a sweaty blue t-shirt and dark baseball cap, he directs both donors and helpers loading pallets. "We announced the campaign's launch yesterday and already this morning we've received an enormous amount of water, both from individual donors and companies," he says, looking tired but proud.

Abu Zayid doesn't know how much has been collected so far. But he does know that Palestinians in the West Bank have a huge task ahead of them, if they want to supply Gaza with water on their own. "The demand is for 10 million liters," he says, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

It's particularly important to Abu Zayid to help the people in Gaza, coming himself from Jebalia in the north of the coastal enclave. He heard from his family that the water supply in Gaza has collapsed. The water pumps stopped working after the electricity was cut off. And before the ceasefire, Israeli bombing prevented water tankers from getting to people in emergency shelters. Doctors are worried that soon diseases could spread too.

Boycotting Israeli goods

A small truck pulls up in the courtyard. The driver opens his tailgate and shows off a wide range of different types of water. Amongst these are packaged bottles from Israel, bottled at a spring near the Dead Sea. The people are outraged. "We won't take any Israeli water," they tell him. "You should buy Arwa or Jericho." The driver has no choice but to take back the rejected water and return with bottles from Arab or European companies.

Farid Tamalah is even stricter about what he buys. He has started a successful boycott campaign to stop Israeli products from flooding the West Bank. Any alternative to Israeli goods is acceptable, he says, whether they come from the Palestinian Territories, other Arab countries or Europe. "It's absurd that Palestinians buy Israeli goods and help fund their army. Israel then earns 16 percent tax from that, and then a portion of that money flows into the defense budget."

In these times of conflict, people in the West Bank are more willing to listen to messages like Farid Tamalah's. They feel helpless in the face of shocking images of the conflict in the Gaza Strip and feel moved to help, either by making donations or boycotting Israeli goods. "The war in Gaza has led to a rethink," says Tamalah.

Medicine and diapers

Pallets packed and destined for Gaza stand outside the "House of Life" youth center. Azad Shams is coordinating the fundraising campaign. "The most urgent things needed are medications and then food," says the 24-year-old. "We have a list from Gaza, on what people need most. This includes flour, milk for babies, water and disposable diapers." Disposable diapers are particularly in demand. With no water and no electricity, mothers can't do any washing. And in Gaza, there are many babies and small children.

The house in which Azad Shams holds meetings and workshops for the youth center is full of boxes and bags. Once the donations are ready, a transport company picks them up and takes them to the Kerem Shalom border crossing on the southern frontier of the Gaza Strip. It's the last still functioning crossing left, but has been closed in recent days due to heavy fighting. Shams hopes some supplies will get through when there is

There's a knock on the metal door of the youth center. Three men come into the small office, which is decorated with a Palestinian flag and yellow smiley faces. They want to know how they can help. Shams shows them the handwritten list on the wall. They nod and walk away. Soon after, they are back with a small van, which is filled to the ceiling with water and diapers.