By Ramzy Baroud

Dear friends, thank you for your support and encouragement. I just finished my sixth full marathon for Palestine and Gaza. My first Marathon was in Canada in 2007. It was soon after Israel placed Gaza under a hermetic siege, and my latest was today, in Seattle, in honor of the sacrifices of the men, women and children that make Gaza the incredibly inspiring place that it is.

I ran my first Marathon with untold frustration and resentment of all that has befallen our people – the siege, the once promising but later botched democracy, the regional and international plot against Gaza, and the most tragic fighting between the brethren in Hamas and Fatah. But today I ran with untold pride because of the resistance of the Palestinian people in Gaza against Israel's last war.

Kids from Rumah Solehah requested to contribute 100 red velvet cupcakes for VPM Charity Bazaar at Bangsar Shopping Centre. Fazilah Ahmad, a baker, baked the cupcakes and the kids wanted to contribute their creative skills in creating the cupcake toppers.

The kids have been told about what's happening in Gaza and they are thrilled to join in to help in whatever way they can. This is one great way to share with kids what's happening outside their country and how they may help!

We are deeply touched by the generosity of the kids at Rumah Solehah and the baker too, we thank them and may they all be blessed and rewarded by the Al-Mighty.

USD 1,500 was given as Islamic loan to this widow in Gaza Strip It has changed her life. She is highly skilled in knitting woollen garments. With the loan she bought some wool balls, and started knitting kids clothes. She promoted it to Palestinian families in Gaza Strip who bought them for their babies. After 3 months she attracted a lot of customers who bought her woollen clothing selection. She now makes USD 300-350 per month. Alhamdulillah! This is one of 50 micro-credit project funded by VPM in collaboration with Rowad Society for social development.

Below is a link to an article that was published in Al Monitor – The Pulse of the Middles East newslatter on VPM’s Islamic loans given to women in Gaza to help them to survive poverty:

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/05/palestine-female-headed-families-good-loans-poverty.html#

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR3KlMbeHHE

They call it ‘the world’s biggest prison’. Nearly two million people live on a small strip of land, about the same size as Manhattan. Very few people get in or out of the Gaza strip. It’s under an Israeli blockade - by land, sea and air. Inside, a generation has grown up knowing only conflict, poverty and destruction. Nicole Johnston has reported on Gaza for years, and covered two wars with Israel from the strip. In this Newsmakers documentary she returns during peacetime, to see how people have survived ten years under siege.