FLASH
Shkruar nga Eman Abu Zayed
The massive mobilization for Palestine across Italy had an echo in Gaza. We are truly grateful...
Last Monday, I was on the street trying to get internet access in Nuseirat, in the central Strip, something that has become almost impossible in Gaza. Our house had just been bombed for the third time during the war, and we had been forced to flee for the tenth time. I had just lost everything again.
My heart was heavy with grief and everything around me reminded me of the loss that had befallen us.
When I finally managed to connect, videos, photos, and audio messages from Italy filled my phone. I saw crowds of people marching through the streets, waving Palestinian flags and singing together for our freedom.
I saw squares filled with banners that read "Stop the War" and "Free Palestine," and faces that showed a mixture of anger and hope. They were trying to send us a message: we hear you, we stand with you.
I felt an incredible joy.
It was the first time I had seen pro-Palestinian protests on such a scale and impact. The independent Italian unions had called a 24-hour strike, and the Italians had responded massively.
In more than 70 Italian municipalities, people took to the streets to show us that they cared about Gaza, that they supported our cause, that they wanted an immediate end to the genocide.
This was not a Muslim or Arab majority nation. It was a Western country whose government refuses to recognize a Palestinian state and continues to support Israel. And yet, the Italian people came out for us, to express their solidarity with us.
This mobilization shows that solidarity with the Palestinians is not limited to those close to us or from the same cultural background, but extends to people from all over the world, even in countries where political elites continue to support Israel.
In Gaza, these scenes of Italian solidarity spread from phone to phone, bringing a ray of hope amidst the rubble, hunger and bombs. People were sending these videos on chat apps, watching in amazement the Italian crowds.
These images and footage brought rare smiles to many Palestinian faces. The feeling that we are not completely abandoned, that the outside world is mobilizing to stop the war, spread.
Over the past week, I have also been closely following the Sumud Flotilla heading towards Gaza. The Italian government put great pressure on the delegation of 50 Italian citizens to surrender. Most of them refused and are now on various ships heading towards us.
I also had the opportunity to communicate with several Italian journalists on board the ship, who shared with me words full of encouragement and hope, assuring us that we are not alone and that there are those who continue to fight for us, despite the distances and challenges.
The protests and the flotilla were not the only ray of hope from Italy that reached me. In June, after reading some of my articles, two Italians, Pietro and Sara, as well as Fadi, a Palestinian living in Italy, contacted me.
Their support wasn't just limited to words; it was tangible. They helped me share my writings so that they could reach more people. They also constantly showed interest, asking about me and my family, and sending me messages full of hope and encouragement.
In August, with the help of my friends, I managed to publish my personal story in the Italian newspaper Il Manifesto, sharing our suffering and resistance with thousands of readers.
Before the war, I didn't know much about Italy. I knew it was a beautiful country with an interesting history and friendly people. But I never expected to see Italians mobilize for Palestine, taking to the streets in large numbers in support of us.
Today, I feel admiration and appreciation for the Italian people. Their participation in protests, their personal support and their role in initiatives like the Sumud Flotilla have truly made me feel that our cause is not far from the hearts of people around the world, that international solidarity is not just words, but real actions.
I hope to see similar protests in other countries, to feel that the rest of the world truly sees our suffering and supports our right to life, freedom, and dignity.
To the Italian people, and to all others who are mobilizing for Gaza, I want to say: We see you, we hear you, you fill our hearts with joy. / Adapted from Aljazeera /
Lini një Përgjigje