Right From The Heart

George Galloway’s first speech from inside Gaza (9 March 2009)

http://www.vivapalestina.org/home.htm


Viva Palestina Email Alert
18.00 (GMT) Saturday 14th March

GAZA - WE WILL BE BACK SOON

He led a convoy to bring aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza. His convoy crossed mountains and the seas from the British islands to mainland Europe then crossing the western Sahara to reach the north African countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sinai and Gaza. Thousands of kilometres and miles, with a humanitarian, moral and an equitable political aim.

George Galloway was not an Arab living next to Palestine or belonging to the Arab nation, but he was a free man belonging to free humanity, he detached himself from partisan politics, civilizations, languages and geographical differences. His stances were highly moral by excellence, he called for justice to the weak, His mission touched the hearts of the free, he did not talk the talk, he walked the walk.

(Some extracts translated from a piece by Hassan Abu Hachish, Palestinian Info Centre)

The majority of the remaining Viva Palestina convoy members and activists were leaving Gaza today - exactly one month after the convoy departed on its epic journey from Hyde Park in London. I could not get a word out of some of them, as they were extremely upset. The bond they have developed with the people of Gaza will undoubtedly last for many years.

Viva Palestina will cross at Rafah today, not for the last time, because they will soon be back with more aid, assistance, activists and above all, with hope and messages from the people of Britain. We want Gaza to know that we have broken barriers once and WE WILL break them again.

On their last day, they visited a mixed school. They sat in some of the classes, in particular, an English language lesson.

The Viva Palestina guest asked them to start a project where they will write about their history, using pictures from their country. Their work will be sent to selected British schools who are willing to explore the possibility of twinning projects with Gaza schools.

Some houses destroyed by phosphorous bombs were visited today. The members recorded the scenes and saw unexploded bombs, tank shells and the remnants of the IDF’s prohibited weaponry.

Others were in Beit Hanoun, where the headmistress of a Foundation training centre and a nursery project showed Viva Palestina around. Here young children are taught literacy skills whilst women train in sewing and other skills.

The story of a 85 years old Palestinian attracted the attention of the team leaders and members at Beit Hanoun. He was looking fit and healthy for his age. He took them to a field, which had been his orange grove, until the Israelis dug up all his fifty years old orange trees using their bulldozers.

The old man had gone back and replanted every single acre of his orange grove with olive trees. He vowed that he will keep replanting it every time the invaders destroy his grove.

All the vehicles delivered are at work already. Palestinians over the years have shown the ability to adapt quickly to a new situation. A right hand drive ambulance in the streets of Gaza may be a first, but every time a child comes across one of our vehicles, they will remember Viva Palestina and the people of Britain who did not forget them.

The remaining teams are heading back with heavy hearts - torn at leaving their new found friends, brothers and sisters, behind to the mercy of the IDF, their F16s and their drones. They have lived the dream of walking amongst the brave of Gaza. We will celebrate their return. We will listen to their tales, we will admire their courage and without a doubt, we will aspire to be there ourselves, next time.

Prepared and translated by Farid Arada