For the first time, a week of wide ranging activities and events was launched yesterday, Wednesday 13th , to mark six decades of suffering and persecution experienced by the Palestinian people . The events are expected to spread all across Europe especially the UK. During the week, the biggest parliamentarian delegation (55 MPs & MEPs) are leaving for Gaza where an assessment of the disastrous humanitarian conditions will be made.
The memorial week was launched Wednesday afternoon during a press conference about the parliamentary delegation to the besieged people of Gaza.
Events continued in the evening where a key conference to remember the Palestinian victims over the past 60 years especially those who were killed in Gaza, was organized in Central London. Although, the weather was cold and snowy, a considerable number of participants totaling a few hundred took part.
Jeremy Corbyn MP and Baroness Jenny Tonge spoke on the calamites and extreme distress experienced in the Gaza strip. They criticized Israel for its cruel policy against the Palestinian civilians. Additionally, both speakers spoke about their experience while visiting Gaza in recent months as well their plans for the next delegation heading for Gaza where they too will take part.
A detailed presentation on the conditions in Gaza by Middle East Expert Peter Eyre will highlighted the violations committed by Israel. His presentation graphically documented the theft of off shore gas by Israel and other western companies. It provided another dimension to Israel’s illegal siege and high militarization of the region and to the control and ownership of strategic offshore gas reserves which under international law belongs to the Palestinians.
Former Palestinian Ambassador in the UK and Russia, Afif Safya, stressed the importance of the memorial week to highlight the Palestinian cause within the mainstream. He also touched on the history of Palestinians and the massacres and attacks they suffered.
For his part, member of Board of trustees of PRC, Ghasan Faour, touched on the issue of Palestinian refugees. Faour stressed the importance of the right of return for every single Palestinian refugee.
Ken Loach, famous British Film Director who has many extensive and fascinating cinema productions like Poor Cow, Family Life, Looking for Eric, It’s a Free World…, Tickets and many more, expressed his solidarity with the Palestinians people and emphasized the role of the Media and how it should be more fair in its coverage.