Just days before the start of the 6th annual Bil’in Conference on Popular Resistance, I am writing to you in deep sorrow. As you probably know, our Italian friend, journalist and peace activist, Vittorio Arrigoni, has been killed in an inacceptable act of inhumanity. This tragic event has reminded me of another friend we have lost in our struggle for freedom in Palestine, Bassem Abu Rahmah, who was killed days before the 4th annual Bil'in Conference. Bassem and Vittorio were killed by enemies of humanity and justice: Bassem by the Israeli Army, Vittorio by an extremist group.
These terrible events will strengthen our commitment and our struggle. We will remember Vittorio’s words in these dark times: “we will stay human”. It is through our continued struggle for human rights and dignity in Palestine that we honour the memory of Vittorio and Bassem.
On the 20th of April, we will celebrate the opening of the 6th annual Bil´in Conference on Popular Resistance. The event will have representatives from around the world including diplomatic representatives, artists, journalists and members of international civil society. We are also happy to welcome speakers from Gaza, from Egypt, and representatives of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) movement. The event will tell the world once again that the people of Palestine want to have a liberation movement through peaceful nonviolent resistance. We welcome all that believe in this vision of nonviolent resistance. If you will be in the region: join us in Bil´in!
Recently, I spoke with some brave people in Gaza and they conveyed the suffering of the fisherman of Gaza due to the harassment of the Israeli navy in enforcing their tragic and illegal blockade. Those I spoke with in Gaza explained to me how their boats are confiscated, how they are killed by Israeli bullets while doing their job and how their lives have been changed by their inability to work on the sea. Vittorio dedicated his life to the people of Gaza and Palestine.
It is time for us to take action for the plight of Gaza's fisherman.
With relevant Palestinian and international organizations we have created a new initiative in order to help our Gazan friends. On the first day of the Bil’in conference, we will launch a boat with international supporters and journalists that will accompany Gazan fishermen as they engage in their livelihood. We call our initiative: a Civilian Peace Service for Gaza (CPSGAZA).
We are asking for your support. In order for this peaceful initiative to be successful, we need the support of the international community to show to the Israeli Navy that our small boats do not have a crew of ten but of thousands around the world which stand in solidarity with the occupied people of Gaza and the West Bank that choose nonviolence to violence.
You can help us by signing the following petitions in support of the Gazan fisherman.
If you are signing the petition as an individual, please sign here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cpsgaza/
If you are signing on behalf of a group, please sign here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cpsgazagroups/
To read more, visit:
www.cpsgaza.org
In solidarity,
Mohammed Khatib