As we were away last weekend at the Hyperlocal conference, we missed the talk by Gazan journalist, Yousef Al-Helou. Many thanks therefore to Tony Kelly for sending through this report of the event. Ed
Last Saturday, Palestinian journalist Yousef Al-Helou visited the Isle of Wight and addressed a packed hall about the continuing situation in Gaza. The meeting was organised by Isle of Wight Friends of Palestine.
Gaza is the same size as the Isle of Wight, but with ten times as many people, most of whom are children.
Israel threatening full scale attack
Yousef commented on similarities between the IW and Gaza – the sea, sun and the warmth of the people he met, but other aspects are very different.
Because of the illegal Israeli siege on Gaza it is very difficult to get goods in an out of Gaza and the people are under constant threat of an Israeli attack.
Israel is increasing attacks on Gaza and threatening another full scale attack like the three week bombardment a couple of years ago when 1,400 Gazans were killed.
Yousef’s relatives killed by Israeli tanks
A week before Yousef’s visit, Israeli tanks killed nine civilians in a residential area of Gaza.
Three of these were related to Yousef, including his seven year old cousin who was playing football at the time, having been sent home from school early because of the shelling.
A bomb going off in Israel recently was widely reported, but there has been very little media coverage of the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Peter intends to return to Gaza
Island man, Peter Venner, also participated in the talk. Peter was on the Mavi Marmara last year with other boats in a flotilla taking humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Nine of his fellow passengers were killed by Israeli commandos, but Peter will board the Mavi Marmara once more in May, on the anniversary of the attack, when an international flotilla will again attempt to take building materials and school books to Gaza.
The Israeli government says they will attack passengers with snipers and dogs. Peter emphasises that he wishes to avoid confrontation, but believes the flotilla should not be deflected by threats of violence.
“Israel behaving more and more like a psychotic patient”
He says “We have an absolute right in international law to proceed to Gaza and we see no reason not to carry on and deliver the building materials that are so desperately needed to rebuild homes and schools destroyed in the Israeli attack of 2009.
“It does seem to me that Israel is behaving more and more like a psychotic patient, in a world of their own imagining. Although the Mavi Marmara was in international waters and the captain was steering a course well away from Israeli waters, Israeli commandos attacked the ship at night, claiming self defence.
“They shot nine of the passengers, yet the only evidence they could provide of the intention of those on board the ship to attack Israel was a few kitchen knives – hardly a threat to Israel.
“We invited our MP to the talk, but he was unable to attend. We have asked him to urge the British government to uphold international law and make clear to the Israeli government that another attack in international waters will not be tolerated.
“The British government’s failure to do anything to protect the 26 British people expected to be on board the Mavi Marmara in May is sending a clear message to the Israelis that they can continue to break international law with complete impunity.”
