Palestinian sit-in for Iraq
As anti-war demonstrators converge across the globe, Palestinians join the worldwide outcry. Annika Hampson reports from Gaza
Since the first missiles hit Iraqi soil the Popular Committee for Supporting the Iraqi People (PCSIP) has been holding a 24-hour sit-in in Gaza City, rotating responsibility among various, political and non-political organisations based in the Gaza Strip. Sobhi Al-Jadely, a member of the right-wing Central Committee for the People's Party, explained that it was important for all organisations to be involved in the protest, as it was an initiative of the Palestinian masses and that, "it is part of international outcry against the war; it is a way for people, regardless of their affiliations, to show their support for the Iraqi people," he said, adding emphatically that, "here in Gaza, there is 200 per cent support for the Iraqi people." The PCSIP was started several months before the war began, and was involved in organising lectures, seminars and demonstrations. Abdullah Al-Horany, committee coordinator, believes that it is important for people to understand what he perceives as the real motives behind the war. He thinks the real incentives are economic and political, rather than being based on the liberation of the Iraqi people and the destruction of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). "The American aggression against Iraq is about freeing the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein. It is all about controlling the oil and redrawing the map of the entire region."
He went on to say that the principles of the democratic world is based on the people themselves choosing their leadership, which means the war actually contradicts the democratic system. "You can't deliver democracy via tanks and cruise missiles," he said.
He then stressed that the sit-in is to demonstrate that the Palestinian people identify with the suffering of the Iraqi people. "Iraq has always defended the Palestinian cause and we are obliged to stand up for their rights now that they too are facing an aggressive occupation force," he continued.
The sit-in is held in a large tent erected in the green area running down the middle of Omar Al- Mokhtar Street. Plastic chairs have been placed inside the tent in front of a television showing footage from the war. The walls of the tent are covered in hand-written slogans such as "Palestine with Iraq", "Iraqis and Palestinians are together in the same prison" and "Yes to the volunteers to defend the land of Iraq!" As dusk falls, the tent begins to fill with men and a young boy comes round offering tea.
Munir Abu-Shahlah, 43, an unemployed construction worker, was sitting under a large sign with the words "The media and cultural office of Fatah strongly condemns the American-British aggression against the Iraqi people and demands that the war be stopped immediately". Originally from Haifa, he now lives with his wife and five children in Beach Camp. He says this is the first time he has come to the demonstration, explaining that he would like to come every day but he can't afford to travel from the camp to Gaza City, a journey which costs him $1. He was angry at what he sees as double standards saying, "the war is justified because Iraq didn't comply with United Nations Resolution 1441, but what about all the UN resolutions that Israel fail to comply with?" he asks.
Eyad Al-Masri, 28, a security officer with the Palestinian Authority, explained that he came to show solidarity with the Iraqi people because he too is suffering. "We are both living under occupation," he says. He believes that there is no truth in the arguments that America wants to free the Iraqi people. "Bush is not able to change regimes and presidents," he said. "If the Iraqi people don't like their president they themselves should oust him, and not the US." He fixed his kuffiya and added, "I know that Iraq will be vanquished, but the will of the Iraqis won't be defeated."
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 10 -16 April 2003 (Issue No. 633)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/633/re2.htm