Sam Habeeb - From Gaza to Italy, part 1
By Mary Rizzo • Jun 7th, 2008 at 11:34 • Category: Analysis, Grassroots Activism, Newswire, Palestine, Resistance, Somoud: Arab Voices of Resistance, War, Zionism
Gaza Diary: From Gaza To Rome
It was not an easy mission to obtain the Italian Visa, since Palestinians are always disdained. I waited for more than a month; and at the end of the day, I got it. I left my Gaza not for a tour or a period of relaxation which I need so bad, like all people of Gaza. My visit to Italy was not an easy job…It was a visit of advocacy and lobbying the Italian Mainstream with Palestinians, especially those who are besieged in Gaza.
In one way or another I succeeded to get out of Gaza after special coordination with the Egyptian side. Frankly, I was travelling beside Mr. Gamal El Khoudary, an independent Palestinian lawmaker; so the trip was easy! I was not believing my eyes or mind that I’m out of Gaza. My airplane hovered for 3 hours from Cairo to Rome.
For the first time in my life I tasted the meaning of freedom as I found myself in Rome. Exclusively, from the besieged Gaza to the free Rome! The Rome weather was very cold and colder because I still not convinced that I got out of Gaza.
The story starts! No relaxation but tremendous tasks that I should undertake because I’m the only witness from Gaza in the meantime.
The organizer of my visit was a real rebellious movement called “Gaza Vivrà” This movement had arranged and organized about 18 workshops, meetings with officials and lectures with public in many Italian cities.
A-one-month tour in Italy was prepared as an average of one meeting every 2 days. That meant I have to travel all over Italy for thousands of kilometers, by car, plane or train.
Regardless of the fatigue of that upcoming tour I started working to tell the story of Gaza.
For at least 2 days before leaving Gaza for Rome I didn’t sleep and ironically speaking, the first meeting was directly in the wake of my arrival. I travelled from Rome to Perugia City for over 300 hundred kilometers.
As soon as we arrived at the city we held a meeting with the Mayor and some local representatives.
After that, another meeting was at Perugia University for Foreigners. Several students, doctors and the Mayor attended. People were shocked of the facts, numbers and pictures we have shown.
To be continued…
Mary Rizzo is an art restorer, translator and writer living in Italy. Editor and co-founder of Palestine Think Tank, co-founder of Tlaxcala translations collective. Her personal blog is Peacepalestine.
Email this author | All posts by Mary Rizzo
