Moving testimony from Gaza inspires solidarity with Palestine

Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) Aberdeen’s Palestine Café event heard moving testimony from two residents of Gaza about life under Israeli oppression.

The well-attended event held on 4th June, heard, by video link, from Rasha Abushaban, human rights activist, and from Dr Bahzad Al Akhras of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme.

Both spoke movingly of the impact of the Israeli blockade and bombardments on the people of Gaza, and especially the children.

Rasha spoke of the many human rights abuses perpetrated against the Palestinian people, pointing out that 226 Palestinian citizens were killed last year, including 75 children. Over 1000 children were arrested by Israel in 2021 and attacks on journalists saw the recent murder of Shireen Abu Akleh.

Bahzad highlighted the impact of continuous traumatic exposure on the people of Gaza, including children and young people, describing “an endemic of mental health disorders”, especially amongst the young.

Both speakers called on the international community to stand up for the rights of the Palestinian people and to put pressure on Israel to comply with international law.

Earlier Tommy Campbell, SPSC Aberdeen, who chaired the event, spoke about the recent hard-hitting Amnesty International Report, which has concluded that Israel enforces a system of oppression and domination against the Palestinian people wherever it has control over their rights, amounting to apartheid under international law.

The event concluded with a presentation from Nadia Silhi Chahin, a Chilean lawyer currently doing a Phd at Edinburgh University. Nadia spoke about the history of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions as a strategy to put pressure on Israel to fulfil its international obligations to the people of Palestine and to comply with international law.

Tommy said: “This was a great event which has highlighted the importance of continuing Aberdeen’s proud record of international solidarity.

“We are calling on all citizens to boycott Israeli goods and to press for divestment and sanctions on Israel. That is the strategy that ended apartheid in South Africa and we must all do our bit to pressurise Israel to abide by international law and to end the apartheid suffered by the Palestinians at their hands.”