A mournful morning
15th April, 2011
Just another mournful Friday. All of us were agonized by the news of the abduction of the Italian activist “Vittorio”, spending the whole night anticipating and hoping that morning would bring us the news of his release, confirmed by good friends that there were good signs indicating that he would be freed in the morning. Morning brought us mourning. The first unconfirmed news of his death came at2 a.m. to leave us all speechless, confused, hopeful that it was all a false alarm or that any media source would declare that he was still alive. 2 hours later, it was all confirmed. Vittorio was dead.
“Have you known him personally?” Many have asked me today in the funeral that was held by Gazans in honour of Veteran Vittorio. In fact, I did not meet him in person, the case of so many Palestinians who were there for his funeral today. The first time I saw Vittorio was in the documentary called “To Shoot an Elepahnt” I watched in the first anniversary of the Nakba after which I felt humbled by the role that the International Solidarity movement was playing at that war. Vittorio was amongst the few internationals who refused to leave the Gaza Strip during the Israeli offensive in 2008-2009 and chose to stay under the constant bombing to help injured Palestinians and to spread the truth of what was happening.
And today, while walking among the sad faces welled with tears that gathered to mourn the loss of a brother, of a Palestinian brother, I heard so many more stories of how courageous the man has been. Stories including farmers, fishermen, borders, Israeli soldiers. To know how brave Vittorio was, I only had to look around, and see the agony and anger in the faces of hundreds of People whose voices at its highest pitch was calling for the justice to be served against those brutal criminals. No matter who was behind this vicious crime against humanity, he is not the least Palestinian. I was more than glad to know that other internationals felt the same way, too. Those whom I was fortunate to talk to not only said they were more committed to the cause but also vowed to never give up on Palestine.
For me, Vittorio is every international I met and felt inspired by. He’s the voice of solidarity that shall not fade as long as there is a just cause called Palestine. He is the voice of humanity that should stay alive all of us. He is the voice of freedom that shall not be silenced.
Rest in Peace, comrade.
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Thanks for reposting
Im crying so much right now,
I cant believe he is gone. He died for a cause and we will never, EVER forget him. God give strength to your family and loved ones inshallah.
We love you,
from Palestine
He’s not ever forgotten here.
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Fake day…absolutely wrong day,still can`t believe!
None of us did believe it when it happened! All were wishing it was not true. It was only a dream
God Bless his soul
Palestinian people do not belong to these terrorist groups
I think that Israel is cooperating with these terrorist groups
hi Sameeha. we know whoever was behind this vicious crime was not the least Palestinian. what a tragedy. we will continue our struggle with our brother Vittorio inspiring us to keep moving forward and never give up until palestine is free.
in solidarity and thank you for this moving post. thank you to all gazans who embraced Vittorio and honored him. he chose gaza and he loved gaza and palestine. he was a courageous beauty and like rachel he will continue to make our movement stronger.
peace
Hello Annie,
It gives me such a great relief to hear this from you, dear. Keep up the struggle for a free Palestine
Love and Respect
Impressive equivocation there: “not in the least Palestinian”. To your Western dupes, it appears that you are distancing yourself from the Palestinians that murdered this man (the “no true Palestinian” fallacy). To the conspiracy nutjobs who think that the Jews are to blame whenever anything bad happens, it appears you are blaming the Jews. Care to be more specific (or just more honest) about your point and state unequivocally whether you think it was Palestinians who are “no true Palestinians” or Jews behind the murder? Or be more explicit about trying to have it both ways? But you won’t, because being honest here would alienate part of your audience. Admit that you think the Jews did it and the sane Westerners will know that you are a conspiracy nutjob. Abmit that you think the Palestinians did it (but not “true” Palestinians) and you offend the insane Palestinians who are OK with decrying this if Jews did it, but just find another way to blame the Jews if Palestinians (but not “true” Palestinians) did it.
Oh, and I should clarify. The sane Palestinians will decry this either way and the insane Westerners will blame the Jews no matter what. I’m not saying that all Westerners are sane (good God no) or that all Palestinians are insnae (also good God no).
I don’t know a single Palestinian who didn’t decry this disgusting act. No one is ever blaming the Jews. When blame is associated with the State of Israel, it isn’t blaming the Jews, it’s blaming a government. Most people didn’t blame Israel this time, and those who did, need to think again because they’re misinformed. However, a lot of times, the blame is pretty easy to place there.
Sameeha, I told you this before, but the post brought me to tears and was incredibly beautiful. Vik will never be forgotten and his memory will live on with those of us he touched and inspired with his work. Keep up the great writing!