Lebanese Rally Against Zionist Terrorism in Gaza
BEIRUT-- Hundreds of Lebanese attended a candle-lit rally in Ramlet al-Baida on Thursday night to show solidarity with the people of Gaza during Israel's siege of the Palestinian territory.
Palestinian flags swayed in the wind and attendees carried signs reading "Stop the Terrorism of the Zionist state" and admonishing Arab leaders that "Your Silence is Killing." Musicians, poets and others paid tribute to the people of Gaza through artistic performances.
The event, entitled "For Gaza ... for Humanity," was organized by about a dozen people from across the professional and political spectrums. Invitations carefully advised participants to leave their political uniforms at home and attend from a merely humanitarian perspective.
The gathering was indeed marked by a single perspective, namely that of compassion and support for Gazans in the face of an Israeli military onslaught that has killed more than 120 people in the past week, approximately half of them civilians.
"We are students, professors, laborers, parents, activists, artists ... and much more. We have no name, no guns, no flags, no unified political affiliation," read a description of the vigil posted on the Internet by organizers. "Yet we stand firm against the bloodbath in precious Gaza. We aim to mourn the heroic memory of the innocent and condemn the silence of Arab leaders and civilians."
One of the organizers, Sahar al-Amine, told The Daily Star that "we're not here for politics, but simply to show solidarity with those killed in Gaza and stand up against their killers."
Munir, an American University of Beirut student and a member of a Palestinian activist group on campus, emphasized the importance of the human message.
"We have forgotten the human side and gotten lost in the political angle. The humanitarian message is the approach we should adopt. People are being massacred over there. We need to wake up and do something," he told The Daily Star as he was photographing an arrangement of candles that formed the statement "Save Gaza."
Lina, an employee at a Beirut-based media association, echoed that sentiment, arguing that "one must leave out politics."
"The kids dying in Gaza," she said, "they don't know anything about politics. The humanitarian perspective is an important factor and the best way to unite people."
A middle-aged woman sitting on the beach said she was there simply to show she cares.
"What's happening in Gaza is so unfair," she said. "We can't just let it go."
Emotions ran high among some participants, and tight security controls rankled with some. Several political messages were delivered, some fiercer than others.
The humanitarian emphasis sometimes had to be enforced: As one very young and very emotional participant took the stage to offer his opinion of the US government which supports Israel, the sound was cut off and the crying boy was removed and escorted away.
While the event itself proved to be a success among the gatherers, several of those present expressed concern over the relatively low number of attendees.
Mahmoud, who was sitting on a bench near the stage and wearing a keffiyeh in honor of the evening, was reading a book about spiritual liberation. "I wish we could reach out to a more diverse pool of people."
The evening concluded with a performance of the dabke, a traditional Arab folkloric dance, inspiring declarations like "our culture is not dead. We fight by keeping our culture alive."
At exactly 8 p.m. the event came to an abrupt close and those present were instructed to leave the site immediately.
"Security reasons," they were told.
The keffiyeh-clad guests headed for the street, leaving behind a gaggle of police vehicles, a few still-burning candles and fluttering red, black, and green flags.
