As soon as the announcement was made that Hosni Mubarak had resigned, tens of thousands of Palestinians spontaneously took to the streets all throughout Gaza to rejoice with their Egyptian brothers and sisters, and with all who support freedom, democracy, and human rights. In other areas of Palestine people were also celebrating in the streets -- Hebron, Nablus, Nazareth, Ramallah. I was chanting, cheering and dancing with the hundreds that spontaneously gathered in the Manara - the center of Ramallah. Families brought their children, even sleeping infants to share in the joy of a people's victory. The energy was high; the spirit of the youth, unmistakeable. We filled the center square with the voices of a new generation that refuses to accept subjugation; that dares to dream of a life with dignity.
We chanted:
"Respects from Palestine to the people of Tunis and Egypt; you are leading the revolution"
"The people have brought down the regime" and
"We were not born to live in humiliation, we were born to live free!"
and to the Palestinian "leadership" in Ramallah and Gaza: "The people demand and end to the divisions!"
We sang the words of the famous Tunisian poet Abu al-Qasem al-Shabbi:
"If, one day, a people desires to live, then fate will answer their call.
And their night will then begin to fade, and their chains break and fall."
And their night will then begin to fade, and their chains break and fall."
It is truly a monumental moment in history. The Egyptian youth have shown the world that not even a brutal military dictatorship propped up by the only Superpower in the world can defeat the will of a people. Tunisians and Egyptians have ushered in a new era of people power that we are all a part of!
Being a member of the Free Gaza family, we know you believe this just as much as we do.
Free Gaza is now hard at work organizing, together with national networks and organizations around the world, Freedom Flotilla 2. In May 2011 we will sail again to confront the regime of blockade, occupation and injustice, carrying the spirit of Tahrir Square with us. While our port of call is Gaza, our destination is freedom, human rights and dignity for all Palestinians. Your support as part of this people's movement is vital. Together we will let Israel know that we are tens of millions; that we are not going to allow Israel to continue to kill, main, and oppress with impunity; and that we are not going to back down to violence and intimidation. We are fighting for our collective futures and together we will win!
In solidarity, struggle, and with a renewed sense of hope,
Huwaida
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