Children and families flew kites for the children of Gaza at Lermont-Wiradguri Park in Bathurst on February 11.
Speaking at the event, organiser Kate Demaere reported that on July 29, 2011, the children of Gaza launched 15,000 kites, breaking the world record, during the campaign to lift the siege on the Gaza Strip.
Demaere said it was important for regional areas to take action for Palestine, depite the “tyranny of distance”.
Palestinian activist Khaled Ghannam spoke about the crimes of the Israeli occupation and the need for a ceasefire. He urged politicians to sign petitions supporting a ceasefire and the need to send immediate humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people.
“Flying kites, playing with the kids safely is normal here but we cannot do it back home in Gaza,” Ghannam said. “In Palestine, kids are scared to go out. They hear bombs 24 hours a day, they cannot have a normal life.
“We hope one day you can come to Palestine and your kids can play with our kids there.”
One speaker recited “If I must die”, poem by the martyr Refaat Alareer, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike on December 6.
If I must die
By Refaat Alareer
If I must die,
you must live
to tell my story
to sell my things
to buy a piece of cloth
and some strings,
(make it white with a long tail)
so that a child, somewhere in Gaza
while looking heaven in the eye
awaiting his dad who left in a blaze—
and bid no one farewell
not even to his flesh
not even to himself —
sees the kite, my kite you made, flying up above
and thinks for a moment an angel is there
bringing back love
If I must die
let it bring hope
let it be a tale
[Join Central West NSW for Palestine to get involved.]