Akashma Online News

Posted on April 24, 2011 by Omar Karem

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Palestinians gathered today in Gaza City and Ramallah in Palestine to offer a Symbolic State Funeral for Peace Activist and Journalist Vitorio Arrigoni, member of Solidarity International Movement that restarted their humanitarian activities on 2009 when the Flotilla arrived in Gaza Port after 42 years of sea blockade. Vittorio Arrigoni was one of the peace activist that managed to stay in Gaza and work with local Palestinians and International Peace Organizations as well as Media Outlets from the besiege Gaza Strip.

Vik as he was known by friends in Gaza, was a respectable journalist, blogger, victim and witness of Israel Inhumane Siege. His everyday accounts of the murders, destruction and humanitarian crisis that Gazan are living were everyday recounted in his radio guerrilla blog, he suffered none the less with all Gaza population as he wrote in his Gaza; Stay Human book, Report and memoirs.

Today the world is mourning again the loss of Vik, as Italy offered a State Funeral as a tribute to his humanitarian and journalistic career.
His body was put to rest in Rome, while in Palestine they followed Vittorio throughout video conference and Satellite Channels giving their farewell for last time to his body. They sent their condolences to Vittorio’s Family in an unprecedented show of solidarity. The young and the old in Palestine condemned the crime of Vik, and send a message to the world that Palestinians are peaceful people and they do not condone violence.

Dozens of Gazan raised Palestinians and Italians flags in Vik former residence, and in an emotive ceremony poetry was read, singing and drawing remembering Vittorio. Vittorio was singing with us here in Gaza, because he never died, now there are thousands of Vittorios. We can not forget that he was part of our community, he was part of Gaza.

The authorities in Ramallah and in Gaza join the Symbolic Funeral giving Vittorio a Palestinian State Funeral Touch. After all seems that he united the two parts. Gaza Hamas and West Bank Fatah forgot their differences and unite with one voice to make a tribute to this man that left his home land and embraced Palestine as his and fought with his pen, and suffered in equal form the Siege of Gaza. He will be very proud to see that today were no divisions in Palestine all it was; Palestine One Nation saying a Farewell to a great humanitarian,Compassionate and beautiful soul that we Gazan had the privilege and honor to had shared our lives and struggles .