Impactful Opening

At the entrance, attendees were greeted with displays of Palestinian national identity, underscoring the resilience of the Palestinian people through music, dance, and culture a vivid testimony that despite the ravages of war, their heritage and spirit remain alive. The showcase included traditional clothing, cultural merchandise, and celebrated the proud Palestinian heritage, affirming identity and resistance amid adversity.

The event opened with deeply moving visuals showing the suffering endured by Palestinian victims amid the Israeli military occupation. A solemn screen continuously displayed the haunting statistic of 15,000 Palestinian children who have lost their lives in this brutal conflict.

The spotlight fell on Hind Rajab, a six-year-old girl trapped in a car in Gaza in January 2024. Her haunting phone call plead for help: "Hello? Can you hear me?" , “Please come get me”, “ Please stay with me- do not leave me ! ” ended in her tragic death alongside family and Red Crescent rescuers. A video was showcased of the tragic event. This caught everyone's attention and filled the room with a heavy silence. Hind's story, highlighted internationally as a devastating symbol of the human cost of war, emphasized the urgent humanitarian crisis and the violation of international law.

Voices of Key Speakers

Key speakers at the event included Abdulkhaleq Alyafei: Head of the Permanent Mission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Ambassador Dr. Jawad Al Hindawi:Head of the Mission of the Arab League to the European Union and Mr. Pierre Galand:Leader of the Belgo-Palestinienne Association. They delivered powerful addresses calling for justice, the end of occupation, and international solidarity to support the Palestinian struggle for independence and dignity. Their speeches highlighted the legal, political, and humanitarian imperatives of ending the ongoing aggression and supporting Palestinian rights under international law.

Emotional Musical Interlude

The proceedings paused for a heartfelt performance by Tunisian artist Ms. Amel Sdiri whose opera sounds honoured Gaza's victims with notes of pain, resistance, and hope. This cultural interlude echoed the event's theme that art sustains Palestinian identity, drawing from traditions of music as resistance even across the entire Arab world.

Ambassador Dr. Amal Jadou Shakaa's Powerful Call

The event's peak came with the speech of Ambassador Dr. Amal Jadou Shakaa, Head of the Mission of the State of Palestine to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU. The Ambassador made a compelling plea: "We need no sympathy because it feeds only pain” instead “We need solidarity because it feeds the Palestinian voice that will never surrender." She stressed that Palestinian culture, music, and dance are vital lifelines sustaining hope and resilience among the Palestinian people. Her words reinforced the core message that solidarity must transform into action to build a future free from occupation and violence.

The commemoration concluded with a strong message of resilience from the Palestinian people, who continue to hope for a better future, one in which Gaza is rebuilt and the aggression in the West Bank ends. It was a call to the international community to uphold Palestinian rights and support the end of the occupation. The event's spirit underscored that the Palestinian identity, culture, and struggle remain fiercely alive, shining brightly against oppression and conflict. It stands as a testament to both remembrance and hope for peace, grounded in culture, solidarity, and unyielding resistance.

This article is written by Ibrahimjan Abdimutalipjan.