The 4th annual Iftar gathering for Palestine was held on Saturday in London at the Harrow Leisure Centre and attended by around 700 members of the Palestinian community as well as those in solidarity with the Palestinian cause from other ethnicities. The event was organized by Palestinian youth group ‘Olive’ and the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB).
The event consisted of a full all-night program lasting until 1 am and was concluded with a “talent for Palestine” contest – for the first time – with the participation of 20 children judged by a panel consisting of singer artist Rachid Gholam from Morroco Zeina Al-Juwairi from Iraq Ibrahim Alan from Jordan and Anas Al-Karmi from Palestine.
First place was awarded to Lina Khattab of Iraqi origin after she recited a very touching poem of her writing about Palestine. The award was £500 with the contribution of members of the community.
Dr Hafez al-Karmi chairman of the PFB sees this gathering as a clear message that the Palestinians continue to uphold their roots regardless of the decades of dispossession faced from their original lands and while they remember 70 years since the Nakba there remains a constant refusal towards Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.
Dr al-Karmi added that the Great Return March brought the cause back to the starting point and that the new generations will never forget Palestine or a grand of sand in it.
Adnan Hmidan media spokesperson for the PFB and the lead organizer in the Iftar event reminded of how the first gathering brought around 200 people where as now in its 4th year the gathering witnessed just over 700 attendees while the Zionist lobby in the UK is working to the maximum effort to try and clamp down on the activities held by those in support of the Palestinian cause and shut down this gathering every year.
Raghad Osama mother of the contest’s winner described her happiness towards her daughter’s win and dedicated this win to the martyrs and wounded of Palestine.
One of the elderly attendees of the gathering spent the evening clasping onto the Palestinian flag with mixed emotions and the wish to return one day to a free Palestine. Rachid Gholam did not forget to pray for Palestinians and Muslims as a whole to be reunited with the land of Palestine during Taraweeh prayers.
Maysara al-Arabeed managed to catch the audience’s attention with an interactive family competition operated through the mobile phones of those participating from their seats. The competition consisted of multiple questions about Palestinian history and culture with small symbolic prizes given to the winners.
The Palestinian youths in the UK created a big presence among the attendees through the activities held and hosted by Abdurrahman Tamimi and Leanne Mohammed without neglecting the volunteers who worked endlessly through to the morning and presented a variety of dishes for Iftar.
Dr Ibrahim Udwan one of the attendees said that these activities are the least one can do for those living away from home as a way to keep them connected to their roots.
Mueen Shabib CEO of EAP (Education Aid for Palestine) led the fundraising section of the event and acquired several pledges from the audience to help build three schools in Gaza and provide clean water in them.
Israa Khalil member of the events organizing committee emphasized that these donations provide a means for people to perform their duty to help those in Gaza and to ensure that this gathering is more than just a place to socialize eat and drink under the name of Palestine.
