As you arrive at the gates of Gaza Sea port, a monument stands directly facing you. With large flag poles to the side billowing proudly , The monument , erected to the memory of the 9 Martyrs of the Mavi Marmara Massacre, rises majestically .
The marble memorial is regularly the site of demonstrations , especially at times of Flotilla’s or individual attempts to break the siege by Sea. The top of the monument is a large globe of the world and below are the names of all nine murdered civilians each with a Palestinian / Turkish flag below their names., symbolizing the strength of international solidarity and their lives as honorary Palestinians
Nine activists were killed in the raid, on May 31st, 2010
Cengiz Akyüz (42),
Ali Haydar Bengi (39),
İbrahim Bilgen(61),
Furkan Doğan (19),
Cevdet Kılıçlar ( 38)
Cengiz Songür (47),
Çetin Topçuoğlu (53),
Fahri Yaldız (43),
and Necdet Yıldırım (32)
As we Wandered around the Port, The realisation of just how small this world is really dawns on us as we bump into Dearbhla Glynn. Dearbhla is an amazing documentary film maker from Ireland, in Gaza for a few weeks working in co-ordination with Trocaire and P.C.H.R.
Dearbhla’s documentary, Gaza: Post Operation Cast Lead scooped the top prize in the ICCL Human Rights Film Awards 2010..
The last time we met Dearbhla was at a fundraising and awareness concert she helped organise in Dublin before the Irish Ship, The MV Rachel Corrie joined the Mavi Marmara and the other ships of the first Freedom Flotilla to highlight and attempt to break the Siege on Gaza in 2010.
Irish in Gaza will post details of Dearbhlas latest trip to Gaza soon.
Day by Day there really are more and more “Irishingaza” !!!
Pictures by Jeff Bright: , Facebook: Jeffrey Bright Photojournalist
