A vigil has been held in Shepparton to mourn Palestinian lives lost in the conflict with Israel in the Gaza Strip and to highlight the ongoing bloodshed.
The ‘Shepparton Stand For Gaza’ vigil at the Queen’s Gardens on July 20 came a day after the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s “presence in the occupied Palestinian territory (is) unlawful” and needed to end “as rapidly as possible”.
The crowd of about 80 people listened attentively to a number of speakers who spoke passionately about the Palestinian cause.
Dr Muhammad Abdullah was one of the organisers, and he spoke to The News about the vigil.
Why was the vigil called?
“Calling the meeting was a collective decision,” Dr Abdullah said.
“We, local people, wanted to draw the attention of the media and politicians and share our concern as a community.
“People across the board got involved, not only people directly connected to the tragic events currently happening in Gaza, as we feel helpless about the situation.
“The mood was sombre as we were collectively feeling grief and concern.”
How long had you been planning the vigil?
“The vigil was organised on a short notice,” Dr Abdullah said.
“We decided to organise the meeting on Monday for Saturday.
“It rained all night and was a cold morning, but around 80 people braved the weather to show their commitment and support.
“Although the Australian media and politicians took a stance on the conflict, many people across various communities don’t feel represented by it and believe it’s unfair.
“It is time for local politicians to pay attention as they are closer to the community.
“It’s a feeling felt across the board, not represented enough by the media — a burdening issue that will not disappear unless addressed.”