On Saturday, the British capital London hosted a solidarity event for the children of the Gaza Strip, titled ‘Planes for Palestine.’ The event involved children and activists supporting Palestinian rights, who flew kites with slogans and messages of solidarity written on them.
The event, organized by the Palestinian Forum in Britain in collaboration with the ‘Red Ribbons’ campaign supporting Palestinian prisoners, came a few days after an Israeli escalation in response to kites launched from Gaza that reach areas under Israeli control both inside and outside the occupied territory.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza, had on August 23 directed his forces to take “all necessary measures” to confront what he described as threats from “drones,” following reports of kites being flown from Gaza.
On the same day, Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said the army had received orders to move “immediately and forcefully” against the launching of kites, balloons, and drones from Gaza, adding that every launch would be treated as an ‘act of war,’ and that the kite would be treated like a drone ‘whether it carries explosives or not.’ Against this backdrop, activists and supporters of Palestine responded by flying kites in a group event in central London to remind people of the tragedy of Gaza’s children.
In Regent’s Park, in northwest London, the organizers of the event said that the kite is a symbol of childhood and traditional games, and they encouraged participants to make, decorate, and fly them.
The event included Palestinian children, including children from Gaza who are living in the UK as recently evacuated war casualties, along with activists and supporters. Participants wrote phrases on the kites, including ‘Free Palestine,’ before flying them in the park.
