By Samantha Simon
In a heartfelt interview on Observer Radio’s “Connecting with Dave Lester Payne” programme, Her Excellency Linda Sobeh Ali, the newly appointed Palestinian Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, made an impassioned plea for support and solidarity as her homeland grapples with a severe humanitarian crisis.
The interview, which took place on October 31, just one day after the ambassador presented her credentials to Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, painted a grim picture of the situation in Gaza.
“One million are starving. They are dying from death and air strikes in the north side of Gaza for the past 14 days, with no food, no water and no medications,” Ambassador Sobeh Ali said, her voice filled with emotion.
“Women are being killed. Raped. In front of their children; 930 whole families are wiped from the civil registry of Palestine,” she said.
The ambassador was quick to point out that the conflict is not a religious one, but rather a fight for human rights and dignity.
“Some people might think it’s against their religion. No, it’s against humanity; it’s against Palestinians,” she asserted.
“They are destroying churches, killing Christians also because when you say Palestinian, Palestinian does not mean Muslim, we are the three religions and there are Jews that are Palestinian, but not Zionist.”
Sobeh Ali expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and support she has received since arriving in Antigua and Barbuda.
“I am very touched to see the support, the love that I have seen for myself and for my country. The condolences that I have been receiving just from regular people in the hotel. Wherever I go, they see my keffiyeh and they have seen the represented credential.”
However, she emphasized that more needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people.
“We, the people in Palestine, are asking everyone and all our friends to stand up for us. Stand for humanity,” she pleaded.
“We need the dignity to live, and be free, independent, and hopefully one day you will all be in Palestine. You will all be celebrating our Independence Day.”
The ambassador called for a peaceful resolution, but acknowledged that this requires a willing partner.
“We want peace, but to have peace, we need a partner for peace and there is no partner for peace. Who is beheading babies? Who is burning women? Who is air striking? Who is burning a whole nation? They do not want peace.”
In a show of solidarity, a march was held later that afternoon, in which the Cuban and Venezuelan ambassadors participated, along with other members of the diplomatic corps and concerned citizens.
“We want as many Antiguans and Barbudans, visitors, guests on the island that have that humanity of feeling to show solidarity with the people of Palestine,” said one of the organisers.
