ATHENS

Greek people took part in an act of solidarity with Palestinians during the annual Clean Monday festival.

Dubbed "Kite for Free Palestine," the event saw Athenians flying kites bearing the message "Free Palestine" as a symbol of support for the Palestinian cause.

Held against the backdrop of Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera), which marks the beginning of Lent in the Orthodox Christian tradition, this gesture aimed to amplify solidarity with Palestinians amidst their ongoing struggles.

Participants from diverse backgrounds came together in Athens to fly kites adorned with the colors and symbols of Palestine.

Among them was Selma Shawa, a long-time resident of Greece, who voiced her steadfast support for Palestine despite the geographical distance separating her from her relatives in Gaza.

Speaking to Anadolu, Shawa emphasized the importance of organizing such events within the Palestinian community in Greece.

"Here, as the Palestinian community, we try to organize activities and events to show our support to our people. At least this way, we tell our story to the world," she said.

The kites, soaring high against the backdrop of the Athenian skyline, served as a poignant reminder of the plight faced by Palestinians.

"We aim to remind people of what is happening in Palestine with kites and balloons in Palestinian colors. We also provide iftar dinner to those in need. We respect the traditions of both sides, but our hearts are with the babies, children, families, Gaza, and all the suffering in Palestine," she said.

Muhammad Seyid, president of the Palestinian Community in Greece, echoed Shawa's sentiments, emphasizing the urgency of standing in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

"Today, we are here to show solidarity with the people of Gaza who have been subjected to genocide by Israeli attacks since October," he remarked. "Hundreds of people are being killed every day, and the world is just watching. Therefore, we wanted to show our support and solidarity to our people in Gaza using all possible means."

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on Gaza since a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed nearly 1,200 people.

More than 31,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in the enclave, and nearly 73,800 others injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water and medicine, while 60%of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the ICJ. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.