International Solidarity Movement April 15, 2011

Photo: Bird flying over Palestine.

Tadamon! commemorates the beloved activist Vittorio Arrigoni who was murdered in Gaza one day ago. We affirm our solidarity with the Palestinians, and we grieve with them. Vittorio devoted many years in struggle with the Palestinians for their liberation. Arrigoni is an exemplary face of the International Solidarity Movement, the people who come from all over the world to Palestine, sometimes giving their lives such as Rachel Corrie and Vittorio Arrigoni.

In these moments let us remember and reflect on the courage and determination of the Palestinian people in their struggle against Israeli apartheid and our collective recognition of the devotion and bravery of activists who join them. Rest in peace Vittorio Arrigoni.

Organizations throughout Palestine and around the world are honoring Vittorio Arrigoni’s life and his work for the liberation of the Palestinian people. Collected here are some of those statements. If your organization is planning to issue a statement, please send it and any related URL to palestinesolidarity [at] gmail.com.

Statement on Behalf of Italian NGO Workers in Palestine

We express our sincere condolences with Vittorio’s family, his friends and companions in the International Solidarity Movement and with all the people who have known him during the past years, when he was serving as a focal point for all of us in Gaza. Read the full statement on Facebook

ISM London

ISM London are in shock and sorrow from the death of Vittorio Arrigoni. He visited London frequently and many of us knew him as a friend as well as a deeply committed activist for the Palestinian cause. Our thoughts and sympathy are with his family, friends and his fellow ISM volunteers.

Anarchist Media Collective, ‘a-films’

We have known Vittorio for many years and collaborated with him in North Lebanon and Italy. Vittorio was a good friend and an inspiring person with seemingly unlimited energy and motivation. We’re shocked and sad. May our brother rest in peace.

Northern Illinois End the Occupation Organization

Words cannot express the heavy hearts and sadness we feel at hearing of this tragic loss. We did not know Vittorio personally but he truly is a hero, putting his life on the line for what he believed in, while making a difference by giving voice to Palestinians in Gaza. We pray that the government quickly investigate and bring to justice the criminals so that this does not ever happen again. We will continue in our efforts, no matter how big or small, to change the situation in Palestine, and remember our heroes Rachael and Vittorio.

Electronic Intifada

Our deepest condolences to the family and many friends of Vittorio Arrigoni. His loss is felt by our whole movement.

PFLP mourns the martyr Vittorio Arrigoni
calls for justice and accountability

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine denounces in the strongest terms the criminal murder of Italian solidarity activist Vittorio Arrigoni in Gaza, and offers its deepest condolences to the family of the martyr, the Italian people, the global solidarity movement with the Palestinian people, and all who care for justice.

The Front expresses its shock and horror at this heinous and cowardly crime, which is completely averse to the ethics, principles and traditions of our people and our movement, that came against a solidarity activist with Palestine, who had come to Gaza to be among our people and stand against suffering, siege, occupation and colonialism. This heinous crime only benefits the Israeli occupation, while threatening great harm to the Palestinian people and its just cause of liberation and self-determination.

The Front called upon all to memorialize the martyr Vittorio Arrigoni, who lives on and stands among the great martyrs of our people, to continue on his path of justice, liberation, and solidarity, and to exert the strongest efforts to hold all those responsible for this crime fully accountable before the Palestinian people.

Solidarity from Nablus

We are heartbroken. To our hundreds of friends in Italy, to his family, to our global community, we in Nablus send our condolences from all Palestine to our friend and fellow activist Vittorio Arrigoni, a most wonderful human being, who was murdered in Gaza. We will protest for our friend Vittorio in Nablus at the city circle tomorrow at 21:00PM. .We will never forget you, our Palestinian friend, Vittorio.

American Muslims for Palestine expresses deep condolences to ISM and family of Vittorio Arrigoni

(CHICAGO 04/14/2011) – It is with heavy hearts that the American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) offers our deepest and most sincere condolences to the members of the International Solidarity Movement and to the family and friends of ISM activist Vittorio Arrigoni, who was found murdered in the Gaza Strip Thursday.

By all accounts, Vittorio was a selfless humanitarian who gave his life while serving the noble cause of Palestine. He held honorary Palestinian citizenship for his work in the occupied territories, and “is a hero of Palestine,” Khalil Shaheen of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights said in an ISM statement.

“The cause of Palestine sometimes grows very heavy as is the case with this senseless and brutal death of someone who gave his all trying to bring justice to the Palestinians,” said Dr. Hatem Bazian, AMP chairman and professor of Near Eastern and Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. “It is imperative now for all of us to redouble our efforts so that
Vittorio’s death will not have been in vain.”

AMP would like to stress that the Palestinian people warmly admire and appreciate the solidarity efforts lead by ISM and other international groups. This murder absolutely does not reflect the standards, manners and the hospitality of the Palestinian people, who are so grateful for ISM’s efforts. As Muslims we are outraged at this senseless act and stress that is categorically against our beliefs and faith.

AMP also calls upon the Palestinian government in Gaza to work tirelessly to find those who perpetrated this brutal crime and bring them to justice.

May we all stand together during this difficult and painful time as we continue to work to bring justice and liberty to Palestine.

With Great Shock and Sorrow, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights Condemns Murder of Italian Activist, Vittorio Arrigoni

With great shock and sorrow, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns the murder of Italian activist, Vittorio Arrigoni. On Friday morning, 15 April 2011, Vittorio’s body was found in an abandoned house in the north of the Gaza Strip, following his murder at the hands of kidnappers.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), and its entire staff, gravely condemns this crime, which targets our inherent human dignity, and the values and traditions of the lawful struggle for freedom and justice. It is this human struggle which connects Gazan’s – locked behind the closed door of the Gaza Strip – with the outside world, and inspires countless individuals to stand as human rights defenders.

PCHR calls upon the government in Gaza to prosecute the perpetrators. Furthermore, all necessary measures must be taken to secure the safety of international activists in the Gaza Strip.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Thursday evening, 14 April 2011, a group named “Group of the Companion Mohammed Bin Maslamah” announced the kidnapping of the Italian journalist, Vittorio Arrigoni, 36, a prominent member of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) and a human rights defender. In a video posted on the Youtube website, the group demanded the release of detained members of the group, affiliates of the so-called “Salafist Jihadist Group”. The kidnappers threatened to kill Arrigoni if the government in Gaza did not meet their demands within 30 hours.

In a grave development, contrary to fundamental values shared by all Palestinians, the group carried out their threat. On Friday morning, 15 April 2011, security services found the body of Arrigoni in a house located in the ‘Amer project area, west of al-Karamah building in the west of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip. In his testimony, a PCHR staff-member reported signs of beating on the victim’s face, signs of handcuffs on his hands, and signs of strangulation around his neck.

The Ministry of Interior in Gaza issued a press release on Friday, condemning this heinous crime. It declared the arrest of two members of the group and the continued search for others.

Arrigoni had worked in Gaza since 2008, when he arrived on board the “Free Gaza” flotilla, organized to break the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip. He devoted himself to the defense of Palestinians’ rights, and participated in a number of activities against the closure, against violations committed by Israeli Forces against Palestinian civilians, particularly fishermen, and against the Israeli decision to impose a ‘buffer zone’ in the Gaza Strip. He was arrested by Israel forces on18 November 2008, while he was accompanying a number of fishermen off the shores of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip. However, he returned to Gaza a few months later via Rafah International Crossing. Arrigoni was also in the West Bank for a few years before coming to Gaza. He has been known for his activity with the International Solidarity Movement.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of this heinous crime, and:

* Calls upon the government in Gaza to conduct an effective and prompt investigation to identify the circumstances of the crime, prosecute the perpetrators, and publish the investigations’ results;

* Appreciates the role played by the International Solidarity Movement and other human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory;

* Calls upon the international community, political powers and Palestinian people to condemn this crime and organize peaceful activities against it.