Youngstown Arab American organization holds vigil for lives lost in Palestine, Lebanon

Community members gathered with flags and banners in honor of thousands of people killed in the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon.

Suhad Hadi, president of the local Arab American Community Center, held the vigil at Wick Park one year after the Israeli–Palestinian war began.

Volunteers handed out fact sheets about the conflict since which began Oct. 7, as well as the last 76 years of Nakba in Palestine, using data compiled by Let’s Talk About Palestine.

According to Retuers, more than 41,500 people have been killed, with the majority of identified victims being women and children.

Hadi said the vigil was an important opportunity to engage with the local Lebanese community who are now also affected by the war.

“We’re hoping to continue to spread the word of the ongoing genocide and atrocities in Palestine and Gaza that have now unfortunately spread into Lebanon,” said Hadi. “We are gathering with our Lebanon community, our Palestine community, and our supporters within the community in general, to really just be present.”

“I believe the world has rallied around this, and I believe now our community has rallied around us,” she said. “We were successful in working with the city of Youngstown to pass a resolution and support for a ceasefire, and now we just want to keep spreading the word out.”

In Gaza, over 95% of the population are facing food insecurity, as well as over one million residents who are displaced and living without access to necessities, according to the World Food Program and Amnesty International.

There aren’t any universities left standing in Gaza, and only a fraction of the schools left undamaged, according to the World Health Organization.

The WHO reported there are now as few as 13 hospitals partially functioning to take in thousands of patients with major health conditions like respiratory infections, lost limbs and spinal cord injuries in Gaza.

“After one year we would have never thought this would be spreading into another region of the Middle East into another country, and we want to hopefully help bring an end,” said Hadi.

The U.S. has initiated over $110 billion in military aid to Israel.

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This story was originally published October 8, 2024 at 12:54 PM.