British volunteer calls out ‘illegal occupation’ in Palestine

By Mucahit Aydemir

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - British native Christine Drake, who serves as a humanitarian aid volunteer in the occupied Palestinian territories, said the Palestinian-Israeli conflict stems from an "illegal occupation," but international media distorts it by adopting Israel's narrative.

The Israeli army's bloody attacks on besieged Gaza continued for an eighth day.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank cities have been taking to the streets in support of Gaza for days, despite Israeli forces' barriers, roadblocks and interventions with live ammunition.

In Ramallah, like in other West Bank cities, Israeli forces are stationed at the entrance, and thousands of Palestinians are trying to resist by burning tires and throwing stones.

Due to this cycle of violence, an elderly British woman standing in solidarity with Palestinians despite all the dangers and her advanced age, is drawing attention.

- ‘The situation in Palestine is an illegal occupation’

Drake said she has been supporting Palestine for 45 years and has been volunteering here for eight years.

Drake told Anadolu that the "Gaza-Israel war" began while she was volunteering in Ramallah.

She said she participated in solidarity demonstrations with Gaza in Ramallah to show support for Palestinians due to the closeness she felt.

“They have no rights, no justice, no civil liberties, no free speech. They have no anything. It's a cruel and dangerous place and every day their lives are altered by decisions made by an illegal occupier,” she said.

- ‘International media is a puppet of the Israeli government’

Drake criticized the role of international media in Israel's attacks on Gaza.

“The international media is a puppet of the Israeli government. International media will say whatever they want them to say. It has no relevance in this world because it's not the truth,” said Drake. “The truth is that this is called Palestine and this is where Palestinians lived.”

She cited the UK's role as the source of the problem in Palestine.

“The country that I came from (the UK) gave away the land of this country to people who have no right to it. And ever since then, they have been stealing more and more of that land. So. there's hardly any land left. It's not acceptable.

“Governments of the world that support Israeli government are nothing but liars, murderers and thieves … and nobody is doing anything to stop them,” she said.

“And I feel really angry on behalf of the Palestinians because in the time that I've come here, they have shown me nothing but kindness, and take care of me and looked after me, and that’s who the Palestinians are. They don’t deserve any of this garbage,” said Drake.

- ‘The UK set the wheels in motion for the current situation’

“I come from the country that began this. When they gave away land to Israel, they set the wheels in motion for this to happen,” said Drake.

“Because Israel is never going to be honest. They will always lie, they will always cheat and steal. They've been doing it for 75 years and the Palestinians have been suffering and it's not okay.” she said.

The British woman, who expressed her love for the Palestinians and her wish for the best for them, said: "I don't know why the world is turning away. I can't fathom it."