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Hanoi, Vietnam – At a non-public venue positioned down a slim alley in Hanoi's metropolis heart, a bunch of greater than 20 folks listened attentively to Salim Hammad, a charismatic 30-year-old Palestinian man who spoke fluent Vietnamese.
Hammad, who runs a enterprise in Vietnam, shared an incident from his childhood in Jenin within the occupied West Financial institution.
Attendees listened as he described a vivid reminiscence of mendacity awake one evening as Israeli troopers surrounded and raided his household dwelling.
Earlier, he had informed dialogue individuals that the historical past of Vietnam's battle for liberation in opposition to america had impressed Palestinians within the battle in opposition to Israel's occupation of their lands.
“The Vietnamese folks, with their painful and superb historical past, have all the time been a supply of inspiration for Palestinians in our battle for justice,” Hammad informed his viewers.
“We've all the time seemed as much as you as a task mannequin.”
Horrified by Israel's warfare on Gaza and rising deaths, primarily younger Vietnamese folks have begun to lift their voices in assist of the Palestinians. Within the course of, they’re exploring the historic ties between Vietnam and Palestine and their shared battle for nationwide liberation.
However not too long ago the promotion of Israel's enterprise tradition to youthful generations of Vietnamese has eclipsed the decades-long relationship between the 2 international locations.
Specializing in reaching success in Vietnam's quickly rising free market economic system, many have been impressed by Israel's startup enterprise tradition, whereas additionally being conscious of the darkish facet of Israel's success within the context of the long-term occupation of Palestinian lands. Know little or no.
Organized by pro-Palestinian activists Trinh* and Vuong* late final yr, the gathering at which Hammad spoke was impressed by the scholar activism the pair encountered whereas finding out within the US.
Trinh and Vuong are a part of a rising grassroots motion amongst Vietnamese youth, who’ve been drawn to the Palestinian trigger because the warfare on Gaza started in October.
However Vietnam's strict insurance policies in opposition to public gatherings and political activism imply that pro-Palestinian campaigners should provide you with low-key and artistic methods to carry occasions with out attracting undesirable consideration from Vietnamese authorities.
In Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, Trinh and a few buddies have organized discussions on Palestine and Palestinian-themed drawing lessons. A designer by coaching, Trinh has additionally labored with fellow creatives to design pro-Palestine merchandise, political artwork and fanzines.
In November, a screening of documentaries and movies on Palestine, the Nakba and the historical past of Israel's occupation of Palestine occurred beneath the title Movies for Liberation: Palestine Perpetually, which, in response to organizers, was aimed toward destigmatizing narratives. Palestinians” by “Western and imperialist” actors.
On social media, a number of Vietnamese-language fan pages have emerged, that includes translated Palestinian poems, pro-Palestine artworks, and evaluation on the historical past of the battle, whereas the Embassy of Palestine in Vietnam invited veterans of the warfare in opposition to the US, lecturers Is. Activists and members of the general public commemorating these killed in Gaza.
On November 29, which is the United Nations-designated Worldwide Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian Folks, the federal government of Vietnam additionally revealed a message from then-President Vo Van Thuong by which he spoke of the lengthy historical past of brotherhood between Vietnam and Palestine and “Vietnam ” Sturdy assist and solidarity with the Palestinians of their battle for justice”.
However relations between Vietnam and Palestine are now not the identical as earlier than.