Newcastle activist walking 2,200 miles to Palestine passes halfway pt.

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Aug 2023 09:44
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Newcastle activist Mick Bowman aims to show his support for the Palestinian people and raise awareness about the issue.

Newcastle activist Mick Bowman. (Social media/Mick Bowman)

A Newcastle activist has made it to the halfway mark of his 2,200-mile trek to Palestine to show sympathy for those affected by Israel's war.

Mick Bowman left Calais on April 16 and is walking approximately over 20 kilometers each day for six months to reach Palestine by October. The 65-year-old from Throckley is going alone, carrying just his 'Free Palestine' banner, and camping along the way.

On his amazing voyage, he has now traveled 1,000 miles and through four countries: France, Switzerland, Italy, and Albania. The second stage of his journey has now begun in Macedonia, where he will walk for around ten days to the Greek border. He will then walk to Turkey before arriving in the West Bank.

"My main challenge at the moment is the heat," Mick told Chronicle Live, adding that "Albania is experiencing the same heat wave that is affecting Spain, Italy, and Greece with temperatures rising to the lower 40C. It makes walking challenging, to say the least, but [thanks to] the great kindness I've received in the villages and towns that I have passed through, I've managed."

Mick has committed his life to political action and thinks that his effort will assist raise awareness of the Palestinians' situation.

According to the UN, "Israel" occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East conflict and has since established more than 130 settlements, many of which resemble small cities. Israeli occupation forces continuously attack Palestinian cities and refugee camps, arbitrarily arresting both old and young in order to keep Palestinians living under fear, as the Palestinian people are forced to live under apartheid, expecting death at any given time.

Mick, who retired as political advisor to North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll in December, said there has been a lot of interest in his campaign from Albanian and Italian media, explaining "The story about my walk has taken off in Albania."

"[There has been] coverage from one of the Albanian TV stations and another national TV station has also covered it. From this, you can see that there's a lot of interest in the Palestinian cause and a willingness to promote it. I also spoke at an event in Italy in the town of Reggio Emilia, near Bologna, a couple of weeks ago."

In the latest Israeli crimes against Palestinians, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Palestine reported on Friday evening that one Palestinian youth was martyred during an attack by Israeli occupation forces on the village of Burqa, southeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed the martyrdom of 19-year-old Qusai Jamal Mu'tan.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society mentioned that its crews had transported an injured Palestinian who was shot by Israeli occupation forces who stormed the village of Burqa to protect illegal Israeli settlers from attacking the village.

The same day, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the Israeli occupation forces stormed the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarm, in the occupied West Bank.

The agency also reported that a Palestinian youth was killed at the hands of Israeli occupation forces during the raid.

According to eyewitnesses, Mahmoud Abu Saan, an 18-year-old, was shot in the head by Israeli occupation forces from point-blank range, and he was rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed his martyrdom.