Sheikha Mozah leads Peace Walk

Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Sheikha Ahmed Al Mahmoud, President of the Qatar University Dr Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, Vice Chairperson of the Qatar Foundation Dr Saif Al Hajri and President of the Qatar Foundation Dr Mohammed Fathy Saoud were among other prominent figures that took part in the march. They were also joined by a large number of senior faculty members of several educational institutions in the Education City and the Qatar University .

Clamouring anti-Israel slogans and proclaiming their solidarity to the suffering Palestinians, students of the Qatar University , Education City and many independent schools took part in the "Peace Walk", organised by the Al Fakhoora international student solidarity campaign supported by Sheikha Mozah. The marchers, sporting T-Shirts bearing the name of Al Fakhoora School, which was bombed by Israeli forces, poured into small groups on the Corniche clamouring slogans and waving Qatari and Palestinian flags.

The slogans 'halt bombings, 'stop war' and 'lift blockade' reverberated the air. "We are carrying Olive leaf in one hand and Coffin on our left shoulders", screamed one banner. The students converged opposite the Qatar National Theatre hours ahead of the march.

The Education City students joined the march by breaking a make-shift gate of Rafah to symbolise the break of the siege on Gaza and the delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to the people of Gaza. The marchers who had lined up on the Corniche welcomed Sheikha Mozah with a thunderous applause as she arrived to lead the march around 4pm.

As the march started at around 4.30pm, the students marched behind Sheikha Mozah and prominent personalities in great discipline. "We will respond to the call of Palestine", "Do not target schools, "Stop killing civilians', the students clamoured.

The Peace Walk was marked by emotional speeches delivered by the students of the Education City. "Innocent Children are being killed simply because they were born in Gaza. Gaza is being attacked because its people refused to surrender to the invader of their country. Gaza has been burned with a single forbidden weapon and each one of its sanctities violated, but still... the people do not surrender. Their will and conviction lives on, day after day, week after week, year after year," said Mohammed Farid, a student of the Northwestern University.