The organization Iceland-Palestine has gained 100 new members in the past ten days. This equals about a ten percent increase in membership.
Sveinn Rúnar Hauksson, the chairman of the organization, is pleased with increased popularity for the cause, but saddened by the occasion prompting it; Israeli bombing of Gaza, which has as of today claimed 1200 Palestinian lives. Fifty-five Israelis have also been killed in the conflict, BBC reports.
“It is a bit disturbing to think that we don’t have to do any promotional work to grow our organization. The Israeli government has us covered there,” said Sveinn Rúnar in an interview with visir.is.
Approximately ISK 1 million has been collected in donation pails at two well-attended outdoor public meetings hosted by the organization recently. The entire amount will be donated to AISHA, an organization dedicated to protecting women and children in the Gaza zone. “In reality more has been donated as contributions are constantly being added to our account through the emergency collection we started. People want to do what they can and for that we are terribly grateful,” Sveinn added.
In addition to this Iceland-Palestine has donated ISK 600,000 or USD 5,000 from their general fund to the ALP-prosthetic station in Gaza that the organization has worked with for years in partnership with OK Prosthetics, a company owned by Össur Kristinsson, founder of Össur hf.
As reported, the Icelandic government has allocated ISK 12 million (USD 104,000, EUR 77,700) to the United Nations working in Gaza and the Icelandic Red Cross has sent ISK 10 million (USD 87,000, EUR 64,000) to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, is also among those to call for an end to hostilities.
