Qatar Airways flies one million candles to Gaza

BRIGHT HOPE: Candles were donated by UK residents as gesture of solidarity & support for Gaza victims.

Qatar Airways has carried one million candles to Gaza to support a UK-based Muslim woman who lost 15 family members in a Palestinian bomb blast last month.

Manal Timraz, who lives in UK city Coventry, launched the “One Million Candles” campaign in peaceful protest against hundreds of killings during the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Among her 15 relatives killed in Gaza, 11 were children.

The candles were donated by UK residents as a gesture of solidarity and support and recently flown to Gaza on a Qatar Airways aircraft from London.

“The death of loved ones, especially children, and in such a great number, would be a terrible loss to bear for anyone,” said Qatar Airways’ CEO Akbar Al Baker.

“I personally felt compelled to help Manal, who has suffered an incredible tragedy as have so many others in Gaza caught up in the recent conflict. I quickly offered the support of Qatar Airways to bring Manal, with her candles, from London to the Middle East.”

Timraz, who flew to Palestine with the candles, told reporters in Doha that the campaign is not politically motivated. She stressed her aim was to raise awareness of citizens that were unwittingly caught up in the conflict.

“One Million Candles is about reaching out to the humanity in each and every one of us, and for everyone across the world to understand that essentially we are all the same,” she said. “There is no need to fight, no need for war and no need for innocent people to die.”
 
Politicians and film stars, such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and actor Richard Gere, have backed the campaign.

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