Fundraiser readied for Almere man stuck in Gaza since September wedding

Supporters lobbying to help a Dutch man who has been stuck in the Gaza Strip for months will be held on Friday in Almere. Abed Al Attar, who resides in the Flevoland city, traveled to the Palestinian region for a wedding in September and was unable to leave after war broke out in October.

"Despite numerous attempts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was unfortunately not possible to bring Abed back to the Netherlands," said Hassan Buyatui, the Almere leader of Denk. The political party and the platform, Almere voor Palestina, have organized the rally for Al Attar at the end of Friday afternoon on Stadhuisplein near City Hall.

The organizations have also started a crowdfunding campaign because Al-Attar's family has run into financial problems. Nearly 2,500 euros was raised by Monday evening.

"When I call him to ask how things are going, he always says the same thing, 'I want to go back to my wife. I want to go back to my children,'" Buyatui said of Al Attar. "We are therefore going to organize an action in solidarity using the same slogan. 'I want to go back to my wife, I I want to go back to my children.'"

According to DENK, the action is supported by Al-Attar's lawyer, Samira Sabir, and Muslim Rights Watch Netherlands (MRWN). She and MRWN chair Adil el Kanfoudi will speak at Stadhuisplein on Friday.