In 2011, more than 12,000 children in Gaza flew kites on the beach, setting a new world record for most kites flown simultaneously. Devastatingly, more children have been killed in the first five months of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza than flew kites in 2011.

On Saturday, Mar. 30, over 100 people joined us to fly kites in Washington DC at the Blossom Kite Festival. Among other activities, we flew 44 white kites in honor of the late Professor Refaat Alareer and his poem 'If I Must Die.' This event in DC was a sibling event to one our AFSC staff in Rafah organized, where children and families flew kites on Rafah beach to honor the 15,000+ children killed by the Israeli military. On March 30, simultaneous kite flying events were organized in Des Moines, Iowa; Bisbee, Arizona; and Orkney Islands, Scotland. Before March 30 and since, people all around the world have flown kites, calling for a cease-fire and an end to the genocide in Gaza. 

Please continue to join us in making, displaying, and flying kites to help amplify the call for a cease-fire in Gaza.