Hanan Turk: I am proud of Gazan people

Hanan Turk says Egypt is standing with Palestine Gaza - Mohammed Habib Egyptian actress Hanan Turk has praised the people of Gaza, adding that the Palestinian resistance is a true reflection of "patience and strength." In an exclusive interview with Arabstoday, Turk said she was delighted with her visit to the Gaza Strip, adding, "I saw people who can turn pain into hope and I saw people struggling to survive. I am very proud of Gaza and its people." In a message to the people to Gaza, the Cairo-born artist said: "You taught us patience and strength. You showed us the real meaning of resistance through martyr Ahmed Jabari and his looks which terrified the enemy, and helped your children to win over their executioner." Turk said that the world needs to come together and restore "the land of Palestine," adding that the Arab Spring "should not distract us away from Palestine, as a central cause." She said the feeling in Gaza was "indescribable," adding, "what I saw from the devastation and suffering is beyond imagination, it is a feeling mixed with pain and sorrow for what is happening in Palestine." Turk was happy to defend her country's position regarding Palestine. "Throughout our lives, if something bad has happened in Gaza, Egyptians have jumped walls and borders to help their Palestinian brothers in the face of the occupation. Anyone speaking negatively about the people of Gaza, is not speaking on behalf of the Egyptian people," she said. Turk hailed the Egyptian government's support for Gaza by sending construction materials to the Strip. "I think that President Morsi will not leave Gaza alone," she said.  The actress said there was a need "to mobilise all the capabilities of the Arabs; to support the Palestinian cause." Hanan visited Gaza with fellow artist Tariq Desouki, and deputy editor of the newspaper al-Akhbar al-Youm, Mahmoud Attia.