Pro-Palestine man who went on hunger strike gets down from tree

Pro-Palestinian activist Louis Allan on Saturday descended from the tree in the Nicosia suburb of Engomi, where he had spent almost a week on hunger strike to highlight the plight of Palestinians living in Gaza.

During his protest, he had drunk only two litres of water per day – the amount available to the average Gazan at present, with the State of Israel accused by the United Nations of putting the strip “under a complete aid blockade for more than two months”.

“Coming down today, with all the people being there and even a Palestinian family passing by, gifting me some thyme from a plant that was brought over from Palestine was incredibly touching,” Allan told the Cyprus Mail after climbing down from the tree.

“I was concerned if I could make it or not on the first day, but what made it possible was the reason I was doing it, to raise awareness for Gaza.”

However, he explained, his wish to raise awareness of the ongoing situation in Gaza outweighed the testing and uncomfortable predicament into which he put himself.

Pro-Palestinian activist Louis Allan

“Among the moments that moved me the most was when parents were bringing their children, telling them about what I was doing and why I was doing it – it was beautiful”, he said.

He added that his lasting memories of the protest will be the quiet moments of support, cars slowing to honk, people waving or nodding as they passed, people bringing him flowers and staying with him overnight to show support.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to inspire another generation,” he added.

Reflecting on the week itself, he said the biggest challenge he faced was “sleeping in that tree, which was incredibly uncomfortable”.

He also touched on the reported attacks he suffered during the week. He had said earlier in the week that three people had thrown eggs at him and his tree.

Prior to embarking on the protest, he said, he had considered the possibility of being attacked, but that the incidents of verbal harassment and the alleged throwing of eggs were the most stressful moments of the week.

He added that he had been approached by one of the people filmed calling him a “terrorist”, demanding that he delete the video but said that giving up on his protest was not an option.

“While I would have not given up due to the circumstances, safety always was my biggest concern,” he said.

Of those who reportedly attacked him, he said they “most probably grew up indoctrinated”.