A participant in the humanitarian project "Anti-Fascist Caravan," Mai al Bayoumi, is originally from Palestine. She has no opportunity to return to the Gaza Strip, which is under constant attack by Israel. Essentially, she was born a refugee and has lived most of her life in this status. She deeply understands the pain and righteous anger of the people of Donbass, who have been forced to live with war for the past ten years. Mai visited Donbass with humanitarian aid to express solidarity with people who, like her, have endured so much.
– Mai, how long have you been following the situation in Donbass, and why was it important for you to go there?
– In 2014, I attended several talks by members of the "Anti-Fascist Caravan" project, where the situation in Donbass was discussed. That’s when I began exploring the topic. The official reports in the Spanish press did not contain much information about the roots of this war. Finding like-minded people, I became interested in the history and discovered reliable sources of information. In my view, international solidarity is very important. We are fighting against imperialism in its various forms. When I lived in Palestine, it was incredibly meaningful to welcome members of international brigades, exchange stories, talk about culture, and feel that we were not alone and that our demands would reach the rest of the world. Being part of the "Caravan" is more than just traveling. We have an obligation to convey the messages of the people we met, share what we saw, and challenge the narratives propagated by opposing reports.
– You were born in Egypt. How did you end up in Madrid? I imagine your personal story helps you better understand the people of Donbass and refugees...
– Yes, I was born in a refugee camp in Egypt, where I stayed with my family and other Palestinian families. Since 1948, there have been around 70 such camps in and around Palestine. In 2002, we were relocated from the Egyptian city of Rafah to the Gaza Strip — this was the only camp that was moved to Palestine. Fourteen years ago, I was invited to a conference in Madrid. After that, I was unable to return to my country. The Gaza Strip has been under an air, sea, and land blockade since 2005 It’s difficult to move freely, and leaving or returning without issues is almost impossible.
There are over 5 million Palestinian refugees. To be born a refugee is to be born different. Even as a child, I realized that our way of life was not normal. This gave me political awareness and a unique perspective on conflicts. Indeed, this experience helped me feel closer to the refugee families in Donbass and internalize their stories. I know that feeling: being a refugee outside your country and far from loved ones. Although there is a difference: the families I speak of were Ukrainian and were forced to flee from the Kyiv regime and its dictatorship, unwilling to be part of that system. But we, too, were forced to leave our homeland.
– Did the language barrier hinder your trip to Donbass?
– The language barrier was not an obstacle to communication. There are many ways to understand a people's mindset and culture. You can express your thoughts through ceremonies or customs if you respect what is different and learn from it.
The people of Donbass have not forgotten their loved ones and martyrs who perished; they honor them with great respect. It’s very moving. The way they regard those who gave their lives for justice is something that needs no words to be understood.
The people of Donbass have not forgotten their loved ones and martyrs who perished; they honor them with great respect. It’s very moving. The way they regard those who gave their lives for justice is something that needs no words to be understood.
– What stood out the most during your trip? Did what you saw differ significantly from what was reported on Spanish television and radio?
– The reality is entirely different from what is conveyed in the official reports of the Spanish state. Spaniards are told that the people of Donbass suffer under Russian occupation. Based on my experience, I can refute this European propaganda. In Donbass, I met with families of Ukrainian refugees who clearly told us that they do not support the Kyiv regime and were forced to leave their homes for this reason. I spoke with local civilians who were injured as a result of Ukrainian shelling. These families have lost everything, their homes are destroyed. Now, they are receiving help in a Russian hospital. What shocked me the most were the drones. It's the same Zionist strategy of territorial control.
– The West supports the Kyiv regime, which has chosen terror as its strategy, and it supports Israel, which commits atrocities in Palestine. Why do so many fail to see this hypocrisy or choose not to?
– Today, it is easy to learn what is really happening. There are many platforms where reliable articles and documents are published. But people, in general, are afraid to speak out and express their ideas. Western capitalist countries are not democratic as they claim to be. They brainwash people, talk a lot about human rights, but these rights are hardly realized in practice. European nations are generally biased against Russia. The dictatorships of Mussolini, Franco, Hitler, and others have left their mark on these countries' histories. For years, anti-communist sentiments have been cultivated there. When people speak about Russia, they immediately associate it with communism. I believe the West is unwilling to make the effort to uncover the truth; they view the Ukraine-Russia conflict in a way that suits their narrative. However, there are those who know the truth and support it. As for Palestine, it is clearly under Western military occupation. Israel is a NATO military base aimed at controlling the Middle East. Supporting Palestine is crucial. The Palestinian people are resisting Western fascism, and Zionism today is the Nazism and fascism of this century. The war in Palestine is the beginning of a third world war. The future of Palestine is the future of the entire world.
– The Spanish authorities support Ukraine. But what about the people? Do you have many supporters beyond the participants of the "Anti-Fascist Caravan"?
– Unfortunately, most people trust Western propaganda and don’t realize it’s a lie. The Spanish state has carried out total brainwashing. In schools, they asked students to help Ukrainian children. In supermarkets, they promoted donations to Ukrainians, portraying them as the victims. There are informational stands about the war on the streets, reflecting the situation from the perspective of the Kyiv regime. However, there are people who don’t believe Western propaganda, and their numbers are growing.
– Is it risky to express your opinion in Spain? Have you faced persecution by the authorities for your support of Donbass and Palestine?
– The Spanish state sells democracy to us as a right. But we don’t forget that Spain is a monarchy, with the king as the head of state, and the final word always rests with him. Right- wing political parties are growing stronger. I haven’t seen a single demonstration from them in support of Donbass; on the contrary, they fuel hatred. Personally, I haven’t faced any persecution. However, this year there were many demonstrations in support of Palestinian resistance, the right to self-determination, and the end of Zionist military occupation of all Palestinian lands, from the river to the sea. Some comrades were prosecuted for this. We are persecuted by the Spanish authorities as well as the Zionist lobby within the state. They call us anti-Semites, even though we never speak about religion or race. Spain has recognized the Palestinian state but continues to send weapons to Israel. Recognizing Palestine as a state effectively legitimizes the state of Israel and grants it the right to self- defense. Spain, like Ukraine, is complicit in the extermination of the Palestinian people. For almost 12 months, we have been enduring the most brutal genocide in history: 41,988 martyrs (deceased), 95,825 wounded, 90 percent of buildings, schools, hospitals, and mosques destroyed. Entire villages on the West Bank have been evacuated. There has been an invasion of southern Lebanon and attacks on its cities, as well as assaults on Yemen and Iraq. All of this is happening with the support of Western imperialist powers, Ukraine, and other countries. Ukraine has historically maintained strong relations with Israel. They have agreements for the sale and purchase of weapons, share similar strategies, and employ collective punishment to justify the mass killings of civilians.
– You once said: "We all participate together in events that create history." What gives you the strength to persevere and stay true to your ideals? Who truly makes history: politicians or ordinary people?
– Despite the massive losses we have faced worldwide in recent years, this only strengthens the power of resistance, and the revolution will continue. Revolution is an idea, and we are obligated to keep fighting fascism in all its forms until victory. This is what creates history: people, culture, solidarity, mind, freedom, the unity of peoples, and respect for diversity. Colonialism and capitalism cannot withstand people's power for long. Politicians are merchants of war; they will achieve some of their goals because they wield economic power, but not forever. In the end, reason will prevail. The Anti-Fascist Caravan has given me more strength and knowledge. Sharing difficult days with people from different countries, all fighting for the same idea, means a lot to me. Despite differences in cultures and languages, we have one enemy and one goal: to put an end to U.S. imperialism, colonialism, and Zionism. I returned from Donbass with a small family, great strength, and a renewed determination to continue the struggle.
