For Palestinians, the killing of Arrigoni is being seen as a means by Israel of thwarting a plan by peace activists to organise “Freedom Flotilla 2” to Gaza.

“Netanyahu wants to thwart the Freedom Flotilla, which will come in solidarity with Gaza. With this crime, these traitors are telling millions of Europeans who stand in solidarity with the Palestinians, and the people of Gaza especially, that the Palestinians do not deserve this support and that Israel is correct in using all means of war against them.”

Hundreds of children, men and women continue to light candles near the site where Arrigoni’s body was found. Fadi Al-Hasbi, 10, who met Arrigoni while the Italian activist was shooting a documentary about the suffering of children under siege in Gaza told Ahram Online: “I feel like I lost someone who is very dear and near to my heart. This is a difficult day for the Palestinian people because of the loss of such an avid supporter in this way.”

In an unprecedented move, detainees from different Palestinian factions in Israeli jails smuggled out a statement in their name declaring: “The kidnapping and killing of Arrigoni has broken our hearts,” and calling for the harshest punishment to be applied to his murderers. 

Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian activists campaigned on Facebook for the hanging of anyone who is proven to be involved in the crime, one which has shaken the Palestinians to the core. Activists created many Facebook pages to honour Arrigoni, asserting that the perpetrators were “agents of Israel who have stabbed the Palestinian people in the back”.

Also a large number of Facebook members have posted Arrigoni’s photo on their walls, or adopted it as their profile picture. Aalaa Al-Susi, a student at the Islamic University in Gaza, posted: “Vittorio has a tomb made of marble in our hearts … and a blossom that never dies.” In record time, Facebook pages were filled with tens of poems praising the “heroic acts” by Arrigoni towards the Palestinian people.

Emad Al-Hadidi, a writer, called on his Facebook page for the trial of the killers and that they should be hanged in Palestine Square, the main square in Gaza City. 

The Palestine Association of Religious Scholars, which represents religious scholars, clerics and preachers in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Diaspora, issued a statement asserting that Arrigoni’s murder “not only contradicts the teachings of Islam but also violates Islam and its virtuous values". 

The statement added that the crime clearly aligns with the interests of Israel, and called for “the harshest punishment for the killers”.