JUST two months ago Paveen Yaqub was aboard a ship to Palestine when her friend was shot in the face five times and killed.

Nine people died aboard the Mavi Marmara, the lead vessel in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, when Israeli commandos stormed the ship.

But aid worker Paveen, from Honley, has revealed to the Examiner she is already making preparations to join another aid mission to war-torn Gaza.

The 39-year-old told the Examiner she was inspired by a recent trip to Turkey to visit the graves of her friend Furkan Dogan and others who lost their lives on the flotilla.

Paveen said: “The trip to Turkey was really deeply moving and at times it was deeply humbling.

“It just felt so right and I felt it was part of the healing process.

“It definitely helped me – I feel more at peace now and it has focused me and given me the strength to continue to support the Palestinian people.

“I’m a lot better, and less restless and I’m focussing on the future now.”

Paveen met with the family of Furkan who were keen to know any details she could tell them of the moments before he was shot and killed.

She said: “I also visited Our Suleyman who is still in a coma in a hospital in Ankara after the attack.

“He is brain damaged and his family still haven’t been told what happened to him or how he was injured.

“He has had two operations on his head – he wasn’t able to communicate with me or do anything.

“It is very sad, because he’s just 47 and has three children.

“The family are trying to be really strong but at the same time they are also very proud of what he was doing in terms of serving humanity.”

Paveen has recently taken time off from her job at Oldham Council to cope with flashbacks and nightmares of the horrors aboard the ship.

But despite the trauma she is adamant she will join a road convoy to Gaza later in the year after she has talked it through with her family.

In the meantime, she is focusing on raising money for the flotilla as well as raising awareness of the plight of the Palestinian people.

Next week, Paveen will speak in London at an event hosted by the organisation Jews for Justice for Palestinians.

And she will be the main speaker at a dinner in Manchester raising money for Gaza aid.

The event is at 6.30pm on Saturday, July 31 at Usmania Banqueting Hall in Miles Platting in Manchester.

For tickets to the event, named “The Truth Lay Bleeding” call Paveen on 07928653444.