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Advocating for Humanity

PALESTINE-Israel

 

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Our Statement on Palestine/Israel

We mourn with the civilians of Israel-Palenstine and the loss of life of all people. We condemn the actions of Hamas on Oct 7th and their actions that killed over 1000 people, and we simultaneously condemn the response from Israel and their mass killing of over 20,000 (of Dec 10th) Palestinians as they continue to bomb Gaza. We condemn the acts of antisemitism across the world and stand against the Christian Zionism ideology that actively seeks to displace the Palestinian people (that has been going on for 150 years). We stand with the people of Gaza who are trying to survive another day and with Jews around the world who are targeted for being themselves.. The events that are taking place in Gaza have also caused an uptick in hate speech, death threats, and acts of violence to both the Jewish and Palestinian communities here in the USA and around the world, and we say no more! Also, some Jews in Israel are being targeted by the police or fellow citizens for speaking out for Palestine. Hate has no place anywhere, and we must stand against it in all places and work to uproot it.

But we must address the current crisis unfolding in Gaza and what the Israeli government is currently doing there ….

We refuse to be silent when a nation chooses to commit acts of genocide against a people, and this is precisely what is happening in Gaza. We are watching an ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by the hand of the government of Israel, and my country, the USA, is openly and fully supporting it by words and by our tax dollars. Nearly 3000 (recorded) children {it is now over 8,000} have been murdered so far, and the total death toll reaches over 7000. But this number may be a lot higher as of a few days ago ( when I wrote this at the end of Oct 2023); the power and electricity have been cut within Gaza as Israel started its ground invasion, which began with intensified bombing. The largest refugee camp in Gaza has been attacked over and over, Including Oct 9, 12, 19, and 22, with reports of the most recent bombing killing around 400 (official reports have not come out). We have been watching what Israel is willing to do in the light of day (like bombing with white phosphorus), so just imagine what they are doing now as the people of Gaza, journalists, and civilians are unable to share what is unfolding from the ground.

Government officials, military leaders, and other people of power within Israel have been demonizing and dehumanizing the people of Palestine by calling them animals and other derogatory terms, all while openly saying things like …

"we will turn Gaza into an island of ruins" -Benjamin Netanyahu (10.08.23) and "We are dropping hundreds of tons of bombs on Gaza. The focus is on destruction, not accuracy"- Daniel Hagari / Israeli army spokesman (10.10.23).

These actions and words are intentional and clear. To take humanity away from the Palestinian people and openly say the lives of Palestinians do not matter… we can’t stand for this.

My heart is broken, angry, and confused as so many people I know and beyond quickly (and rightfully so) called out the heinous acts of Oct 7th by Hamas. But will refuse to say anything about the horrible war crimes and murders of Palestinians and even defend the actions of Israel. They aren't strategically going after Hamas; they are just wiping out entire city blocks, hospitals, schools, refugee camps, and churches. If Israel wanted their hostages back (of which Hamas said they are ready to do it), they wouldn't just be obliterating all of Gaza. They don't know where hostages are and could easily kill them with their insane acts of terror on the citizens of Gaza. There are some reports that some of the hostages have already been killed by the acts of Israel. Israel has over 10,000 Palestinians held in jail, which is now double what it was ... "in April 2022, it was around 5,000 "-including 160 children, 32 women, and over 1000 "administrative detainees" (indefinitely incarcerated without charge)."

Much of Western media has shared little to no stories of what's happening to Gaza, leaving many US citizens clueless about the atrocities Palestinians have been facing for decades as their land has been illegally occupied for 70-plus years by Israel. They are forced to live in an "open-air prison". They have little to no ability to come and go as tall walls, razor wire, sniper towers, and military forces surround them. Some Palestinians have been killed for just getting too close to the wall. These people have been oppressed for generations just for being themselves. We praise Ukraine, and rightfully so, for defending itself from Russia but condemn and demonize Palestinians doing the same thing. 

But now that all eyes are on Gaza, we have no excuse not to know the truth. All the statistics, facts, videos, stories, and books are at our fingertips. We are actively watching the genocide of Gaza happen on our cell phones and TV screens. Will you turn your head, close your eyes, and say nothing, choosing to send prayers and support for one group but not the other? If this rings true for you, ask yourself why this is. What has influenced you where your heart is hardened and unable to share empathy and care for different people? May it be the news outlets you are taken in, the places of worship you attend, maybe the people you let influence you on their day-to-day, or perhaps even past personal experience? Self-reflect on what is causing this more profound issue of fear, dehumanization, anger, stereotyping, or whatever combo of emotions it may be, and work to deconstruct those in a way that brings you healing while also bringing more humanity and hope to the world around you! So, I beg you that you do this work and that you will choose to speak up and act now. Be on the side of humanity.

We know there is a deep hurt and long history for this area as well as for Jewish communities around the world who have been hunted and killed, oppressed and targeted, and who have gone through generations of horrific atrocities of concentration camps and ethnic cleansing by Hitler. There is real fear and pain within these communities, and our statement above isn't to belittle or take away from these realities. We know many Jewish communities long for peace and stand against these acts of terror caused by the government of Israel. We also know many Jews in Israel are protesting their own government and calling for a cease-fire as well. We stand with them as well and stand with Jewish communities around the world who face anti-semitism and discrimination. We, thank you for standing against the hate and showing up in hard spaces. We see your efforts at the US Capital and Grand Central Station, where 400 were arrested in shows of solidarity with the people of Gaza.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO? 

One quick and easy thing you can do right now, which will take less than 5 minutes now, is to call your representatives and the White House, demand a ceasefire now, and humanitarian aid be rushed into Gaza.  This pressure really does make a difference. We can't become indifferent to the suffering, pain, and death of thousands of people.  Follow this link for a quick and easy way to make the call with step-by-step instructions: www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/resource/call-congress-support-ceasefire

 
 

We understand that the news and information coming out about the Israel-Palestine conflict can be disorienting and overwhelming, as well as painful and heartbreaking. Where do we begin to understand the complex long history of this region that spans over 150 years? How do we engage? I have been asking these questions myself and wanted to create a space for some of these questions to begin to be answered. We are compiling a long list of resources to help us on this journey. Some of this information may ask you to question what you've known or have been taught most of your life. It may shift your worldviews and push you into uncomfortable places, but let it. All those emotions are valid, so engage and sit with them. We believe that lasting justice base healing change can happen within Gaza, Palestine-Israel, and the whole region, but it starts with us doing the work and knowing the deep and long history of this area. And then taking this education and letting it change us and move us to action so that deep radical humanity can win.

Just added to this platform is a spreadsheet put together by a large group of people with lots of places to donated and ways to support: SUPPORT PALESTINE SPREADSHEET

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/1vtMLLOzuc6GpkFySyVtKQOY2j-Vvg0UsChMCFst_WLA/htmlview?pli=1

PODCAST

Daniel has put together a lengthy list of resources on the topic” We also linked much of his resources directly on this page as well!

ORGANIZATIONS

Social MEdia

from @m.z.gaza instagram

Sharing from inside Gaza

Journalist:

(Some content they share is graphic also, some of these people may have been killed or will be killed as over 20 journalist have been killed in Gaza so far since Oct 7th)

News & Media:

ORGanizations:

*More Movies, and Documentaries, books, and articles are in the Daniel Bannoura Resource Page from the Podcast above, where we gathered a lot of our resources and links.

 RESOURCES & links

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