It is not possible to exist at this moment without talking about the genocide in Palestine. We’re not pretending that we’re a huge group with dramatic effect on social or political spheres, but it’s vital that the suffering of the Palestinian people is broadcast in as many places as possible – and that support is demonstrable and clear.
But what to do? You might be witnessing these events on social media and wondering what it is you can do to have an effect. We’d like to offer some direction for this, as well as the resources to educate yourself on what you can do to support further.
The Facts.
90% – 1.9 million Palestinians have been forced out of there homes.
Israel has bombed Gaza with a force equal to four atomic bombs.
A third of hospitals in Gaza are now completely out of action due to specified Israeli attacks.
The bombing routes of Israel publicly and specifically target supposed ‘safe’ zones, trade routes and aid routes – purposefully targeting the most vulnerable.
At this point, Israel is now blocking any international aid effort to reach Palestinian people. This continues a 17 year blockade the Palestinian people have been forced to live under.
Human Rights Watch have declared the actions of the Israeli state as crimes against humanity. This includes the murder of parents, families and children – unarmed and unprovoked. This includes IDF snipers executing children running through flattened streets, as well as the sexual assault and enslavement of women.
In order to survive famine due to the blockade of their land, Palestinian people are being forced to survive by taking fractional food supplies and bulking up portions by using grass and other organic matter.
Israel continues to block clean water, electricity and medical aid. Despite international law and the Geneva Convention confirming they are obliged as an occupying force to provide these.
The Israeli campaign has been condoned by UN reports, Amnesty international, multiple EU and UN member states as well as countless international organisations and lawmakers. Displacement of people is only legally permissible by an occupying force under clear evidence of imperative military reasons or the safety of a wider population.
Countries like the UK, Germany and the US are directly involved in active trade agreements with Israel, including arms sale and active financial trade/support.
To this day, there has been no legal justification provided for the attack on the Palestinian people that satisfies any international legal definition.
Context.
The ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people by the state of Israel has been ongoing since some of the earliest massacres in 1948. Only a year before in 1947, the British ended their occupation and drew a partition affecting the Palestinian people – most notably without any consultation or regard for the legacy of their forced occupation of the land to start with.
This cleansing is know as Nakba. Many consider Nakba as something that has never ended, and instead continues to this day through Israel’s continued and illegal campaign in Gaza.
Zionism is the belief that the land in the West bank (as well as parts of Lebanon, Syria and Iraq) are part of a promised land that belong by divine right to Jewish settlers. Zionism is NOT Judaism. There are countless Jewish people worldwide who condemn the actions of Israel as militaristic, nationalistic and inhumane – and the Israeli state does not in any way represent their faith.
Evidence for the ongoing atrocities is often blocked and misrepresented by key celebrity figures and news outlets. As with all information broadcast to you, question the sources and potential bias of whatever information you are receiving. This misrepresentation also comes from several international law bodies being forced to adjust their compliance and representative policies under pressure from Israeli backed corporate-funders and lobbyists.
Key lines often used to defend Israeli murder and destruction are phrases like “Israel has the right to defend itself” or by referring the attacks by Hamas on 7th October 2023 in which Israeli citizens were murdered in an attack by Palestinian resistance. While it’s important to not condone the loss of human life in any way, including these attacks, it is also important to ensure the entire context of the conflict is represented in any discussion.
Donations.
There are many people where you can provide aid through financial support. These are our suggestions only, but we would always encourage you to do your own research. We know it can be hard to spare money for donations, but any little you can spare could have a huge effect in saving lives.
Mutual Aid Funds
A Mutual aid Fund is more local, and can provide direct support to suffering communities – with a smaller or more specific scope.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society
Dahboun Mutual Aid – providing on the ground support to families in Gaza but has temporarily suspended operations. In the meantime, you can also support their partner organisation The Sameer Organisation
Hakini
Hakini provides psychological and mental health support to Palestinians forced to live under constant violence. They work tirelessly to provide open phone lines and support to survivors and families.
Direct Action.
You may want to take direct action within your own political and social space. We’ve shared some things you can do to take full use of your legal rights to action and protest, as well as resources for more details on how to go about this. Please remember to only take direct action if it is safe for you to do so. Please also bear in mind that, depending on where you’re from in the world, there may be more specific things you can do – so check locally within your own communities!
Contact your local political representatives to cal for an embargo on arms deals to Israel. We’ve already mentioned countries like The US, Germany and UK who provide arms to Israel, but you can see a more detailed exploration of this here. Contact your local politician through their office or by creating/signing an open letter calling for all arms and military equipment trade with Israel.
Boycott companies that supply or benefit from Israeli investment or support. Coca Cola, Starbucks, Airb’n’b, Intel, McDonalds – the list goes on. Several companies have remained suspiciously quiet on the genocide, and this can often be because they have investments in Israel or are somehow supported by the state in their international business structure. You can see a list here alongside a measurement and explanation of their impact.
On the ground support is also vital. If you’re able to demonstrate by visiting rallies and demonstrations then you help provide moral and physical support to the cause, but also to individuals who are doing the same. In the face of increasingly vague anti-protest laws, attending these peaceful and law-abiding protests can add to the safety of all attending. Please only do this if you feel able to, we are fully aware there are countless reasons why someone may not be able to do this. If you can’t, then consider sharing information and promoting them online instead.
Raising Palestinian voices may seem like a small act, especially when it’s re-posting or publicly stating something on social media, but broadcasting voices of Palestinian people and support organisations can have a great effect within your own local areas and spheres. Publicly showing support is also your own way of ensuring that any Israeli backed propaganda doesn’t misrepresent any information about the conflict. Don’t stop talking about the suffering of Palestinian people.
Don’t. Stop. Talking.
Thuppahis – a list of atrocities and human rights violations committed by the Israeli state.
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