A New Look at the Palestinian-Israeli Crisis
- Anonymous Advocate
- Apr 18, 2024
- 13 min read
Content Warning: mentions of genocide, death, war, self-immolation, violence, murder
Imagine a world void of food, water, electricity, shelter and medical care. Imagine bombs raining
down on you from every direction. Imagine losing your child to malnutrition. Imagine medical procedures being performed without anesthesia. Imagine hospitals, filled with babies in incubators and the elderly, being destroyed. Imagine eating grass and drinking seawater just to make it to an uncertain tomorrow. Imagine your entire world crumbling before your eyes. For the people of Gaza, this isn’t imaginary– this is the harsh reality.
A BRIEF BACKGROUND
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas, a Palestinian militant group operating primarily in Gaza, launched a surprise attack on 22 locations in Israel, killing, according to Lauren Frayer in “Israel Revises down Its Death Toll from the Oct. 7 Hamas Attacks to about 1,200”, approximately 1,200 Israelis in the process. In response to Hamas’ aggression, the Israeli government launched an extensive bombing campaign and ground invasion of Gaza with the supposed aim of eliminating the threat of Hamas. The Israeli government’s disproportionate response, which, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, has resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 Palestinians, has
embroiled the entire world into a fierce debate over which side is justified, when will the killings end and what solutions should be implemented going forward. In this entire frenzy one thing is certain, not enough people are remembering their own humanity when navigating this deeply pressing matter.
FROM CRISIS TO GENOCIDE
The Israeli government’s disproportionate carpet bombing, medieval style siege and blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza has led many to call out Palestinian suffering for what it is– a genocide. Read in “South Africa’s Genocide Case against Israel” by Rashmin Sagoo, South Africa even made an appeal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that Israel is in violation of the Genocide Convention, a 1948 United Nations treaty created in response to the atrocities that ensued during World War II that outlines what constitutes a genocide and the responsibility for signatories of the treaty to reprimand those in violation of it. Legal analysts and historical precedence tells us that it will take years for the ICJ to make a ruling on South Africa’s allegations, but that hasn’t stopped the international community from making their own judgment.
Article II of the Genocide Convention defines genocide as “any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”
Considering the careless treatment of Palestinian life and the forced displacement of Gazans, everyday advocates for peace are confident that calling the “Palestinian Crisis” the “Palestinian Genocide” is not only colloquially appropriate, but also legally justified as per Section II of the Genocide Convention. So, South Africa won’t be hearing back on its initial allegations for years to come, but they are able to demand interim relief through provisional measures. In response, the ICJ ordered that Israel must: prevent any acts prohibited in the Genocide Convention from occurring, prevent and punish public incitement to commit genocide, enable humanitarian aid to Gaza and prevent destruction of evidence pertaining to South Africa’s allegations. Naturally, the ICJ doesn’t have any way to enforce these provisional measures as they don’t have their own military force. Nonetheless, proponents of Palestinian liberation take it as a resounding victory that solidifies the international community’s intolerance for the Israeli government’s genocide of Gaza.
THE RIPPLES AT HOME
Just eight days before he was murdered, 6-year-old Palestinian American Wadea Al-Fayoume was celebrating his birthday with his loved ones. Little did the Al-Fayoume family know that just a few days later Wadea, and his mother Hanaan, would be the victims of an egregious hate crime by their very own landlord Joseph M. Czuba. Czuba, who had grown disgruntled and paranoid from the news coming out of Israel, confronted Hanaan about the ongoing crisis, projecting his fear and anger, he succumbed to his delusions about the imaginary threat that the Al-Fayoume family posed and brutally changed their lives forever. Wadea was fatally stabbed 26 times, Hanaan, who was hospitalized and survived, was stabbed more than a dozen times. According to “‘I Am Not a Threat’: Hundreds Gather for Vigil Mourning 6-Year-Old Palestinian-American Boy Who Was Stabbed to Death near Chicago’’ by Nouran Salahieh and Andy Rose, The Will County Sheriff’s Office asserts that Wadea and Hanaan were targeted because they were Muslim and as a consequence of the rising tensions due to the crisis in Gaza. A vigil was held in which friends, family and community members expressed their heartbreak over Wadea’s death, a common theme was uniting on the basis of peace and humanity– attributes that transcend all boundaries. Wadea’s tragic death serves as a reminder that peace, compassion and understanding are the only reasonable attitudes and actions in such a pressing time. In the absence of humanity, even a deeply beloved child can fall victim to the hate and division that clouds the hearts of those that aren’t certain of their humanity.
On Nov. 22, 2023, Stuart Seldowitz, former director for the National Security Council and former senior political officer of the State Department’s Office of Israeli and Palestinian Affairs, was arrested for a hate crime. His charges included aggravated harassment and stalking of the 24-year-old Q Halal Cart owner, located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Read in “Former State Dept. Official Arrested in Harassing of Halal Food Vendor’’ by Erin Nolan, Seldowitz made numerous derogatory remarks towards the owner of the food truck such as calling him “ignorant,” “terrorist” and threatening to report him to Seldowitz’s “friends in Immigration.” Seldowitz even expanded his attacks by proclaiming that: “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, you know what? It wasn’t enough.” New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams both called out Sedlowitz’s heinous behavior, but his unprovoked ruthlessness signifies a larger problem in the discussion of foreign affairs. Not only is it concerning that Seldowitz had direct involvement with Israeli and Palestinian affairs under the Obama administration, but his clear complacency and support for killing more civilians suggests that we, as citizens of the United States, should be wary of the motives of our government officials. Not only did Seldowitz display on camera how unfit he is to handle foreign affairs, but he also highlighted the bigoted mindset that comes with abandoning one’s humanity.
While shouting “Free Palestine,” U.S. Air Force Cadet Aaron Bushnell set himself ablaze in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C. on Feb. 25, 2024 as to “no longer be complicit in genocide.” Bushnell, who was taken to the hospital in critical condition, succumbed to his self-immolation and left a heart wrenching mark in his place. According to “Aaron Bushnell: Us Airman Dies after Setting Himself on Fire Outside Israeli Embassy in Washington” by Tom Geoghegan and Kayla Epstein, Bushnell was top of his class, a senior airman and an aspiring software engineer—nothing short of a highly accomplished person. But above all else, he was someone who deeply cared about humankind, so much so that he felt he could no longer be associated with the United States’ unconditional support for the Israeli government’s demolition of Gaza. Written in “What We Know about the Man Who Self-Immolated in Front of the Israeli Embassy” by Matt Stieb, people who were close to Bushnell expressed their shock and sorrow of his death, “It’s hard that he chose these actions, it’s hard to comprehend even from people who sympathize with a ceasefire and the safety of Palestinian people and civilians.”
ALL EYES ON PALESTINE
As the horrific death toll in Gaza ramps up with the ongoing genocide, the international community has responded in a major way. Protests have erupted across the world from Istanbul to London with crowds in the thousands, all calling for an immediate ceasefire and a free Palestine. Social media has erupted with awareness posts, ways to provide relief and even on the ground reporting by journalists like Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad and Motaz Azaiza. The outpour of support for Palestine even resulted in an ongoing global boycott of corporations with financial ties and obligations to Israel such as Starbucks, McDonald’s and Disney. Moreover, the gravity of this movement can even be seen in the current Democratic Presidential primary with pro-Palestininan voters selecting “uncommitted” as to protest President Biden’s complacency and support of the horrors in Gaza. According to “‘uncommitted’ Movement Spreads to Super Tuesday States.” by Elena Moore, as of March 5’s Super Tuesday contest, the “uncommitted” votes amount to 373,800 which is 20 delegates – these voters are sending a clear message that no politician will receive their vote unless they support a permanent ceasefire. Notably, the “Uncommitted” movement and electorate is composed of West Asian Americans, Muslim Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans and college students – all key voter demographics in the General Presidential Election. As seen in Representative Cori Bush’s website “Calls for Ceasefire Grow in Month Following Introduction of Ceasefire Now Resolution.”, outside of the United States, world leaders like Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro have all joined the effort to pressure Israel into stopping the massacre. As the world watches on, everyone’s focus has now shifted to the Palestinian city Rafah which, according to Al Jazeera’s article “What’s Happening in Gaza’s Rafah as Israel Threatens to Attack?”, holds more than 1.4 million Gazans who were forced to move south in the hopes of safety. The Israeli government has ordered numerous airstrikes on the makeshift tent cities in Rafah with plans of a ground attack looming. With all eyes on Rafah, the international pressure has grown even stronger in pushing for a permanent ceasefire out of fear that Israel will expand its airstrikes on Rafah into a ground attack.
THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON
On Jan. 13, 2024 thousands of people from across the United States made their way to Washington D.C. to march for Gaza. As reported by Edward Helmore and Maya Yang in “Thousands March on Washington to Demand Ceasefire in Gaza.”, this demonstration highlighted the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the United States’ financial aid to the Israeli government. People from all walks of life were there, united as a single body in support for Palestinian liberation, and I’m honored to say I was a part of that crowd. As written in the “Endorsers” page of the official March on Washington for Gaza website, this event was endorsed and sponsored by numerous advocacy organizations like American Muslims for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, CODEPINK, Doctors Against Genocide, A.N.S.W.E.R. and many more. Truly, the support for this event was overwhelming and the pressure put onto the United States government was immense. It was my first time visiting the capitol of the so-called free world and I look back at the experience fondly for reminding me that protesting is one of the most democratic and patriotic actions a person can take. Associating my first time in D.C. with a collective effort to pressure our government into taking the right course of action will forever leave a lasting impression in my mind. I remember making my way into the large crowd with my older brother, we got lost in a sea of people from every background imaginable. It was simply a beautiful sight to see because it was a representation of what the United States is at its core – a diverse coalition spanning across all of humankind. Protesters, including myself, enjoyed inspirational speeches and calls to action from a gifted panel of speakers such as presidential hopefuls Jill Stein and Cornel West, CODEPINK’s Madea Benjamin and even a video from renowned Palestinian journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh. After the speeches, we made our way from Freedom Plaza to the White House lawn, chanting “Free Palestine” and holding posters and flags along the way. When we finished with the demonstration and began walking back to the metro, it was surreal and heartwarming to see so many keffiyehs, traditional Arab scarves largely associated with Palestinian liberation, being worn in the streets. My older brother and I didn’t feel like we had to take them off now that the rally was over and that left a lasting memory that we carry with us to this day.
The display of diversity, democracy, compassion and humanity at the March for Gaza was an inspiration for all who saw it. It was proof that the people of the world stood in opposition to their corrupt governments and chose humanity over division.
THE WESTERN ASIAN AMERICAN STRUGGLE
When the destruction of Gaza began, confusion shrouded my identity and heartbreak dictated my attitude. This reality was clear for so many West Asian Americans, who, on the surface, were leading their normal lives, but in actuality struggled with processing and coping with the terror coming out of Gaza. Growing up I was unsure what to mark on forms or documents that asked for race because I hadn’t yet gone through piecing together my identity. The census says we’re caucasian, but British colonizers coined and popularized the term “Middle East.” So, when I was asked about race I was confused because I didn’t resonate with the experiences or culture of those who traditionally marked caucasian and I didn’t feel right using a term that was made from a Eurocentric perspective. Eventually, I took comfort in the strict geography of my roots and found a home in the all encompassing choice of Asian. To this day, I’m proud to say that I’m a West Asian American, born and raised in the United States with a simultaneous love for both my American and Asian nationalities. However, the same confusion that I felt at the onset of my journey with my identity resurfaced when Gazans were being killed in disproportionate numbers. Especially when the United States media apparatus made no effort at all in covering the horrendous genocidal conditions the Palestinian people were suffering. The world felt dystopian and stoic for some time because no one seemed to understand how difficult and frustrating it was to continue business as usual with the horror stories from Gaza replaying in the back of my head. And to add onto that, I found no solace from the United States government and the Biden administration who were in fact the primary enablers of the killing of innocent Palestinians. Even now, it’s disheartening to experience the betrayal of people and institutions you consider friends or allies that remain silent in the face of this blatant genocide. I think so many of us are fearful, we’re fearful that history will repeat itself in such a way that suffering will go unnoticed and unaddressed and our belonging will be put into question. I personally believe that the United States is the most beautiful country in the world because of its diversity. It’s refreshing to look around and see people from all walks of life with all sorts of different experiences, thoughts and emotions. I hope any untrue speculation, assumptions or extrapolations about Oct. 7 don’t blindsight my fellow Americans into abandoning what makes us so powerful – our diversity. West Asian Americans deserve to be proud of their heritage and have a say just like every other American because diversity in discussion, thought and idea are just as important as diversity in race. We have so much to bring to the table, especially pertaining to this discussion because we understand the politics, culture and history that rule West Asia. We must make an active effort to be proactive and intelligent in our judgments, decision-making and solution-making, all of which require the wisdom of those that know this crisis well. All in all, I’m hopeful and excited to see West Asian Americans continue pushing the boundaries of advocacy and offering their authentic perspectives as we work to solidify our positive mark on society.
A CALL TO HUMANITY
With over 30,000 Gazans killed and around 2 million displaced, the clear, obvious and overdue next step is an immediate and permanent ceasefire. More killing of innocent life has never been and is still not a humane, ethical or logical course of action. The international community, the everyday global citizen must use their voice to express support for ending the senseless loss of life that has embroiled Gaza for the past six months. No hospital, school, church, mosque, bakery or refugee camp has been spared from the Israeli government’s brutal and offensive siege of Gaza. The displaced Gazans are unable to find food to feed their starving families, many of which have recently resorted to eating grass and drinking seawater. The horrific medical condition of the people, only worsened by the lack of supplies, sees children getting amputations without anesthesia because their parents simply have no other choice. There is absolutely no time to waste, the Palestinian people are being subject to genocide as we speak and the clock has far run out by now. We must do everything in our ability to make their suffering known, such that our governments are pressured to take action and so that those that have remained silent are compelled to speak. The least we can do is amplify and reciprocate the same hope and resilience we see from the Palestinian people themselves. Even in their darkest hour they still maintain their love for life by engaging in communal prayer, celebrating weddings, singing songs and playing sports. If they’re able to hold onto the little light that they have, our role is to illuminate the rest of the world with it.
The atrocities ensuing in Gaza and the resulting response serves as a reminder that we still have work to do in the discussion and debate of sensitive topics. While I do think there’s been more awareness surrounding the Palestinian plight as of late, I still find myself concerned about the general callousness and indifference that some people carry when discussing human suffering. I thought the whole point of studying history was to learn from past mistakes in an effort to limit as much heartbreak and suffering as possible. However, the fear and hysteria that governed the attitudes and perspectives of many indicated that revisiting the history books may not be the whole solution, perhaps we must also revisit our own humanity as well. When we remind ourselves that the
people being killed in so called “foreign lands” also lead lives like we do, also have hopes and dreams like we do, also laugh and cry the same way we do and also want to feel loved and heard like we do, we will all be in a greater position to understand the pain and suffering of our fellow human beings. And from that pain and suffering we shouldn’t become obsolete or get discouraged, but rather we should rise up and proclaim the freedom and prosperity of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, the same way we proclaim freedom and prosperity for ourselves and our loved ones and the same way we hope others do the same for us. It’s time for us to coalesce on our universal commonality as peace-loving humans and declare our loyalty and service to one another. And when we dedicate ourselves to that mission the proponents of division and chaos that benefit from our disunity are rendered incapable in the face of our unity. When we realize that no one profits or enjoys our hate for one another, but those that are least deserving of profiting and enjoying then we will have realized the value of our humanity. Only when we seize the power of us working together and take a stand against injustice and those who take comfort in war will we certainly know that choosing peace, love and compassion is the only path forward. So, if you love your fellow human the same way you wish to be loved, stand with the people in Gaza. Stand with the people in Gaza and take a look around you, there you will see other peace-loving people and there you will have rightly embraced your humanity.
Comments