This resource was compiled on Darug and Dharawal land. Sovereignty of this land was never ceded, and we will stand with our indigenous brothers and sisters in their fight for decolonisation until they are afforded the dignity and respect that they deserve as the owners of this land. It always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
We have created this document with the aim of aiding you in educating yourself so that you feel better equipped to educate others. There's a lot of information out there, it's overwhelming, we get it. This covers some general topics that come up frequently that you might have questions about. We hope it helps to clear up what tends to be referred to as a complicated situation, but is in fact quite simple: Palestinians deserve the right to justice and freedom.
A note: Hi! I’m Iman! I made this document with the support of Bilal Hafda and Aitak Salempour when I felt like there wasn’t anything more I could do to help relieve my Palestinian friends of the continual labour of educating people on the situation. I’ve had a few people ask via the form link who to credit & while I appreciate the thought, it isn’t necessary. If you find that this helps you or a friend and would like to do something for me in return, please remember my mother Rakiya in your prayers, any good that I can contribute is a continuation of her legacy.
I want to acknowledge that we are imperfect people and always learning. This will hopefully grow with information and resources. If you find any inaccuracies in this document, would like to suggest corrections, or even have a question that you haven’t found answered here, please send your feedback through this google form: https://forms.gle/SkhidHXMu31o2G4GA
Edit to say: Hey, this seems to have reached the other side of the world, say hi via the Google form and let me know where you’re from!
Link 2: Mapping an Annexation
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2020/6/26/palestine-and-israel-mapping-an-annexation
In 1917 - The British government issued the Balfour Declaration, a public statement announcing support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.
Fun fact - Historically, Palestine was not the only place that was considered for a Jewish state. Other places include Uganda (British Uganda Program), USSR (Jewish Autonomous Region), Japan (Fugu plan) and Argentina (as proposed by the “founding father” of Zionism, Theodor Herzl in his 1896 pamphlet “The Jewish State”).
October 31st 1917, British forces conquered Palestine which had been under Ottoman rule for 400 years.
In 1920 - Britain began its 28 year rule over what became known as Mandatory Palestine - here's some not ridiculously dense info to read info about the British Mandate:
https://time.com/3445003/mandatory-palestine/
1920-1946 - Increased immigration of Jews to Palestine from Europe with the rise of fascism and the brutal holocaust, an estimated 376 415 immigrants arrive.
In 1947 - the UN proposed partitioning Palestine into 2 independent states, one Palestinian Arab, and the other Jewish. Arab leaders rejected this divide which gave preference to the Jewish minority (less than a third of the population) in the partitioning of land that was majority owned by the Arab civilian population. This partition would see more than half of mandated Palestine go to the Jewish state.
https://www.palquest.org/en/highlight/159/un-partition-plan-1947
1948 - The Nakba/The Catastrophe >> Google this for some in-depth reading.
Zionist military forces expelled at least 750,000 (!!!!!!!!!!) Palestinians and captured 78 percent of historic Palestine. The remaining 22 percent was divided into the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
To put that in perspective, these are some areas in Sydney -
The combined populations of these places are just over 750 000. Imagine every single person in those areas being kicked out of their homes, at the same time, and being forced to live in horrendous conditions for generations to come.
A not-so-fun fact - Israel has a ‘Nakba Law’ (passed in 2011), which prohibits commemorations of the Nakba and imposes financial sanctions on institutions which hold public events. The state of Israel calls it their “Independence War” and there is an abundance of deplorable footage from Israeli settlers partaking in “Independence Day” (our equivalent of ‘Australia Day’) rallies every year. In 2009, the Israeli Education Ministry banned the use of this word in textbooks for children. The goal is to fortify Zionist narratives as the only version of Israel’s history.
This is a fact sheet that details not just the loss of lives and homes from the Nakba, but also the economic gains.
https://apan.org.au/factsheet-nakba/
Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network (APAN) has some other great resources to help you learn about Palestine and the occupation. I recommend checking these out as a starting point:
The fact sheets: https://apan.org.au/factsheets/
The video series: https://m.youtube.com/c/JafarRaminiPalestinian/videos
1967 - The Naksa/The Setback - Israel seized the remaining Palestinian territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, as well as the Syrian Golan Heights and the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, in a matter of six days. They gained land that was 3.5 times its size, shown on a map linked below. 300 000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes, more than a third of those people had been displaced in the 1948 Nakba. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2018/6/4/the-naksa-how-israel-occupied-the-whole-of-palestine-in-1967
To be added/coming soon: 1973 War, first intifada, second intifada
"But Iman," you might say. "That all happened a long time ago!" Wrong.
The displacement of Palestinians and the theft of land was not a historic event that ended, it's ongoing. As long as Palestinians do not have the right of return, it is ongoing. But the continued displacement is also ACTIVELY still happening. You may remember when two years ago neighbourhoods such as Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem were under attack by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers. Here are some things to read and watch about that:
Link 2: https://youtu.be/KNqozQ8uaV8?si=0ksAL6mTXa1X7Kjn
Link 3: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/6240/2022/en/
Other than theft of land, what else is happening/has happened?
Here's a post with some slides that explain other policies under occupation:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPEDPFKF6E4/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
This is a database of discriminatory laws and drafted proposals in Israel. You can click on each one for more details.
https://www.adalah.org/en/law/index
The restriction on access to water:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2017/11/the-occupation-of-water/
Restrictions on freedom of movement:
Link 1: A photo essay by Activestills on Israel’s military checkpoints - read this to have some insight into the daily life of a Palestinian with an Israeli work permit.
https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2018/commuting-through-israeli-checkpoints/index.html
Link 2: B’tselem list of military checkpoints
https://www.btselem.org/freedom_of_movement/checkpoints_and_forbidden_roads
So Close Yet So Far is a series of short animations that tell the stories of Palestinian families separated by Israeli apartheid policy, as documented by human rights groups/journalists. Meet Amani and Adnan. Narrated by: Sally Shalabi
https://twitter.com/visualizingpal/status/1299742882300125185
This is an Amnesty International report that lists occurrences of apartheid, unlawful attacks and killings, freedom of movement, forced evictions, and arbitrary detentions in Palestine:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/report-israel-and-occupied-palestinian-territories/
Information from Medical Aid for Palestinians including reports, factsheets and infographics
Link 1: https://www.map.org.uk/publications/fact-sheets
Link 2: https://www.map.org.uk/publications/programme-reports
Link 3: https://www.map.org.uk/publications/infographics
We've been chatting too long and now I'm embarrassed to ask:
Gaza is a Palestinian territory that is home to 2.3 million people. 60% of the population are refugees that were displaced following the Nakba. Gaza is not another country or island. Prior to occupation, the land that is now identified as Israel on world maps belonged to Palestinians (it still does). Following decades of Israeli occupation, only a small amount of Palestinian land is now lived on and partially controlled by Palestinians (Israel still controls Gaza’s air and maritime space, as well as several road crossings). Gaza has come to be known as the world’s largest open air prison with its civilians subject to violence in many forms on a daily basis.
For some quick geographical perspective: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUCl_8-xjQI
For an understanding of Gaza, and the conditions of the Gazan people, see:
Link 2:
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/6/24/gaza-blockade-15-years
The West Bank (including East Jerusalem) was taken over by Israel during the 1967 War. It makes up the bulk of what’s now referred to as the Occupied Palestinian Territories, along with the Gaza Strip. It is bordered by Jordan and the Dead Sea to the east, and by Israel to the south, west, and north. From 2012 to 2022, the population of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, had grown from 520,000 to over 700,000. These settlers lived illegally in 279 Israeli settlements across the occupied West Bank, including 14 settlements in the occupied East Jerusalem, with a total population of more than 229,000 people. At least 147 of these settlements were outposts, illegal even under Israeli domestic law.
Let’s Talk Palestine made this post that explains the separation of Palestinians and what that means for individuals living in those areas really well.
Here’s some more information:
Link 1: Human Rights Council Hears that 700,000 Israeli Settlers are Living Illegally in the Occupied West Bank – Meeting Summary (Excerpts)
Link 2: Explainer: Israel, annexation and the West Bank
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52756427
Link 3: Populations in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory endure recurring war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the crime of apartheid.
https://www.globalr2p.org/countries/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/
Link 4: Land Grab: Israel's Settlement Policy in the West Bank - 2002
https://www.btselem.org/publications/summaries/200205_land_grab
Loss of innocent civilian life is always tragic. However, the media coverage of loss of life in occupied Palestine and so-called Israel is heavily skewed in favour of Israeli settlers who are humanised and treated with dignity. Here are some examples of the differences.
Link 1: Video from TRT world on X, formerly known as Twitter.
https://twitter.com/trtworld/status/1395500329333035008?lang=en
Link 2: How media reports of ‘clashes’ mislead Americans about Israeli-Palestinian violence
Link 1: Israeli official says government cannot confirm babies were beheaded in Hamas attack
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/12/middleeast/israel-hamas-beheading-claims-intl/index.html
Link 2: Apology from CNN report Sara Sidner on X, formerly known as Twitter.
https://twitter.com/sarasidnerCNN/status/1712415116363169884
Israel & the myth of self defence - David Hearst, Middle East Eye editor-in-chief
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyakMVnIBTX/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
In addition to the selective media stories, Palestinian activists, academics, journalists, etc. are often only asked to speak on air when Israeli deaths have been reported. The agenda is always clear - you've been invited to denounce and condemn the actions of Hamas. Interviewers will speak over invited guests, ignore the information that is presented to them, or outright end the conversation.
Video by Al Jazeera - Demands for condemnations of violence against civilians seem to be reserved only for Palestinians - why is this the case:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyVhZ4VtHTM/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Video by Mohammed El-Kurd - Media Literacy Lesson
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cybb2xEN62Z/
Here are some recent full interview examples of Palestinians on air, though this has been happening for decades:
Mohammed El-Kurd just published an article in The Nation (20/10) about this treatment of Palestinians by Western journalists - Western Journalists Have Palestinian Blood on Their Hands
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/western-journalists-have-palestinian-blood-on-their-hands/
Adding this legendary interview that Bassem Youssef did with Piers Morgan in case you need a break from the ridiculousness of the interviews above:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4idQbwsvtUo
This media coverage often leans heavily on Hamas as justification for the violence against Palestinians, but what isn't reported is that:
The attacks and threat to Palestinian and Israeli lives are so disproportionate that Palestine LITERALLY ASKED the International Criminal Court to come in and investigate them to decide whether they were guilty of committing war crimes
https://apan.org.au/factsheet-icc/
I don’t know of many terrorist organisations who willingly and openly submit themselves to investigations, I’m just saying.
“But Iman, what about all the violence?”
A common slogan you’ll see written on cardboard signs or in the caption of instagram posts: "If Israel stops fighting, there will be peace. If Palestinians stop fighting, there will be no more Palestinians."
Often when we hear this language about condemning violence, it seems to suggest “no matter what”. Violence should be condemned no matter what. Except, it seems, when it’s committed by Israel.
How long can an occupied people be expected to peacefully resist their occupation? To be perfect victims? While it is acceptable for Israel (the occupier) to use self defence as a motive, the same defence is not afforded to Palestinians resisting their occupation. When we talk about restoring peace, what does that mean? If Palestinians and Israelis agree to a ceasefire, has peace been restored? Does peace mean an end to the occupation, or a continuation of it? I invite you instead to consider that the long term goal should not be “peace” which is not tied in any meaningful way to truth-telling and reparations. The long term goal that we should instead be striving towards, is justice.
Cool, now that we’ve gotten all the theory and philosophy out of the way:
Israel receives 4 BILLION DOLLARS of military aid per year from the United States alone. This is something Western media shamefully leave out of the reporting when Palestinians are portrayed as the aggressor - even when the act of resistance is children throwing rocks at Israeli tanks.
For more details, see: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/11/how-big-is-israels-military-and-how-much-funding-does-it-get-from-the-us
So, now that we’ve outlined the situation, what would you have Palestinians do? Before you answer, here is a list of things they have already tried:
Peaceful resistance
The Palestinian flag was first banned in Gaza and the West Bank in 1967. Two months after occupying the Palestinian territories in 1967, Israeli authorities issued a military order which punishes and criminalises Palestinians for attending and organising processions, assemblies or vigils of 10 or more people for issues that “may be construed as political”, unless they have a permit. The order, which does not define what is meant by “political”, effectively bans protests, including peaceful ones. It also prohibits the display of flags or emblems or the publication of any material “having a political significance” without a permit from an Israeli military commander. The order continues to apply in the West Bank.
Link 1: Source: Amnesty International [this is where the text above came from] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/01/israel-opt-flag-restrictions-are-the-latest-attempt-to-silence-palestinians-and-reduce-their-visibility/
Link 2: Source: NY Times article
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/30/world/middleeast/palestinian-flag-attack-israel.html
Peace talks
The Oslo Accords (named after Norway’s capital where secret meetings initially took place) are considered internationally to be the first direct Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement. Israeli PM Yitzakh Rabin, head of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) Yasser Arafat, and US president Bill Clinton met in 1993 - you may remember the photo of the handshake on the White House lawn. This was considered to be a step towards peace as it was the first time the PLO recognised Israel as a state, and the first time Israel recognised the PLO.
However, it was not until 2001 before the US formally gave support for a two state solution. Prior to this, there was no mention of a Palestinian state in the documents. Instead, there was a plan for an interim Palestinian Authority to be established that would govern over Palestinians (in a limited capacity) in the West Bank and Gaza for five years. The accords also outlined the responsibilities in the division of land in the West Bank (links below). Supposedly following this period, talks regarding borders, settlements, refugees, and Jerusalem would take place.
30 years later, you can guess how that’s going:
Link 1: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/13/what-were-oslo-accords-israel-palestinians
Link 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncg713gHwos
Link 3: https://theconversation.com/30-years-after-arafat-rabin-handshake-clear-flaws-in-oslo-accords-doomed-peace-talks-to-failure-211362
Link 4: https://www.btselem.org/publications/201606_reality_check
Link 5: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/oslo-accords-thirty-years-peace-distortion
Link 6: https://www.newarab.com/opinion/temporary-deals-become-entrenched-injustices-israeli-occupation-persists
Link 7: https://www.btselem.org/publications/summaries/199905_oslo_before_and_after
See also: 2000 Camp David.
Peaceful marches
In March 2018, Palestinians organised the Great March of Return to voice their right of return to their land, and to protest the Israeli blockade on Gaza which was making living conditions unbearable. This gathering took place from 30 March 2018 until 27 December 2019. One of the inspirations for the march was Ahmed Abu Artema, a poet and journalist, who wrote on Facebook: “What would happen if thousands of Gazans, most of them refugees, attempted to peacefully cross the fence that separates them from their ancestral lands?”
Here’s some more information about the right of return: https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/05/15/75-years-later-israel-blocking-palestinian-refugees-return
& here’s what happened when they marched to the border:
The man behind Gaza’s Great March of Return
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecrbhD8l1SE
Link 1: Amnesty International
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2018/10/gaza-great-march-of-return/
Link 2: United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
https://www.unrwa.org/campaign/gaza-great-march-return
Link 3: Medecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders)
https://www.msf.org/great-march-return-depth
Link 4: Israeli forces ‘deliberately killed’ Palestinian paramedic Razan
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/7/18/israeli-forces-deliberately-killed-palestinian-paramedic-razan
Petitions from Palestinians, the international community, human rights organisations, etc. There are hundreds and hundreds of these from around the world asking governments to sanction Israel, to hold them accountable for their crimes, to stop the support of their military, etc.
Link 1: Israel’s Supreme Court dismisses petition to remove West Bank Settlement
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-supreme-court-dismisses-petition-remove-west-bank-settlement-2023-08-03/
Link 2: Petition by Australians in 2021
https://www.aph.gov.au/e-petitions/petition/EN2715
Minister response to above petition can be found as a PDF on the bottom of the page.
Links 3-5: Amnesty International
https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/end-the-violence-in-occupied-palestinian-territories/
https://action.amnesty.org.au/act-now/israel-must-stop-violating-human-rights
https://action.amnesty.org.au/act-now/demolish-apartheid-not-palestinian-homes
Art
From 1980 - 1993, the Israeli government prohibited Palestinian artists from using the colours of the Palestinian flag in their work. This is how we eventually got the watermelon resistance! 🍉🍉🍉
Link 1: Post from gaytor.al
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPD9-pQj9Pm/
Link 2: An article on the censorship and punishment of Palestinian artists
https://www.newarab.com/opinion/dreams-liberation-israels-censorship-palestinian-art
Link 3: Hafez Omar imprisoned
https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/artist-and-human-rights-defender-hafez-omar-remains-detention
Ameerah Bad’r in this reel did a really cool thing and compiled 100 revolutionary posters created over the past 50 years in support of a free Palestine. She also made this separate Google doc to credit each artist:
https://bit.ly/405NrXJ
Poetry (I gotta, but I’ll restrain myself)
Link 1: Mahmoud Darwish, Palestine Poet Laureate
http://www.barghouti.com/poets/darwish/bitaqa.asp
Link 2: Rafeef Ziadah, We Teach Life Sir, 2011
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKucPh9xHtM
"Whoa, that's horrible, I can see they’ve literally tried everything even when the onus should never have been on Palestinians to fight for freedom and justice. What can I do to help?"
6 ways that you can help, regardless of the struggle, that pretty much never change:
Tell them that you do not support your country backing Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. APAN has a ready template that you can personalise or send as is, all you have to do is put in your address and it'll give you the name of your local member. https://apan.org.au/israel_stop/
If you have petitions available to you, sign them! Here’s one if you’re based in Australia: https://www.change.org/p/retract-australian-government-support-of-war-crimes-committed-by-israel-against-palestine
Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund - PCRF: https://www.pcrf.net
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP): www.map.org.uk
Baitul-maal: https://baitulmaal.org/donate/
Middle East Children’s Alliance: www.mecaforpeace.org
Most major cities have Palestinian organisers and activists that will ask people to show up and support the movement to free Palestine. A full list of groups in Australia can be found here: https://apan.org.au/local-groups/
If you’re on Gadigal land, follow Palestine Action Group Sydney on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date.
At the time I write this, the next protest will be on Saturday 21st October 2023, 1pm @ Town Hall.
This is a video about the types of content to share that's useful:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyckJfnM1hf/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Here are some accounts to follow to get you started:
@sbeih.jpg - US
@instasaranade - AU
@mohammedelkurd - US
@nouraerakat - US
@randaafattah - AU
@tzedekcollective - AU
@jewishvoiceforpeace - US
For up to date news, consider:
There's also a post with a list of accounts of people in Gaza you can follow on instagram here:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CySCPAprJ9M/?img_index=1
These have been included because they were specifically requested by people wanting to understand more about the situation. Visualising Palestine has made many of these graphics that cover a range of topics such as death tolls, discriminatory laws, and international responses. You can view them here: https://visualizingpalestine.org/visuals
For more, see:
https://www.palestinefairtradeaustralia.org.au
International:
https://sittisoap.com/blogs/news/10-palestinian-owned-brands-to-support-today-and-every-day
What is BDS?
BDS is a global, Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality. Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the Palestinian BDS call urges nonviolent pressure on Israel until it complies with international law by meeting three demands:
What does this specifically entail?
Withdraw support from Israel, complicit sporting, cultural and academic institutions, and all Israeli and international companies engaged in violations of Palestinian human rights.
Urge banks, councils, churches, pension funds and universities to withdraw investments from Israel and all Israeli and international companies that sustain Israeli apartheid.
Pressure governments to fulfil their legal obligations to end Israeli apartheid, including not to aid or assist its maintenance, ban business with illegal Israeli settlements, end military trade and free-trade agreements, and suspending Israeli membership to the UN.
More info about BDS can be found here:
Website: https://bdsmovement.net/
AUS website: https://bdsaustralia.net.au
Insta: bdsinaustralia
Need more convincing to throw away your Soda Stream? Here are some horrific things Israeli officials have openly stated in this past week alone:
https://www.newarab.com/news/what-have-israeli-officials-said-about-palestinians-gaza
Here are some more:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cyd5a9moQps/?img_index=2
"Okay Iman, I see what you're saying and I'm pretty sure I agree with you, but these resources heavily favour Palestinians and Arabs more generally, how can I trust that you're not biased?"
That's a fair concern, here are some more people to check out:
Jewish Voice For Peace - Israel & Palestine, A Very Short Introduction: https://youtu.be/Y58njT2oXfE?si=8qbUCUHXONIigqLw
Gabor Mate - Holocaust survivor and activist, former Zionist.
Link 1: Gabor Mate speaks about Palestine and Israel https://youtu.be/6n6xvFw7r9Y?si=aVH36V8wK0ZioT2O
Link 2: Why Do People Still Defend Israel:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyYUtTroVO4/
Norman Finkelstein - Well-known academic. His mother survived the Warsaw ghetto and his father survived both the Warsaw ghetto and Auschwitz.
He has written books such as Gaza, and given lectures and interviews that can be freely found on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/mZGPZRkqJzY?si=3oaFo0MfzUXkWO6z
Ilan Pappe - Israeli historian. He's written books such as The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine and Ten Myths About Israel. He also co-wrote On Palestine with old mate Noam Chomsky who has heeeeeaaps of things you can read as well as lectures and talks that you can watch/listen to on YouTube.
Gerald Kaufman - UK lawmaker speaks about Israeli attack on Gaza 15 January 2009
https://youtu.be/Osr_1ySuF6A?si=h99qXOasQHQs5E4v
Noam Chomsky - Anti-imperialist academic born to Ashkenazi-Jewish parents, who is renowned for his contributions to linguistics, philosophical thought and is an ardent critic of the ideological role of mainstream mass media.
Interview on Palestine, Israel and the state of the world, 2023
“This is the last phase of European colonisation…notice that the countries that are most strongly in support of Israel…the United States, Australia and Canada - the offshoots of England…these are settler-colonial societies.”
From the following video ‘Why Does the U.S. Support Israel?’
https://youtu.be/lUQ_0MubbcM?si=XK7OjFHxvV1_HK6Z
Several prominent Black civil rights activists and writers have spoken out in support of Palestine:
Malcolm X
In his 1964 essay, “Zionist Logic,” Malcolm X called for the liberation of Palestine, writing: “The ever-scheming European imperialists wisely placed Israel where she could geographically divide the Arab world.”
The full essay:
https://www.marxists.org/history/etol/newspape/socialist-viewpoint-us/mayjun_05/mayjun_05_21.htm
Angela Davis
Angela Davis, a revolutionary political activist and academic published a whole book of essays, interviews and speeches linking the struggles of liberation movements in history and the parallels between state violence from Ferguson to Palestine.
Link 1: Freedom Is A Constant Struggle by Angela Davis
https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/780-freedom-is-a-constant-struggle
Link 2: Angela Davis and ‘indivisible justice’ for Palestine
https://www.workers.org/2019/01/40763/
Muhammad Ali
“I declare support for the Palestinian struggle to liberate their homeland and oust the Zionist invaders”
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2016/6/13/the-greatest-was-a-black-man-who-supported-palestinians
Nelson Mandela
"We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians." Mandela reaffirmed his support for Palestinian rights in a 1997 speech on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/nelson-mandela-30-years-palestine
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/7/18/how-israels-lobbyists-occupied-mandelas-legacy
James Baldwin
A world renowned author and academic who, after being invited to Israel, came to the sobering conclusion that Israel represents Western imperialism rather than Jewish salvation.
Open Letter to the Born Again 1979:
…But the state of Israel was not created for the salvation of the Jews; it was created for the salvation of Western interests. This is what is becoming clear (I must say it was always clear to me). The Palestinians have been paying for the British colonial policy of “divide and rule” and for Europe’s guilty Christian conscience for more than thirty years…The collapse of the Shah of Iran not only revealed the depth of pious Carter’s concern for “human rights,” it also revealed who supplied oil to Israel, and to whom Israel supplied arms. It happened to be, to spell it out, white South Africa.
https://socialistworker.org/2014/07/23/how-baldwin-saw-palestine
https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/open-letter-born-again/# (change to Reader View in your browser to access)
bell hooks
Signed a statement in solidarity with Palestine in 2014
http://www.forharriet.com/2014/08/statement-in-solidarity-with.html
Here is a longer list of black feminists who have voiced their support of Palestine:
https://www.blackwomenradicals.com/blog-feed/black-feminist-perspectives-on-palestine-a-reading-list
Before I link the internationally recognised human rights organisations, I want to make it clear that Israel’s own foremost human rights organisation, B’Tselem, has recognised and documented Israel’s war crimes in occupied Palestine.
Link 1: Reality Check: Almost 50 Years of Occupation
https://www.btselem.org/publications/201606_reality_check
Link 2: Bombing Civilian Objects is a War Crime
https://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20210520_bombing_civilian_objectives_is_a_war_crim
Link 3: Not a “vibrant democracy”. This is apartheid.
https://www.btselem.org/publications/202210_not_a_vibrant_democracy_this_is_apartheid
Link 4: Various publications by B’Tselem
https://www.btselem.org/publications/100
Amnesty International:
Link 1: Human Rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories
Link 2: Israel’s Occupation: 50 Years of Dispossession
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2017/06/israel-occupation-50-years-of-dispossession/
Human Rights Watch:
Link 1: A Threshold Crossed - Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution, 213 pg. report
https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution
Link 2: Time to Recognize Reality of Israeli Apartheid & Persecution
https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/10/04/time-recognize-reality-israeli-apartheid-persecution
Link 3: EU Buries Head Deeper in Sand Over Israel’s Apartheid
https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/02/09/eu-buries-head-deeper-sand-over-israels-apartheid
Link 4: Israel: Discriminatory Land Policies Hem in Palestinians
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/12/israel-discriminatory-land-policies-hem-palestinians
World Health Organisation:
Link 1: On access to healthcare
https://www.emro.who.int/opt/news/who-launches-report-on-the-right-to-health-2018-october-2019.html
Link 2: On reversal of the evacuation order
United Nations:
Link 1: On ethnic cleansing https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/un-expert-warns-new-instance-mass-ethnic-cleansing-palestinians-calls
Link 2: On the Palestinian right of return
Still have some questions? Here’s some more information for you to check out. We all learn differently so I’ve tried to include a wide range of sources.
Some content from people on TikTok & Insta:
Gideon Levy, an Israeli who reported about Israel for 40 years
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cybvu31O9i5/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, activist and spokesperson for Neturei Karta
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CybVXbIoQGr/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Sim Kern, Do Jews need a homeland?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyTp6ZQrllS/
Sim Kern, Jewish author speaks
https://www.instagram.com/p/CyMFkNeg16z/
Big fan of books?
Verso and Haymarket Books are currently offering some ebooks for free!
Verso:
https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/370-ten-myths-about-israel?
Haymarket Books:
https://www.haymarketbooks.org/blogs/495-free-ebooks-for-a-free-palestine?
Here’s a link to a google drive with access to free ebooks:
www.tinyurl.com/read4palestine
Even more reading (there may be some titles mentioned that are already listed above) from a list compiled by Sara Saleh and Hasib Hourani, last updated in 2021:
Articles & Op Eds
General
Living the Nakba: Testimonies of trauma, loss, rage and hope, Randa Abdel Fattah
A history of Palestinian dispossession, Lana Tatour
Welcome to the Nakba: notes from the epicentre of an apocalypse, Micaela Sahhar
Indigenous there, settlers here: Palestinians in Australia, Tasnim Mahmoud Sammak
How Black Lives Matter is changing the conversation on Palestine, Micaela Sahhar
Righting the history of Palestine, Jamal Nabulsi
Gaza on the brink of extinction: an open letter to Malcolm Turnbull, Amy McQuire
Why we cannot be ‘progressive except for Palestine’, Roz Bellamy
As in Australia, so in Palestine: the colonial logic of striking at terror, Jeff Sparrow
On the recent Israeli attack on Gaza; Sheikh Jarrah; Palestine
The Bombs of Eid, Samah Sabawi
My family in Gaza ask me ‘can you postpone nightfall’, Samiha Olwan
A Palestinian-Australian on the violence in the Middle East, Amin Abbas
Defending Sheikh Jarrah, Tasnim Mahmoud Sammak
Gaza and the 20-year War on Terror, Nahed ElRayes
Books
Non-fiction
The Question of Palestine, Edward Said
The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine, Rashid Khalidi
BDS: The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights, Omar Barghouti
Justice for Some, Noura Erakat
Freedom is a Constant Struggle, Angela Davis
Facts on the Ground, Nadia Abu El Haj
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Illan Pappe
The Iron Wall, Avi Shlaim
Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics, Marc Lamont Hill and Mitchell Plitnick
Fiction
Tales of a City By the Sea, Samah Sabawi
Where the Streets Had a Name, Randa AbdelFattah
Against the Loveless World, Susan Abulhawa
Mornings in Jenin, Susan Abulhawa
A Minor Detail, Adania Shibli
Salt Houses, Hala Alyan
You Exist Too Much, Zaina Arafat
Palestine +100, Ed. by Basma Ghalayini
Poetry
Australia
A Trillion Tiny Awakenings, Candy Royalle
Eyad, Sara Saleh
nothing ever really, Lujayn Hourani
International
What I Will, Suheir Hammad
Fuck Your Lecture on Craft, My People Are Dying, Noor Hindi
Running Orders, Lena Khalaf Tuffaha
When They Say Pledge Allegiance I Say, Hala Alyan
Breaking [News], Noor Hindi
On Learning Palestine Does Not Exist, Fargo Tbakhi
Broken Ghazal, Before Balfour, George Abraham
Memory of Figment a Merely, Zaina Alsous
Graphic novels - sent in as suggestions, thank you!
Palestine by Joe Sacco
Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco
How to Understand Israel in 60 Days by Sarah Glidden
Not the Israel My Parents Promised by Harvey Pekar
Baddawi by Leila Abdelrazzak
For more:
https://sweatshop.community/support-palestinian-stories
https://decolonizepalestine.com/reading-list/
https://palestinianyouthmovement.com/reading-list
https://www.haymarketbooks.org/blogs/71-free-palestine-a-reading-list
Like to watch things?
Check out www.palestinefilminstitute.org
Palestine 1920: The Other Side of the Palestinian Story
https://youtu.be/QUCeQt8zg5o?si=NAAWa5SgmV1BMcYE
Panel: What does Palestine Mean for Black America? A conversation in partnership with the Dream Defenders (featuring Mohammed El-Kurd, Ahmad Abuznaid, Aja Monet, Vic Mensa, Dr Angela Davis, Fayrouz Sharqawi, Anwar Hadid and Janaya Future Khan).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqn2_os_LJY&t=2s
The titles below were shared here by @Afikra_ on Instagram:
They also shared a blog post with more recommendations here.
Gaza Ghetto: Portrait of a Palestinian Family — The first feature documentary made in Gaza (1985), directed by PeÅ Holmquist, Joan Mandell & Pierre Bjorklund, and set in 1948-1984 Jabalia Palestinian refugee camp. Along with a long list of relevant films, it's free to stream through October 21st via: https://www.palestinefilminstitute.org/en/unprovoked-narratives
Where Should The Birds Fly? — A documentary directed by Fida Qishta released in 2013 & covering Gaza in 2004-2011. Available to watch via: https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/52720/Where-Should-the-Birds-Fly
Jenin, Jenin — A 2002 film directed by Mohammed Bakri that's free to watch via: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5pGLEmmnns
Salt of this Sea — A 2008 film directed by Annemarie Jacir that's available on: https://www.netflix.com/lb-en/title/70117041
The Present — A 2020 short film, directed by Farah Nabulsi & set in the West Bank. Available on: https://www.netflix.com/title/81424328
My Neighbourhood — A documentary directed and produced by Julia Bacha & Rebekah Wingert-Jabi, first released in 2012. Available to watch via: https://justvision.org/myneighbourhood/watch
Frontiers of Dreams and Fears — A documentary by Mai Masri (be sure to check out our podcast episode with the director https://www.afikra.com/talks/conversations/maimasri) shot in two refugee camps & first released in 2001. Available to watch on: https://www.netflix.com/title/81504566
The Land Speaks Arabic — A documentary by Maryse Gagour that was released in 2007 but brings together rarely seen footage of Palestine before 1948. Free to watch via: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfFN8gw1jSI
In Search of Palestine - Edward Said’s Return Home was released by the BBC in 1998 & is available on: https://vimeo.com/184213685
Lover of podcasts and interviews?
The Big Picture podcast has some great content on Palestine.
The History of Palestinian Resistance
https://www.middleeasteye.net/video/history-palestinian-resistance
The forgotten History of Arabs and Jews
https://www.middleeasteye.net/video/forgotten-history-arab-jews-1
Israel, the Media, and the Future of Palestinian Resistance
https://www.middleeasteye.net/video/israel-media-and-future-palestinian-resistance
Ben Gvir, Smotrich and the End of the Peace Process
https://www.middleeasteye.net/video/ben-gvir-smotrich-end-peace-process
Here are a few others:
Legal Experts Deconstruct Media Lies about Gaza; Voices from Around World Shout Out Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Let’s Talk Palestine: Was Gaza Just Liberated?
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RgUwYL0hFhLkTkABBCZSZ
Lex Fridman Podcast: #391 - Mohammed El-Kurd: Palestine
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5nANFCJkaU7OYanBpdF2Aj
Statements & interviews with former/current IDF, pilots etc.
Nir Avishai Cohen
https://youtu.be/xRyBaPkdJ_c?si=uHAI7kBCfSIurdyr
https://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/testimonies/database - an extensive database of testimonies from ex-IDF soldiers, this NGO aims to expose the reality of what happens in Occupied Palestinian Territories in order to end Israeli occupation.
Via the Breaking the Silence instagram account:
Anonymous IDF first sergeant operating in Jericho and the Jordan Valley in 2019:
“The military comes and says, that’s the area I want. I decide I’m doing training here. And they’d do training either never or once a year. These things just take up more and more space. There are people living there, and they get kicked out only when it pays off. And they’d come with bulldozers and just get rid of all their stuff.”
Ilan Fatchi, 50th Battalion IDF soldier. Talking about a specific violent attack of an elderly Palestinian man by a Jewish settler, the police excuse the act because they knew her father and she was 12.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaiTwJvdn4Q
>>> IMPORTANT to note that Israeli police arrest THOUSANDS of Palestinian children each year, who are routinely abused in their military detention systems.
https://www.dci-palestine.org/children_in_israeli_detention
Bonus resources for FAQs!
Q&A on Palestine
https://imeu.org/article/twenty-questions-and-answers-on-palestine-israel-a-political-guide-for-elec
Myths about Palestine:
https://decolonizepalestine.com/myths/
Before you go, remember to check the ‘Get Involved’ section again to make sure you’ve explored all the ways you can make a difference. Okay, now #FreePalestine!
