The
world is seeing western racism in all its cruelty, as Palestinian lives
are deemed inherently less valuable. The worst horror is the silence and
complicity of the West in Israel’s unspeakable massacres.
All Palestinians feel they are being held responsible and paying the price for Israel’s failure to maintain security along the Gaza fence. From 1948 communities to Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank are being targeted on the basis of their identity.
All they hear are western countries giving their full support to Israel, which is using this cover to commit crimes, arrest people and violate the human rights of Palestinians anywhere in the country.
Palestinians do not feel they are safe. Tensions hang heavy, even just in the way people look at each other.
When one walks the streets of Jerusalem streets are empty, but police and private security forces are there.
Increasing numbers of civilians have been carrying guns in the streets, and even in shopping malls, where some Israelis were armed with M16s. This comes after National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir decided to hand out thousands of guns and to ease the conditions for purchasing weapons.
Many from occupied East Jerusalem no longer go to work. Some have been beaten. The army can stop anyone and check mobile phone; if they find a song about Palestine or a post about Gaza, they can confiscate the device, beat and arrest the person.
It feels as though people are living in a military base. In several locations, cement blocks have been placed at the exits of Palestinian neighbourhoods.
Armed groups of settlers and private militia forces can stop anyone on the streets if the person looks Palestinian.
People don’t feel safe speaking their own language anymore. Palestinian friends in the streets will speak Hebrew or English; they don’t dare to speak Arabic in public. Many people have been fired or suspended from their jobs just for showing solidarity with Gaza.
There are two million Palestinian citizens of Israel. On Tuesday, Israel’s police chief, Kobi Shabtai said, “Anyone who wants to identify with Gaza is welcome – I’ll put them on buses that will send them there.”
People are terrified they could be physically attacked at any time. Extremist Israelis are urging others to kill their Arab neighbours, including women, children and babies. People have found their photos and other details posted on social media groups that have been established to target Palestinians. It is a collective call for revenge.
The speed at which this fascism has spread through the country is stunning. People have always believed there is a common space where Israelis and Palestinians can come together and work towards peace. But the transformation in recent days has been overwhelming. People who once described themselves as Israeli leftists are now calling to wipe out Gaza.
It feels as though the whole state is now baying for genocide. This is the type of language one hear from politicians, celebrities, academics and ordinary people.
Many feel that Israel is working towards a second Nakba – and the world is doing nothing to stop it. Israelis are crossing red lines and using the current situation to promote apartheid, ethnic cleansing and a second Nakba.
Across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, at least 69 Palestinians have been killed in the past 13 days. Palestinians are being attacked by settlers; the police and army do nothing to protect them. Instead, Palestinians face mass arrests if they dare to show support for Gaza.
In Gaza, more than 4,000 people have been killed in Israel’s bombardment – including more than 1,500 children – while thousands more have been injured. Gaza City has been destroyed. People are struggling to meet their basic needs: water, electricity and medical care. Pregnant mothers are in crisis. Children are being left in hospitals with no one to pick them up, because their parents have been killed.
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