Recently I’ve been learning more about the Palestinian and Israeli conflict. It’s honestly breaking my heart 💔
I know a lot of people think this is a Muslim versus Jewish issue. To be perfectly honest, I myself was one of these people. However, when I’ve gone out there and done some reading, I’ve had a look at some posts from people who are more well versed on the conflict, I’ve realised this isn’t a simple Muslim versus Jewish issue. It’s not really about religion. Although there are some religious aspects.
The thing to remember is a lot of Jewish people are actually against the illegal occupation of Palestine by the Zionist Jewish Israelis. There are actually full on Facebook and Instagram groups dedicated to this stuff.
How was Israel created and Why?
As we know Israel was created in 1948. Prior to this, Palestine was controlled by the British Empire from 1920 to 1948, after the Ottomans relinquished power at the end of the First World War in November 1918
Britain decided to give away Palestinian land to the Jewish but this was done without consulting the United Nations (UN), neighbouring Arab countries or even the Palestinians. The people whose country it actually is 😱
In 1947 amid growing tensions between Arabs and Jewish communities in Palestine, the UN created the Palestinian Partion Plan so that there could be independent Arab and Jewish states but Jerusalem which is important in all 3 Abrahamic Religions was meant to be under an international regime, conferring it a special status due to its shared religious importance in the Abrahamic religions.
This plan was accepted by the Jewish Agency but rejected by Arab Leaders. Although this apparently didn’t matter, and they were forced to give up their land. Whether they liked it or not.
Unfortunately Palestine was left barren, and the Zionists got all the agricultural land, technology, transportation and resources.
Not only were the Palestinians left with nothing, but they were also denied access to resources and their homes were beginning to get illegally occupied.
The following year was 1948 and it was here the Jewish Agency declared Israel as an Independent Jewish state and proceeded to fight the 1948 Arab-Israeli War where Israel seized control of multiple Palestinian territories with only Gaza and the West Bank remaining in Arab control.
David Ben-Gurion was the head of the World Zionist Organisation and he was the one who announced the state of Israel in 1948.
Over the subsequent years Israel fought many wars with Arab Countries. The Six-Day War which took place in June 1967, caused Israeli illegal occupation in not only the West Bank and Gaza but also in Golan Heights.
Why is it illegal?
At the forefront of the current situation lies Sheikh Jarrah. Which is being illegally occupied.
It is classed at illegal occupation because Sheikh Jarrah is a part of occupied East Jerusalem. East Jerusalem legally belongs to the Palestinians but Israel has been illegally occupying Palestinian homes for decades. This isn’t a new issue, it’s been going on longer than I have been alive.
Regular Israeli citizens, also known collectively as settlers, have been pushing Palestinians out of their homes. But how is this possible? Why is no one stopping this? Well it comes down to the fact that Israeli soldiers actually protect the Israeli citizens who are doing the occupying while they’re pushing the Palestinians out of the home.
Article 49 of the Forth Geneva Convention [vi] actually prohibits “An Occupying Power” (Israel) from transferring any part of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies. The establishment of these illegally occupied settlements completely violates international humanitarian law. So why is the world silent? Why is the UK, USA and France blatantly disregarding the breaking of something so big as the law?
To simplify this… it literally means that Israeli settlers come into Palestinian lands and into Palestinian homes and force the Palestinian people to leave those homes. If the Palestinians resist, the Israeli soldiers force them out, supporting the settlers. They will use violence and guns to get what they want. There is no benefit for the Palestinians. They are literally forced out of their homes. Sometimes, at gun 🔫 point. There is no new home for them. There is no compensation for them for being forced out of the only home they’ve ever known.
There are even organisations dedicated to Israeli settlers and are helping them make their moves. Some of these organisations are actually based in the USA 🇺🇸 . Due to these organisations going to the Israeli Supreme Court, 6 Palestinian families have been ordered to leave their homes in Sheikh Jarrah in May 2021 and a further 7 Palestinian families must leave their homes which are also in Sheikh Jarrah in August 2021.
The crazy thing is the Israeli government recognizes these communities as illegal, however, it provides most of these illegal settlers with state funded protection and access to water, electricity, and other basic services. So why, if these settlements are illegal, flouting International law, the cause of unsettlement and unrest. The cause of a war. Why the hell are the Palestinians being persecuted?
Palestinian Victims
Jerusalem is a major holy city in Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The Zionists believe in Israel as a Jewish state. They feel that Masjid Al Aqsa belongs to Judaism as they believe that the Masjid is built on the ruins of Solomon’s temple which is also known as the First Jewish Temple.
Solomon’s Temple was built in 957 BCE. This was destroyed by the Romans in 586/587 BCE. This destruction and the deportation of the Jewish to Babylonia were seen as the fulfilling of the prophecy which was written in the Torah. As a result, it strengthened Judaic religious beliefs and awakened the hope for the reestablishment of an independent Jewish state. The narrative on Solomon’s temple is that this is the first temple that was built and also served as a place for the Israelites to assemble.
When the Jewish were allowed to return they constructed another temple over the ruins of Solomon’s Temple. This was then known as the Second Temple. It stood between 516 BCE and was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE as retaliation for an ongoing Jewish revolt. The Second Temple lasted 585 years.
For Christians, Jerusalem is important because they believe this is the location where Jesus was entombed, crucified and rose again. The Christian Quarter of Jerusalem holds the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and this is where Christians believe Jesus’ history is tied to.
Masjid Al Aqsa was built in 705 CE, which is roughly 40 years after Masjid Al Haram in Makkah. It has been rebuilt and expanded many times since it became Masjid Al Aqsa and gets it’s name from a journey that Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, took in one night when it should have taken him months.
For the Zionists, this fight against Palestinians is due to religious reasons. It is about taking what belongs to them. They believe the land is promised to them and that they can fulfil their prophecies by establishing a Jewish only state.
Palestine existed before Israel and the various religions in the area lived quite peacefully. These religions included Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
The Israeli state was created in 1948. Palestine existed prior to this and the proof is in the history books.
For Muslims, Palestine is a Holy Land. It is blessed and sanctified by Allah swt himself. It is land that has been specifically mentioned in the Holy Quran. It is the land on which the second Masjid on earth 🌎 was built. It was the land where the Prophet Muhammad PBUH was taken to the heavens to meet Allah SWT. It is the land that the angels of Allah SWT have spread their wings over. It is the land where Isa Ibn Maryam also know as Jesus Christ the son of Mary will kill the Dajaal also known as the Antichrist.
This is exactly why the Palestinians would rather die protecting the land. Because it is so Holy.
Yassar Arafat
Yassar Ararat is probably the most well known Palestinian political leader. He strongly opposed the establishment of the State of Israel and fought alongside the Muslim Brotherhood during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. In the late 1950s he co-founded Fatah, a paramilitary organisation seeking the removal of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian state.
By 1988 Arafat acknowledged Israel’s right to exist and sought a two state solution to the conflict. He entered into many negotiations with the State of Israel which included the Madrid Conference of 1991, the 1993 Oslo Accords and the 2000 Camp David Summit. As a result in 1994, Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize together with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, for the negotiations in Oslo.
As a result Arafat’s support was declining in Palestine and here Hamas and other militant rivals were born.
Hamas
Hamas was created in 1987 and was founded with the sole purpose of liberating Palestine from Israeli Occupation. This doesn’t mean Palestine as it is now, but it includes the parts of Palestine that were given to the State of Israel.
Since 1994, Hamas has frequently stated that it would accept a truce if Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders, paid reparations, allowed free elections in the territories and gave Palestinian refugees the right to return.
Currently if you’re not Jewish in Israel or its occupied territories you are less than a second class citizen. Palestinian refugees are not actually allowed to return but if you are Jewish and you’ve never set foot in Israel, you have automatic citizenship 🤔
Palestine is also not allowed to have an army, weapons to defend themselves, access to move around freely or even the basic human right of water.
Many Palestinians, although living as Israeli citizens do not have the right to vote because they’re not Jewish. So even though they don’t agree with the Israeli regime they have no power, no voice to do anything about it.
Surprisingly the United Nations General Assembly rejected to call Hamas a terrorist organisation which was put forward by the USA as a resolution.
Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran, Norway, Qatar, Russia, Syria and Turkey also do not class Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Australia, New Zealand, Paraguay and the United Kingdom have stated that only its military wing is a terrorist organization.
However, the USA, Canada, Israel, Japan and the European Union all agree that Hamas is a terrorist organization.
I feel that Hamas is the best chance at defense that Palestine has since they’re not allowed to have a military and are constantly being cut off from basic human rights.
Statistics
Since 2008 to 2020 the UN has documented 5590 Palestinian deaths and in comparison only 251 Israeli Deaths
Thousands more have been injured on the Palestinian side with much fewer Israeli casualties. As evidenced above.
Vocal Speakers
For the first time in forever, all eyes are on Israel.
The Hadid family who are part Palestinian, and include Bella and Gigi and Brother Anwar are very vocal on social media about the atrocities being committed by Israel.
“One cannot advocate for racial equality, LGBT and women’s rights, condemn corrupt and abusive regimes and other injustices yet choose to ignore the Palestinian oppression,” both sisters posted.
Dua Lipa also posted in solidarity with Palestine, “The ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people must come to an end. NO MORE!! This is a human rights issue!!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE.”
In response the New York Times published a headline condeming both Hadid sisters and Dua Lipa.
Other Palestinians such as DJ Khalid have barely mentioned the situation. Only speaking out when being called out on social media. The message from him was quite limited.
Gal Gadot who served in the Israel Defence Forces before she became a Hollywood actress has also not condemned the Israeli government’s actions but has instead tweeted about how Israel deserves to live peacefully. As if Palestine are the ones who are dropping bombs on Israel.
Bonnie Wright who is better known as Ginny Weasley from the Harry Potter Movies told it the way it is, with no fear of reprisal when she shared a GIF that called out Israel.
“What is happening in Palestine is not complicated; it’s settler colonialism and ethnic cleansing.”
Natalie Portman who is an American-Israeli actress had previously declined an award where the ceremony was taking place in Israel as she didn’t agree with the Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinians.
Viola Davies shared on her Instagram feed “Let’s talk about what’s going on in Sheikh Jarrah”, accompanied by 10 images explaining the context of the potential evictions.’
Many other celebrities and athletes have also posted about what is going on in Palestine. Most notably Mark Ruffalo who plays Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only did he tweet about it, he shared a link to a petition for sanctions against Israel.
Not only are celebrities speaking out but even ordinary Jewish people are speaking out. There is actually an Instagram/Facebook page called Jewish Voice for Peace that has been very vocal in being against what Israel are doing with many likening it to Apartheid, Colonialism and Ethnic Cleansing. It is amazing how Jewish people are standing against what is their own country because they see how much like the Holocaust this is.
Khaled Beydoun and Shaun King are prominent voices who are always speaking out against injustices and they are also speaking out as are some in power such as Detroit Congresseswoman Rashida Tlaib who confronted President Biden of the USA on the Tarmac by advising him that support for Benjamin Netanyahu was the same as committing crimes against Palestine.
Unfortunately he still went ahead and signed a bill supporting a $735 million sale of precision guided weapons to Israel.
However in an unprecedented move Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez has tried to block the sale with the support of others like Bernie Sanders.
Richard Burgon a Labour MP for Leeds has also made an impassioned speech against supporting Israel.
Ireland has been at the forefront of this which you can see below.
Biden has stated ‘Israel has the right to defend itself’. I’d really like to know what it is that Israel is defending themselves against. Especially against people who have no weapons?
Many Jewish people are protesting against Israel. There have been many protests across the USA and the rest of the world.
As the world has its eyes on Israel… they have agreed to a ceasefire although they have still stormed Masjid Al Aqsa on the day of the so called ceasefire and have also decided to arrest the Palestinians who were protesting.
In all honesty I need to end this article because there’s still lots to talk about. In my opinion Israel is making these claims because the world is watching. People are speaking up and taking notice and this social media campaign shows no signs of slowing down. One day Palestine will be free.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CPG-1BMDPQb/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CO_dRZyh6Ht/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/COwqjCUACTj/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPDnIhrnpXB/?utm_medium=copy_link
https://www.facebook.com/trtworld/videos/1134516173695115/
Thank you for reading and please share to make people more aware of the genocide that is taking place under the Israeli Government.
