October 20, 2024
The opponents of
a "genocide unfolding in real time" in Gaza are spoke out again this
weekend, demanding that the world finally intervene to stop the horror of mass
civilian death, starvation, and forced displacement being imposed by Israel.
Thousands turned out at a rally in
Trafalgar Square, calling for a ceasefire and an end to arming Israel on
the 19th of October 2024, Central London, United Kingdom. More than
42.000 people have been killed in Gaza by Israel, many of them women and
children, since Hamas attacked Israel Oct 7th 2023. Many carried toys
and flowers as symbols of peace and to commemorate the many thousands of
killed children (Photo by Kristian Buus/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Tens of
thousands of people marched in London on Saturday to demand an end to Israel's
genocidal campaign in Gaza and the military and political backing the Israeli
government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to receive from U.K.
leaders and U.S. President Joe Biden.
"What is so
sickening and disturbing is that Netanyahu, Biden and our government have no
red lines," said Chris Nineham, vice chair of the Stop the War Coalition,
which spearheaded the London rally that culminated at Trafalgar Square.
"Children are being burnt alive, populations buried under rubble, and war
with Iran looms, and yet the West continues to support Israel."
Large banners
hung above the rally demanded "Stop Arming Israel" as protesters
demanded an end to the siege in Gaza, a cease-fire in Lebanon, and warned
against further military action against Iran that could ignite a full-scale
Middle East war.
Many of the
protesters in London brought flowers and toys to the rally in order to
commemorate the massive number of innocent people—civilian men, women, and
thousands upon thousands of children—killed by Israel during its year long
assault on Gaza.
In an appearance
on MSNBC with anchor Ayman Moyheldin on Saturday evening, progressive
journalist Jeremy Scahill described the terrifying conditions in Gaza as he
joined those calling for end of the carnage and war crimes being carried out by
the Israeli military, backed and funded by the U.S. government.
Asked to speak
about the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, Scahill started by
calling attention to how "as we speak, the Israelis are waging an
extermination campaign in the north of Gaza," with an intensified siege
and increased bombings, including a series of airstrikes Saturday on the town
of Beit Lahia that officials on the ground say killed over 80 people—including
children "carved to pieces" by shrapnel explosives [warning: graphic
images].
"For the
past two weeks," Scahill explained, Israeli forces "have surrounded
the area and intensified it after the killing of Sinwar; no food or medicine of
any kind has reached both parts of the north."
Citing his
contacts on the ground, including medical personnel and fellow journalists
reporting from those areas, Scahill said, "I understand at least 80 people
have been killed tonight in a horrifying set of attacks on half a dozen
residential buildings. I've just gotten done seeing images, on the ground,
where children are being shredded like meat in a butcher shop. I don't
understand how any of us—whether we're journalists or not, this isn't about
objectivity—how any of us can watch this genocide unfold in real time and watch
the pontificating of the politicians running for president and not just cry
out, 'This has to stop!'"
"I mean,
this has to stop," Scahill continued, fighting back emotion. "We're
watching a genocide in real time, and I'm sorry, but on this network there are
people who've promoted propaganda from Israel. There are people cheer-leading
for people running for office lying to the American people about concern for
the Palestinians."
While the
killing of Sinwar by Israel resulted in Biden pushing anew for a possible
cease-fire deal, Scahill said the reality is that Israel Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu has only doubled-down since and "gone full-force final
solution on the people of northern Gaza," flouting any tepid warnings from
U.S. officials.
"Yes, let's
talk about Yahya Sinwar," said Scahill, "But my god we cannot watch
more children being shredded and say that this is okay—or that this is just a
political issue."
Tweets like the
following, prohibited by the social media platform X from being embedded on
third-party sites, are being shared widely in an effort to break through the
media blackout that dominates the western press in terms of what U.S.- and
U.K.-supplied weapons are helping to achieve in Gaza.
"Israel is
committing unprecedented massacres in northern Gaza, and the international
community cannot remain silent!" declared Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor,
based in Switzerland, on Sunday alongside a video containing footage from the
latest deadly bombings.
"The
situation reached a horrific peak last night, as Israeli forces bombed dozens
of homes in Beit Lahia, killing at least 80 Palestinians and injuring hundreds
others," the group continued. "The international community’s failure
to act makes it complicit in this brutality. The Israeli army is carrying out
systematic and large-scale killings, deliberate starvation, forced
displacement, and the total destruction of life’s basic necessities. The United
Nations must declare northern Gaza a disaster zone and intervene immediately to
stop Israel’s genocide."
In a Sunday
op-ed for Common Dreams, Caleb Crowder with the Institute for Policy Studies,
asked readers to consider that if they've ever wondered what they would do in
the face of a genocide, they can answer that question by recognizing what they
are doing right now.
"As I
watched Palestinians, some of whom were still attached to IVs, scream out in
agony as they were burned alive due to a recent Israeli strike on a tent
hospital, I wondered, what is the "red line" for people in this
genocide?" Crowder writes.
"We're well
over a year into Israel's deadly assault on Gaza, which has killed
approximately 43,000 Palestinians and rendered the area largely
uninhabitable," he continued. "This scale of mass murder is the
result of relentless airstrikes, ground invasions, starvation tactics, and a
blank check for violence and war crimes signed by the United States."
Warning against
further complacency, Crowder points out that polls have shown a majority in the
U.S. oppose the carnage in Gaza and want to see a cease-fire deal reached,
hostages returned, and the threat of wider war come to an end.
"If you're
reading this and you’re in that majority," he urged, "then let's turn
our despair into action."
On Friday, the
nation's largest healthcare workers union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers
East, was the latest to call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and an arms
embargo against Israel.
Representing
450,000 members in the U.S., 1199SEIU said, "As a union of healthcare
workers, many of whom have family in the region, [we are] appalled by the
incredible loss of life in this conflict. We are deeply concerned by the U.S.
and other Western governments' ongoing support of the Netanyahu administration
as it continues to flout humanitarian principles and kill civilians, including
by bombing hospitals."
"There
cannot be any more delay. We call on the Biden administration to enforce the
Foreign Assistance Act and suspend military assistance to Israel for its
continued blockage of aid necessary to avert catastrophic famine. It is
unacceptable for Israel to use U.S. military aid for aims well beyond its
self-defense," the union continued.
"All people
impacted by this conflict—Palestinian, Israeli, and Lebanese alike—deserve a
future free from war and suffering," it concluded. "The only way to
seek justice for the innocent lives lost is to build a lasting peace that
ensures safety, self-determination, and a respect for international law and
norms on all sides."
Ahmed
Dremly
Mahasen
al-Khateeb used her talent in illustration and character design to document the
horrors of Israel's war on Gaza since it erupted last October.
On
Saturday, she posted her last artwork, depicting the 19-year-old Shaban
al-Dalu, who was burned to death during the Israeli bombing of al-Aqsa Hospital
a few days ago.
Shortly
afterwards, she was killed in an Israeli air strike that targeted her
neighbourhood in Jabalia camp in northern Gaza.
Mahasen
and her family were at home when the attack happened. In a Facebook post, she
shared that there was no safe place left in Gaza to escape to, having already
evacuated multiple times with death constantly looming.
For
the last 15 days, the Israeli army has been invading northern Gaza under
relentless bombing, which residents describe as the most violent incursion
since 7 October 2023.
“The
house was full of displaced people when Israel launched a series of intense
attacks on the neighbourhood,” Mahasen's uncle, Hosam al-Khateeb, told Middle
East Eye.
“Mahasen
was killed instantly and eight individuals were injured, some critically,”
Hosam said.
Ambulances
and civil defence crews struggled to reach the area due to heavy artillery
shelling.
“We
still can’t bury her body, which is at Kamal Adwan Hospital, because of the
dangerous situation,” he added.
Painting
during wartime
Mahasen
was a painter, storyboard artist, freelance character designer and digital art
mentor, supporting her family through her work. She used her talent to advocate
for Palestinian rights and raise awareness of Israeli violations in Palestine.
Even
during the war, she launched free online courses in freelance digital art to
help those with internet access create a source of income.
“Mahasen
was one of the most professional, humble and lovely artists in Gaza,” said
Jumana Shahin, a trainee and friend of Mahasen.
“She
left a lasting impression on everyone she taught or met.”
Despite
the continuous bombardment and poor internet connectivity, the artist used to
depict and share the reality in Gaza on her social media.
“She
once told me that she wanted to share her knowledge and experiences as much as
possible because if she were to be killed, at least her knowledge would live on
through others,” Shahin said, her voice trembling.
After
evacuating to Egypt, Shahin stayed in contact with Mahasen.
“I
have never met someone as resilient as her. Even when she would speak about her
suffering from starvation and the terrifying sounds of bombings, she did it
with a sense of humour,” Shahin added.
Bilal
Abunadi, who worked with Mahasen at a media and graphic design company, is
still in shock over the news of her killing.
“Her
energy and commitment at work inspired everyone,” Bilal told MEE.
“She
brought a joyful spirit to everything she did, turning even the pressures of
work into an enjoyable experience and encouraging everyone to do their best.”
News
of her death quickly spread on social media, leaving thousands of her
followers, students and fellow activists grieving.
“She
was such a kind-hearted and generous person,” Bilal added. “She believed that
Gazan artists deserve the best that life can offer.”
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