IJAN condemns Israel’s siege on Gaza
and calls for institutions, movements, activists and people committed to justice to demand an end to Israel’s siege on Gaza
We are outraged but not surprised by this escalation. As predicted by political writers such as Ilan Pappe and Toufic Haddad, Israeli’s unilaterally designed and implemented disengagement from Gaza prepared the terrain. With this withdrawal, Israel maintained control of the borders, air and water space, and completely isolated Gaza practically and politically. This has been accomplished with unconditional support from the United States and its allies and the complicity of the broader international community and Gaza’s neighbors.
The warnings about Gaza are similar to others throughout history. Mordekhai Gebirtig, the great Yiddish poet, wrote his famous song ‘S’brent’ (It Is Burning) in 1938. He wrote the song in response to the 1936 pogrom in the town of Przytyk, warning against the coming catastrophe that would befall the Jews in Europe.
The end of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas - Israel’s justification for belligerence - was in fact provoked by Israel during the United States presidential election. Israel is acting in bad faith, attacking Gaza’s civilians and using the Palestinian response to justify ratcheting up the suffering. Israel’s actions in Gaza are an assault on life itself. They are an unconscionable crime against humanity and a form of collective punishment.
Israel has taken a lesson from the Nazi government in Warsaw and other oppressive regimes by kidnapping and holding hostage humanitarian aid workers and international human rights observers. Such a tactic prevents their witnessing of and communication about what is happening in Gaza.
The latest naked display of violence by Israel and the arrogant contempt of Israel’s leaders for the humanity of the people of Gaza and therefore for the humanity of us all should move world bodies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, and all people of conscience to take immediate action.
Those who have supported Israel’s refusal to deal with the democratically elected Hamas government should now understand that the starving of Gaza is the inevitable outcome of that support.
Stop the assault on and blockade of Gaza now! Stop the holding of humanitarian aid workers and human rights observers hostage!
Only a campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel has a chance of stopping Israel’s violence.
If Mordechai Gebirtig, the Jewish artist and revolutionary, were alive today, he would be writing ‘S’brent’ for Gaza.