Gaza: Normalized Cruelty
(AFP Photo/Mahmud Hams)
By Jonathan Kuttab
By all counts, the latest flareup of fighting in Gaza was totally strategically inconsequential for Israel, except for the death and destruction it left behind. It is truly tragic that much of the world, including those interested in Israel/Palestine, is only concerned about Gaza when there is actual fighting and deaths involved, but that as soon as a particular round of fighting subsides, it fades into oblivion. While much attention is rightfully spent on the situation in Jerusalem and the West Bank, it is unconscionable how routine and forgotten Gaza has become. Israel even refers to those bouts (15 now since the “withdrawal/redeployment” took place in 2005) as “mowing the lawn” as if the inhabitants of Gaza are nothing but a pesky nuisance, persistent weeds who must be cut down repeatedly.
It bears remembering that Gaza is a narrow strip of land, only 20 miles long and 5-8 miles wide, that is home to 2.365 million children of God, two thirds of whom are refugees, living in poverty and overcrowded conditions, under a full siege from all sides. Gaza is an open-air prison, where the Israeli jailors control (with Egyptian complicity) every person and item who enters or leaves the Strip, including determining how much fuel (for electricity and sewage treatment), building materials, and foodstuffs are allowed in or out. The statistics about its economy, described as a deliberate and systematic de-development, with unemployment over 50%, electricity available 4-6 hours daily, and potable water at less than 97% of its available water supply, are utterly depressing. Yet, we only think of Gaza when, out of their utter desperation and, usually, as a response to some Israeli provocation, they shoot some of their home-made, futile rockets into Israel, which leads to a punishing response by a sophisticated Israeli army. That army monitors them 24/7 with drones, planes, and satellites, and a sophisticated Roeh-Yoreh (“To see, To shoot”) system of automated machine guns. This Roeh-Yoreh system surrounds Gaza’s borders, and carves out, even within its already cramped quarters, a killing field of shifting and expanding “free fire zone” that Gazans use for agriculture at their own peril. The inhabitants of the Strip live in a state of continuous, unsettling trauma with no end in sight. Even the future and outcome of the Strip is not discussed by those concerned with Israel/Palestine. Periods of normalcy and “quiet” simply mean that Israel continues unchallenged its violent siege and routine shootings at Gazan citizens or boats as it chooses.
One of the reasons it has been possible to maintain this isolation and indifference is that since the election of Hamas in 2007, after the Palestinian Authority refused to turn over power and after Hamas wrested power from them in Gaza, the world has turned its back on the entire Gaza strip. The Palestinian Authority has since joined the rest of the world in demonizing and isolating Hamas, as well as the entire population of Gaza. Today, Israel, the United States, and much of Europe considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization and have made it illegal for anyone to have any dealings with them. Only the PA, however incompetent, corrupt, and unrepresentative it is, is considered the permissible interlocutor and spokesperson for the Palestinians.
Now, I am absolutely no friend of or apologist for Hamas, but they do represent a sizable portion of the Palestinian population. They won the last elections held over 15 years ago, largely because the electorate was fed up with the corruption of Fatah. Hamas are the current rulers of Gaza, providing a wide variety of social, educational, municipal, and health services. The policy of ignoring, demonizing, and boycotting them does not advance the cause of peace for any side. For many years, Israel employed the same policy of boycott and demonization with regard to the PLO, but eventually Israel had to deal with the PLO and begin a process of negotiations. Regardless of how that policy turned out in the end, it was clear to one and all that demonizing and ignoring the PLO was not a useful policy. After all, you make peace with your enemies, not your friends.
Therefore, in order to even begin a peace process, we need to end the policy of demonizing Hamas and begin the perhaps painful process of reengaging with them, bringing them into some sort of dialogue. I suspect we will all be surprised by how ready Hamas and many of its supporters are to engage in the pursuit of a new policy and seek a better future for the people of Gaza, who are, after all, part of the Palestinian people. If Israel chooses to continue its policy of “managing” the problem, rather than ending the occupation, then it is up to people of good conscience everywhere to act courageously to end the demonization of Hamas. This will probably require, as in the case of the PLO, some courageous politicians, church people, and civil society activists to engage in civil disobedience and risk violating the law by starting discreet, yet also public contacts with Hamas, aimed at bringing them into the peace negotiations. That is what a truly prophetic and courageous peace activism demands.
In the meanwhile, the inhuman siege of Gaza must end. With reasonable security precautions, goods and persons must be allowed to move freely into and out of Gaza. The siege must also be forcibly broken through deliberate peaceful flotillas—attempting to break the siege by sea, by sailing boats into the coastal areas with food, medicine, and supplies. Israeli, Egyptian, and even Palestinian officials must be hounded at every opportunity with demands for action to lift the unjust siege for humanitarian purposes. Only thus can we begin to address the question of Gaza and prevent the situation from staying “normal,” just awaiting the next round of Israeli attacks on that defenseless population.
FOSNA News
Visit Palestine With Us This Summer
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Apartheid-Free Communities
For decades, the Palestinian people have faced Israeli occupation and systematic human rights abuses that constitute apartheid. Inspired by the anti-Apartheid movement that toppled the Apartheid regime in South Africa, we are building an anti-apartheid movement in North America and encourage our faith communities and all communities of conscience to step away from any and all support to Israeli apartheid, occupation, and settler colonialism.
Ahead of Apartheid-Free's formal launch, we invite faith communities, congregations, and organizations as well as other communities of conscience to join us by signing the pledge to dismantle apartheid. If you are an individual, organize within your community to take collective action against apartheid.
Take Action!
Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Act (HR3103)
Tell your representative to cosponsor or support the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, reintroduced by Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04) for the new congressional term.
Demand Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh and Contact the Department of Justice
This week, on May 11th, we mark one year since Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed. Now is the time to demand justice.
It is important to Shireen's family, to journalists and human rights activists around the world, that this investigation be completed and the findings made public. You can help keep Shireen's memory alive by contacting the Department of Justice and inquiring as to the status of the report and urge them to complete and publish their findings:
Use the Department of Justice web form linked to below:
Make the subject of your message either: “Federal Bureau of Investigation” or “Message to the Attorney General"
Copy the text below into the box, or compose your own.
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Urgent Action: Free Mohammed al-Halabi
Amnesty International has taken up the cause of imprisoned World Vision Staffer Mohammed al-Halabi, a very positive development for FOSNA's long-running #Justice4Halabi campaign.
On 15 June 2022, Mohammed al-Halabi, Gaza director of humanitarian aid and development organization World Vision, was convicted of diverting millions of dollars to the Hamas administration, which Israel considers a terrorist group. On 30 August 2022 he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, after having spent already six years in detention. He was interrogated without legal representation, tortured, tried in secret hearings, and convicted on secret evidence that heavily relied on a coerced statement. Amnesty International considers that Mohammed al-Halabi has been unjustly targeted and tried in an unfair trial. He must be released or tried in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards.
Last year, Halabi's appeal date was set for May 17th. However, the prosecution has stalled on providing materials to his lawyer on the pretext that there is a confidential file that even his lawyer is not permitted to see. Then, they were told that they could not bring in their materials due to the recent escalation in Gaza.
Please contact Israeli Minister of Justice Yariv Levin in Jerusalem and Ambassador Michael Herzog in Washington, D.C. to demand #Justice4Halabi.
Get Involved
May 20: Seattle
Palestine on the Edge: Where Do We Go From Here?
SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2 P.M., in person in Bloedel Hall or online via Zoom
Hosted by Amnesty International: Campaign for Palestinian Human Rights [Pacific NW]; co-sponsored by Saint Mark's Mideast Focus Ministry, The Bishop's Committee for Justice & Peace in the Holy Land of the Diocese of Olympia, and Kairos Puget Sound Coalition
Please join this Saturday afternoon conversation with Miko Peled, Israeli-American activist for justice and author of The General’s Son: Journal of an Israeli in Palestine, and Maya Garner, advocate for justice in Palestine and founder of Friends of Hebron, an American non-profit working with peace and justice advocates in the West Bank. Following the conversation, Peled will sign copies of the new Tenth Anniversary Edition of The General's Son, and the Saint Mark's Mideast Focus Ministry will officially open the collection of resources now housed in the Bloedel "Center Stage" meeting room. No need to register for in-person participation; to participate online join using this Zoom link.
May 21: Online
VFHL Film Salon: Remembering the Voices
Two documentary films, Voices across the Divide and Born in Deir Yassin, pull back the carefully constructed curtain of “a land without people for a people without a land.” Since 1948, a monumental effort has been made to promote a romantic mythology of Israel's creation and to hide the brutal violence. But firsthand accounts by both the oppressor and the oppressed, the expeller and the exiled, reveal the ongoing wounds. Nothing is resolved by dialogue alone, yet nothing will be resolved without it. Any hope of coexistence begins when the historical truth is rediscovered and acknowledged. It begins here.
Watch the film for free at your convenience; then join the Q&A Discussion with:
Alice Rothchild: Author, filmmaker, and Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School (Retd.)
Emad Moussa: Palestinian-British journalist, researcher, and human rights activist
Huda Giddens: Palestinian American educator, Nakba survivor
Ahlam Muhtaseb (moderator): Author, filmmaker, and Professor of Media Studies at CSUSB
Palestinian Christians: Ongoing forcible displacement and dispossession
To commemorate 75 years of Nakba, BADIL Resource Center and Kairos Palestine have collaboratively produced a joint document addressing the situation of Palestinian Christians, focusing on their ongoing displacement, dispossession and denial of self-determination. This resource follows their initial joint study published in 2012; Palestinian Christians - Ongoing forcible displacement and dispossession which raised the question “until when?” Now, 11 years later, we find ourselves facing the same question under even more dire circumstances that demand immediate attention and action.
We are pleased to invite you to join us for the online launch of this resource which will take place via Zoom on Wednesday May 24th, 2023 at 19:00 Palestine time, 18:00 CET. Kindly refer to the attached official announcement for further details about the event.
Distinguished speakers who will address the audience during the launch include:
Prof. Nur Masalha - Palestinian writer, historian and academic, who will speak on the historical context and roots of Nakba.
Ms. Francesca Albanese - the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the OPT, will speak on the ongoing denial of Palestinians’ right of self-determination.
Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac – Theologian, pastor and Kairos Palestine board member - will speak on the situation of Palestinian Christians and the impact of the ongoing Nakba on them.
Mr Saif Kassis – BADIL’s Legal Advocacy Officer will present the document and highlight the ongoing Israeli policies of forcible displacement.
Current Realities in Palestine/Israel
All Saints Middle East Ministry and FOSNA LA/OC will be hosting FOSNA Executive Director Jonathan Kuttab to speak on at All Saints Church on Saturday, May 27th at 2 p.m. PDT. Light refreshments will be served. Parking is available in the lot on the SE corner of Walnut & Euclid.
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, Jerusalem:
Weekly
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Kumi Now! (Week 20) The Ongoing Nakba. For Palestinians, May 15 is Nakba Day. That is the day following the Israeli Independence Day on the Gregorian calendar. The term Nakbarefers to the 1948 catastrophe when over 1,000,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes or fled in fear for their lives. But this use of the term in the past tense suggests that the Nakba was over and done 70 years ago. This is not the case, as the events of 1948 were just part of a consistent and ongoing process that dates back to the Balfour Declaration and continues today. Here’s what you need to know about the ongoing Nakba and what you can do so that together we can rise up.