Since the circulation of #SaveSheikhJarrah hashtag until this very second, Palestinians have not known peace. In fact, at this moment of writing, the death toll in Palestine has reached close to 200 fatalities, 54% of whom are women and children as a result of Israeli missiles.
(Residential areas in Gaza continue to be the target of Israeli missiles, resulting in unimaginable loss.)
As news of the ongoing genocide reaches international attention, celebrities and political figures from all over the world have bravely used their platform to amplify Palestinian voices and their struggles, and here are a few notable public figures who have voiced out:
Sibling duo Bella And Gigi Hadid, world-renowned fashion models of Palestinian descent, has always been vocal about what's happening in Palestine. Their father is a Palestinian Refugee who was driven out of his homeland Palestine during Nakba (meaning catastrophe in Arabic) in `1948. Nakba refers to the Palestinian exodus where 700,000 Palestinians were driven out of their homeland— a bloodied historical event that led to the establishment of the illegal state of Israel.
Viola Davis, a high-profile Hollywood celebrity, has expressed her stance on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in one of her Instagram posts.
Zayn, former One Direction member, and international singer has always been transparent about his stance on Palestine.
Lesley Ann-Brandt, better known as Mazikeen from the Netflix series Lucifer, expressed her solidarity with the people of Palestine, a subject that is very close to her heart considering she is from the very country that the word "Apartheid" originated from.
Jeremy Corbin, a Member of Parliament for Islington North and a British politician has loudly defended the rights of Palestinians and even joined rallies on the street.
Avenger star, Mark Ruffalo is also a prominent celebrity figure when it comes to voicing out about the atrocities happening in Palestine.
Roger Waters, co-founder of Pink Floyd, uploaded this video condemning the genocidal massacre happening in Palestine along with a very clear message.
In this era of social media where information can easily be retrieved in the palm of your hands, we simply cannot afford to be on the wrong side of history. If you have been misinformed regarding the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, below is a series of clarifications debunking common myths surrounding it.
Myth #1: Isn't it just a war between Muslims and Jews?
Answer: We must eliminate the notion that the ethnic cleansing in Palestine is the direct repercussion of a battle among Abrahamic religions (Islam, Christianity, and Judaism). Understand that Zionists in Israel do not discriminate when it comes to the eradication of Palestinians— they have been filmed and caught vandalizing Al-Aqsa mosque (the third holiest site in Islam), urinating the compound of Palestinian churches and the city of Bethlehem (the birthplace of Christ and yes, Christian Arabs exists.) and have been shamelessly admitting their unified hatred towards Palestinians on national TVs.
Theodosios (Hanna) of Sebastia, the archbishop of Jerusalem has always opposed the principle of Zionism, and he himself has been detained once by IDF under false accuses of his involvement with terrorist organizations. Watch his denunciations of Zionism below:
It deserves to be called for what it is: the resistance of the native population against settler colonialism. Imagine having a stranger come to your house and tell you, "I live here now so you need to move out."
That is, in its simplest definition, what has been happening to Palestinians since 1948.
Myth #2: Palestine And Israel Are Nothing More Tha Another Middle East "Conflict"
Answer: To label the ongoing Nakba as a conflict would only contribute to the false connotations that there are two equal forces of power fighting one another. Instead, this is the reality:
• Palestine does not have an official army force whilst the Israeli Defence Forces are internationally recognised as one of the biggest and strongest forces of army in the world. If you're thinking of Al-Qassam Brigades and Hamas, think of them as NGOs that have voluntarily formed an independent defense force for the Palestinians.
• Unlike Israelis, Palestinians do not have designated bomb shelters to protect them. Most of the time, they are but a vulnerable target, nothing more than sacrificial lambs.
In conclusion, Palestinians never stood a chance, yet they're still fighting, albeit with mere rocks and stones. Do ask yourself Who is the real terrorist here; the one with the gun, fully armed and protected with weapons that could kill in seconds or the ones with rocks and stones as their only defence?
Myth #3: If you're supporting Palestine, you're anti-semitic!
Answer: This very statement has been the ultimate weapon widely used by Zionists in trying to silence those who dare to speak against the Palestinian oppression. In all actuality, Jewish organizations around the world do not recognize the state of Israel and have condemned the colonial dispossession and oppression against the Palestinians.
In conclusion, anti-zionism ≠ anti-semitism.
#FreeGenocide
#StopTheGenocide.
