Our mass movement is acting against the starvation in Gaza
Standing Together’s National Co-Director Rula Daood reports on the movement’s latest activity.
I am at a loss for words. What an incredible, hopeful and moving thing that is happening here. I honestly can’t believe that I am writing to you from a place of hope and joy, but yesterday in Umm al-Fahm was truly spectacular.
Over the past couple of weeks we have been mobilizing Palestinians and Jews in various Palestinian towns in Israel to gather food and essential supplies that will be transferred to Gaza through an international non-profit organization. We honestly couldn’t expect what happened – THOUSANDS of people are donating and volunteering at our collections sites. I’ve never seen anything like it. I want to explain why this is so important, and I want to ask that you consider supporting this.
For us Palestinian citizens of Israel, the past 10 months have been particularly painful – watching our people endure mass death, suffering, loss and displacement just an hour or two away from our homes affects us daily – and many times when we speak up, we are silenced by the government and are at risk of political persecution. For many of us, protesting is a frightening and dangerous action, due to fear of persecution and police violence. However, through this aid donation campaign we’ve been able to mobilize thousands of Palestinian citizens to volunteer together, donating and packaging huge amounts of aid that will be transported to people in Gaza – over 70 full trucks so far! We are standing in solidarity with our people in Gaza and providing much-needed aid, and by doing so we are also opposing the Israeli government’s policy of starvation and shattering their efforts to suppress us.
Amongst the political persecution that so many Palestinians have been facing in Israel, and which has increased since the start of the war, this action gives people the opportunity to come together and do something that will practically impact Palestinians in Gaza. It reminded us all of the beauty in our community and people, the power of Palestinian-Jewish solidarity, and how much we are able to achieve when we mobilize our communities. This is what a mass movement looks like – thousands upon thousands of people helping where they can, speaking up, together.
An action like this costs us a lot of money, and this is where we need all of the support we can get. Costs of hiring trucks and truck drivers, renting storage, and other logistics and organizing costs are soaring, but we know it’s worth it. And we know we can keep this going when we have your back. Please consider supporting us in this donation campaign as we build a force in our society that says loud and clear: NO TO A POLICY OF STARVATION. NO TO COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT. YES TO SOLIDARITY.
We know that ultimately, the only way forward is a ceasefire and hostage release deal, an end to the occupation and Israeli-Palestinian peace. By mobilizing our communities, showing solidarity, and acting – we will get there. Please join us in this fight.