In This Issue
For the last 13 months we have watched with horror as the Israeli forces have relentlessly assaulted and decimated the homes and lives of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. According to the United Nations, 1.9 million Gazans have now been displaced, out of a population of 2.2 million. With winter quickly approaching, hundreds of thousands find themselves sheltering in inadequate tents with little protection from the elements. In this update, we examine the issue of this massive, deliberate, Forced Displacement and share several multi-media resources for you to learn more and pass along to others.
The Generals’ Plan by Jonathan Kuttab
A moral fatigue and paralysis seems to have overtaken much of the world. Individuals, organizations and institutions seem to have reached the end of their credulity and ability to be outraged at the ongoing genocide in the Middle East. We protest, hold sit-ins, challenge politicians, appeal to international tribunals, yet it seems nothing works.
Every single day we hear of another massacre: 100, or 60, or 90 Palestinian men, women and children killed in a school or shelter, and more are asked to evacuate. A recent report by the United Nations found that: “Israel’s warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide, with mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions intentionally imposed on Palestinians there.”
It went on to say “through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated UN appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury, using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population.”
Yet even in this horrible atmosphere, what is happening in the North of Gaza seems to be of a qualitatively deeper level of immorality: A plan, publicly known as “The Generals’ Plan,” is being implemented in the Northern part of Gaza. According to that plan, the entire area is to be declared hostile.
Forced to Flee: Personal Stories from Gaza
Six Times Displaced: Rana’s Family Story
Rana and her family have been displaced six times in less than six months and still haven’t found safety. Visualizing Palestine, in partnership with Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, created ten visual infographic slides that capture their story.
Gaza: Israel’s Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza
In this 15-minute video, produced by Human Rights Watch as part of their recent report Hopeless, Starving and Beseiged: Israel’s Forced Displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, 49-year-old Ghassan shares how he has been impacted, both physically and psychologically, by being uprooted from his home.
“Honestly, there are moments when you feel alone on this planet. There is no safety. In truth, I don’t ever remember feeling safe since I was displaced from the north.”
Displaced in Gaza is a recent collection of personal testimonies of loss and hope from Palestinians in Gaza. These stories were commissioned by the Hashim Sani Center for Palestine Studies at Universiti Malaya and collected and published by the American Friends Service Committee on their website Gaza Unlocked.
This Advent, Churches for Middle East Peace invites you to join Weekly Wednesday Prayers for Peace (12:30 – 1 pm EST via Zoom) and their Advent, Not Arms Action calling on the U.S. government to suspend arms sales to Israel.
Mennonite Palestine Israel Network
MennoPIN keeps you informed about Palestine through our monthly update, special alerts, calls to action, important resources and tour possibilities, all from an Anabaptist perspective. To find out more, please visit our website.
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Steering Committee
Bob Atchison (Manhattan Mennonite Church, Manhattan, KS)
Lydia Brenneman (Lima Mennonite Church, Lima, OH)
Dave Janzen (Fellowship of Hope, Elkhart, IN)
Michael George (Landisville Mennonite Church, PA)
Jonathan Kuttab (Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist, Manheim, PA)
Dorothy Jean Weaver (Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA)
Zachary Murray (Mennonite Central Committee, Washington, DC)
Adam Ramer (Co-coordinator of Mennonite Action, New York, NY)
David Bluford (Rainbow Mennonite Church, Kansas City, KS)
Gretchen Merlot (Communications Volunteer, Philadelphia, PA)
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