Are Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide? For many of us who have a working knowledge of history, colonialisation and Zionism, the answer has been a resounding yes for well over a year now. But it has recently become undeniable. The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has discovered that Israel’s actions meet the legal definition as laid out in the UN Convention on Genocide.
Okay, so why should this matter to you?
Firstly, in the wake of WWII, the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was created. This made it an obligation for signatory nations, like the US, all of the EU, the UK, Australia, Canada and most nations on Earth, to intervene to prevent a genocide, no matter where it is committed or who it is committed against. It classified apathy towards genocide as a serious crime. Yet virtually all of the Western world continues to fund Israel, supply the very weapons used to commit this heinous act, and, in some countries like the UK, criminalise any attempt at dissent. As such, this finding by the IAGS means almost all Western leaders and prominent politicians could soon be dragged to the Hague and jailed. To say that will be detrimental to us all is an understatement.
Then there is the simple matter of being human.
We are watching the destruction of humanity. If you dehumanise one, you dehumanise all. The borders drawn between us, whether they are nations, races, religions, classes or ideologies, are frail and blurry. If the establishment can justify dehumanising and slaughtering people in Gaza, it can do it to you, too. We are already seeing this in the US and even the UK. It’s liberty for all, or liberty for none. So even if your heart doesn’t bleed for the systematic death of innocent people, you should still want to end this abhorrent act to save your own liberty.
But we are powerless to stop this, right?
It can feel that way. The news tells us of the horror but provides no solutions. And some solutions are becoming less viable, as pro-Palestinian groups are being incorrectly labelled as terrorists, making peaceful protest far more risky. How can we as individuals end this horrific, unstoppable force?
It is a David versus Goliath situation.
But I have good news for you. David won, and so can we.
So how do we stop this?
Well, first we need to recognise who is actually guilty.
Unless you are a politician or a rabid supporter of Israel’s occupation of Palestine, you are not responsible for this. Likewise, those manipulated into supporting this are not guilty. This genocide isn’t the manifestation of individual choices, and so we cannot fight it at that level. Attempting to would be like banging your head against a brick wall.
Our political and economic system, with its roots in colonisation and genocide, is guilty. Historically speaking, the West has repeatedly committed genocide, all in the name of enriching the wealthy. That is a reductive view, but it is undeniable that the system we exist in is designed for this specific purpose.
As such, it is these systems, the core leaders within them, and those who benefit from this massacre that are guilty. That is where we can fight to stop this.
So, let me offer you a few ways, regardless of your situation, that you can help bring this crime to an end.
1. Protest
Let’s start big. Join a peaceful protest, make some noise, and apply pressure on the systems and people in power by displaying your solidarity. This is by far the best way to stop Israel’s crimes. These protests have already put significant amounts of pressure on our governments, but more is needed.
Not everyone can protest. For some, getting arrested could cost them their livelihood. Many people, particularly in America, are vulnerable to police abuse and deportation. Likewise, there are people with disabilities, visible and invisible, who physically can’t attend. I myself am autistic, and my autism not only makes me prone to experiencing meltdowns in crowds but also makes me vulnerable to the police.
However, that is all the more reason for those of you who can attend to go and peacefully march. Research has shown that once 3.5% of a population peacefully protests, political change is inevitable, and we are getting closer to that number every day.
Major protests are happening soon in Israel, the US, the UK, and the EU. Here are the links to the US and UK campaigns; click on them if you’d like to join. For other countries, you can find event pages for local protests on Google.
But do not go unprepared. You need to know your legal rights and carry the correct equipment with you to be safe. Hereis a fantastic guide for that.
2. Pressurise your politicians
Contacting your political representative is almost as impactful as protesting and is safer and far more accessible.
You can easily find their contact information online. For example, here is the database of contact details for British MPs, European MEPs, the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. If you live in a Western democracy, you can easily Google and find the contact information of your political representative.
You can call them, email them, send a letter, or do all three. Do not threaten them. Calmly inform them that IAGS has declared Israel’s actions a genocide and that, based on the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, their failure to act is illegal. If you were feeling especially indignant, you could even mention the Hague. Make sure to include a link for both the IAGS website (here) and the UN Convention on Genocide (here) if you send an email. Inform them that you, and others you know, will not vote for them if they do not act against Israel.
Sadly, you can’t do this anonymously. For them to take you seriously, you will need to give your name and address so that they can verify you live in their constituency. Again, not everyone can do this; for example, if you are someone at risk of deportation in the US, this might be a risky move.
3. Charity
There are numerous charitable organisations working around the clock to safeguard Palestinians and attempting to mitigate Israel’s damage. UNRWA, UNICEF, and World Central Kitchen are all doing fantastic work, and funding them actively saves lives.
But if you want to attack the systems that caused this genocide, one charity is arguably better than the others: Doctors Without Borders.
Doctors Without Borders brings independent medical professionals from a broad range of nationalities to treat those injured and document those killed by the IDF. Because journalists are banned from Gaza and most charities are forced to use Palestinians to deliver aid, this means these doctors are key independent witnesses to Israel’s crimes. Their testimony will be fundamental in holding those in the Israeli government accountable at the Hague.
So, when you donate to Doctors Without Borders, you are not just saving Palestinian lives but putting pressure on those who are legitimately responsible for this genocide.
I am personally giving £100 to Doctors Without Borders the day this article is published and will continue to donate to them and other charities until this ends. If we all gave what we could, these charities could achieve significantly more.
4. Boycott
But what about those corporations, capitalists and politicians who benefit from Israel’s colonialism? Well, this is where the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement comes in. The idea is to boycott products or services from these corporations and diversify your investments away from them. There is also a suggestion to apply pressure on governments and international bodies to sanction Israel, but we have already discussed that.
While Israelis are not collectively responsible for the actions of their state, by putting this economic pressure on the corporations that profit from Israel’s occupation, expansion and genocide, it in turn puts pressure on the people actually responsible. It impacts the corporate leaders looking to invest or who want to put their money behind politicians who support the genocide. It impacts Netanyahu and Israeli politicians, given that it will harm their economy.
Here is a link to the BDS website’s “Get Involved” page. However, if you just want a clear and concise list of which corporations and bodies BDS advises we boycott and why, here is one. It is much longer than you think, and there are plenty of businesses and organisations on there that will surprise you. Take your time, go through it, make a list and make an action plan.
I myself discovered that my bank was on the list and have already begun the process of transferring to a new one.
If you are vulnerable or need a truly accessible way to fight the genocide, this is perfect. It is anonymous, can be easily implemented with a bit of planning, and does not put you at risk. More of us should be taking this approach.
You can stop this.
It is easy to be dismissive and think that one letter to a politician, one peaceful march, a handful of change to a charity or buying a different brand of ice cream simply can’t make a difference. But you are not alone. This is a snowball effect. The more people that throw apathy to the curb and take action, the more people will feel safe to get involved. Your good deeds will spark more, even if they are anonymous. You become part of a moment and a chain reaction that will take this snowball and turn it into an avalanche. That is the kind of force which can easily stop a genocide.
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Bravo, Bibi! You have succeeded in turning "The Chosen People" into "The Master Race."