Ever since the Israeli government declared war on Gaza, Israeli officials have pushed to intentionally—and permanently—force Palestinians to flee from Gaza. They may use terms like “voluntary emigration” to refer to their genocidal policy, but make no mistake, the Israeli government’s efforts to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their homeland is as intentional now as it was 75 years ago during the Nakba.
This week, as the Israeli military continued force Palestinians to flee their homes to areas it designated as “safe,” only to bomb those very areas days later, the Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for “encouraging the migration of Gaza residents” as a “solution” to the almost 2 million Palestinians displaced by the Israeli military’s daily bombing. Earlier this week Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, also spoke in favor of forcing Palestinians off their land, saying, “What needs to be done in the Gaza Strip is to encourage emigration.” Forced migration is forbidden by international humanitarian law.
The state of Israel was founded on the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and land, inspired by Zionism, the settler-colonial ideology that envisions a country for Jews only. Ever since, the Israeli government has continued to steal Palestinian homes and force Palestinians from their ancestral lands. Since October, the Israeli military’s genocidal campaign on Gaza has displaced almost 2 million Palestinians, over 90% of Gaza’s population.
It’s never been more clear: this is ethnic cleansing and there’s nothing “voluntary” about it. In fact, Israeli elected officials are calling for genocide so blatantly that they are currently being cited in South Africa’s suit against the Israeli government at the International Court of Justice for genocide.
The Israeli government and its defenders are unabashed about their genocidal intent. As anti-Zionist Jews and people who believe in freedom and dignity for all, we must call out genocidal language for what it is. We demand a lasting ceasefire and a political solution grounded in justice and freedom for all. Never again is now. All eyes on Palestine.
source https://www.instagram.com/
Categories: Asia, Gaza, Gaza, Israel, Middle East, Palestine, War, War crimes