‘Solidarity over hatred’: getting the aid through to Gaza
JVL Introduction
The scandal of aid convoys to Gaza being blocked and vandalised by right-wing militants has been condemned around the world.
The Israeli government has failed miserably in its duty to protect those convoys, with the police and the army failing to intervene, lending weight to accusations that their failure to do so displays an intention to allow a genocide in Gaza.
Step up supporters of Standing Together in Israel, a grassroots movement mobilising Jewish and Palestinian citizens for whom equality and joint action is the watchword. It has mobilised in recent days to ensure the safe passage of desperately needed shipments of aid, with over 800 people ready to participate in the Humanitarian Guard and give what protection they can.
We repost below a recent mailing from Standing Together, explaining its actions and appealing for moral and financial support from abroad.
It is followed by a Guardian report which puts the work of Standing Together in perspective.
RK
This article was originally published by the Guardian on Mon 27 May 2024. Read the original here.
‘Solidarity over hatred’: the small band of Israelis stopping settlers obstructing aid trucks
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Below is an extract of a letter from a lady in Israel published a day ago by the Roman Catholic weekly ‘The Tablet’. I may think parts of the media landscape in the UK are biased against the Palestinian viewpoint, but at least I have access to alternative sources. What alternative narratives does the lady who wrote this have access to?
‘The hatred towards Israel and Jews shown at many of these pro-Palestinian demonstrations is likely in no small measure by the media not being willing to report the true situation: of the enormous amount of food and aid going into Gaza, but not being distributed by Hamas; and by taking at face value the number of casualties put out by Hamas as part of its propaganda.’.
Still waiting to hear anyone from Starmer’s Labour condemn what is happening with the aid convoys – not just the attacks by the Settlers but the involvement of the Israeli State. Silence is complicity.
Blocking food supplies is starvation. STARVATION = GENOCIDE
Peaceful coexistence is the only viable future for Israelis, but it seems the majority of them do not see it
This is such an impressive, effectively organised initiative!
It’s always difficult harnessing enough volunteers to make a difference, especially when the volunteers can’t be given much notice of the need to turn out … and the skills, commitment and bravery needed for success are of such a very high order.
It’s a project that tackles multiple problems simultaneously. They’re helping to feed the starving. They’re putting pressure on the Israeli police and IDF to behave properly. They’re challenging the mindset and sense of impunity of the settlers and those backing them.
I know I wouldn’t have the courage or commitment to do what these volunteers are doing. Amid the hell that human beings are inflicting on other human beings, these people are beacons of light and hope.