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FASEEGAH DAVIDS writes that the call for the liberation of Palestine, deeply rooted in local communities, transcends its geographical confines, embodying the collective yearning for justice among oppressed peoples worldwide.
IT is imperative to recognise that there exists no scope for romanticising the arduous journey towards liberation; nor should there be. However, a profound understanding emerges that the sustenance of movements such as Free Palestine necessitates collective effort. Singular individuals or organisations cannot bear this weight alone. Consequently, community stands as an indispensable cornerstone in the edifice of liberation.
The dawn of freedom in Palestine remains distant given the audacious and atrocious behaviour of the Israel government and military, and the complicity of the United States in the illegal occupation and dispossession of Palestinian land. The US aids Israel’s military without any ethical conditions, the foundation of which was laid by President John F Kennedy, and it’s funding for Israel’s military has continued with every following president in the US.
Social media activists along with live reports from journalists in Gaza have opened the eyes of the world to the truth – the US government runs without any moral conscience and Israel has broken multiple international laws without any consequences. Yet, amidst this obscenity, a convergence occurs, wherein the citizens of the global north and south unite in solidarity for the cause of a liberated Palestine. It is within this unity that the movement gains strength, transforming disparate individuals into a formidable force.
In the context of South Africa, a nation endowed with the privilege of exercising freedom of speech, a disquieting reality is raised to the surface. Shamefully, there are still those who opt for silence or align themselves with Zionism, with its history steeped in oppression and colonialism. In such instances, introspection is imperative. Who leads us when silence reigns? What ideologies do we tacitly endorse through our acquiescence? And moreover, we must delve deeper and question the systems that are perpetuated by our silent complicity in an ongoing genocide.
An enlightening discourse with a confidant unveiled the stark truth: silence equates to complicity. The evolving global landscape underscores this verity, as increasing numbers are awakened to the struggles for emancipation. Palestine transcends its geographical confines, embodying the collective yearning for justice among oppressed peoples worldwide. It serves as a catalyst, awakening dormant truths within each of us.
The cherished freedom to protest, inherent in South Africa, bears profound responsibility. It necessitates the use of our voices, actions, and platforms in pursuit of truth. Through collective endeavours, rooted in historical precedent, tangible change is achieved. This paradigm shift heralds the advent of a new world – an epoch wherein justice resonates in the melodies of bird songs, and the laughter of children guides us back to our essence. In this new world, Palestine stands emancipated.
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We find solace in the divine verses: ‘By the morning brightness, and by the night when it is calm! Your Lord has neither forsaken you, nor is He displeased with you, and the hereafter shall be better for you than the world. Soon your Lord will give you (that with which) you will be pleased. Did He not find you an orphan and shelter you? Did He not find you astray and guide you? Did He not find you needy, and enrich you? So as for the orphan, do not oppress him; and as for the beggar, do not chide him; and as for your Lord’s blessing, proclaim it!” (Surah Ad-Duhaa, 93:1-11)
These divine words serve as a beacon of hope amidst the strenuous journey of our collective struggles.
- Faseegah Davids is a sociologist working as a political researcher.
