This post repeats some information from the Social Justice Issues Digest 1 post and includes new information in light of the increased violence in October 2023.
Since the late 1940s, Palestine has been occupied by Zionist colonial settlers. Plans to do this predates the 1940s. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was drawn up by Britain’s Foreign Secretary, Arthur James Balfour, and sent to a leader of the Zionist movement, Baron Rothschild (Rawan Damen).
(Alt text included & image description below resources)
If you would like a more detailed account of the history of the occupation of Palestine, read “Al Nakba” by Rawan Damen or visit the Decolonize Palestine website.
In 1948 two thirds of the Palestinian population were ethnically cleansed in the Nakba (Palestine Solidarity Campaign). The ethnic cleansing continues today, with Palestinians being forcibly removed from their homes, which are often demolished, for example in neighbourhoods such as Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem and the al-Araqib village in the Naqab (Palestine Solidarity Campaign). The forced, violent, removal of Palestinians from their homes has created over 7 million refugees under UNRWA’s mandate, as of 2022 (UNRWA, 2022).
At the time of publishing, in October 2023, there has been increased violence, some of the worst that people in Gaza are saying they have experienced. There has also been a significant amount of misinformation and disinformation by news outlets. It is therefore important for us to educate ourselves and remain informed by people in Palestine. There is a list of resources and social media accounts to follow below.
Palestinians have been subjected to violence, apartheid and ethnic cleansing by colonial settlers for 75 years. There is no space for neutrality in the fight for Palestinian freedom.
Resources
Written Resources
Information about Palestine, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Factsheets, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Videos
Palestine Solidarity Campaign video library
Podcasts
The Palestine Podcast, Ireland Palestinian Solidarity Campaign
Social media
X/Twitter
TikTok
Two tiktoks by Saffana on language choice and the “genocide marketing campaign”.
Image description of Balfour Declaration:
Foreign Office
November 2nd, 1917
Dear Lord Rothschild,
I have much pleasure in conveying to you. on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet
His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation.
Yours,
Arthur James Balfour
End of image description.
The Blogging Hijabi 
Leave a comment