Shanza Rehan

For the past few weeks, the world has been witnessing the brutal ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel which has resulted in the loss of many innocent civilian lives. Most of the collateral damage mainly being young children belongs to Gaza, the area affected. Reports suggest that the destruction resulting from this conflict is catastrophic, to the point that even essential buildings like schools, hospitals, and places of worship are being targeted. 

Since the surprise attack on 7th October, more than 8,000 thousand Palestine have lost their lives, 1.1 million being displaced. The electricity, food, telecommunication, and fuel are all being cut off by Israel but this time however the narrative of the war does not fall in Israel’s favor. Since this time there has been not only aggression from Israel’s side but also from social media. 

People have been researching and claiming all the discrepancies against Israeli statements. Tiktok and Instagram are the largest social media platforms involved at the moment and users, especially those sharing pro-Palestine content have claimed to be Shadow-banned, and other users who have been interacting claim that all the content in favor of Palestine is being censored by Instagram. TikTok algorithms hide or minimize Palestinian content whilst promoting Israeli videos. What the Israeli propaganda has failed to realize is that the people’s morals and minds cannot be censored or blocked. Their eyes are witness to the deaths of thousands of children, the amputated bodies, and the cruelty done by Israel. 

Even global powers such as the European Union and the United States of America have declared in favor of Israel’s war crimes, even though all the violence and force exerted on the Gaza Strip violates every international law regarding war and also blatantly coincides with the definition of Genocide. Israel is in real-time committing genocide on the Gaza citizens. The explosives used have reached 12,000 Kiloton a near equivalent to the Hiroshima atomic bomb. Phosphorus gas is being used on civilians or as Israel claims on Hamas Terrorist which is banned by the international community. The holy land is drowning in children’s blood, courtesy of Israel. State heads such as England Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak are visiting Israel to show their solidarity with an alleged oppressed colony of Israel and yet they are carpeting bombing their oppressor who doesn’t have a standing army, food, shelter, electricity, or any basic human need.

Not only Muslims but all people of race, ethnicity, and religion are calling out for a ceasefire. A global boycott of Israeli products is trending everywhere. People have boycotted and will continue to do so till a ceasefire is not enacted. Stocks of companies like Starbucks and McDonalds have seen a steep fall and it continues to fall. They are protesting in masses especially in cities like, Berlin, New York, London, and Paris with a mass of more than 100,000 people showing support for Palestine. Social media has played a pivotal role in spreading the truth about the ongoing situation and regarding the mass atrocities Israel is committing. 

Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration are obscuring evidence of their war crimes, giving legitimacy to the notion that they are well in fact aware of the gravity of the situation. Unlike the past when Tel Aviv could commit a massacre on the Gaza people, the public perception has shaped Palestine’s favor. The Israeli defense minister has called the Palestine Human animals and that they are worthy of any sympathy or mercy. Even evidence presented is being seen with doubt of its legitimacy yet Israeli statements are being promoted without any authentication, suggested as President Joe Biden had dismissed the reports of Gaza loss and damage.

In recent times, Israel no longer can hide behind its oppressed façade and still commit war crimes and atrocities. The Mass public is asking their governments and calling out for holding Israel accountable for its horrific actions and an immediate ceasefire. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has also condemned Israeli crimes in the United Nations Security Council Meeting. The highlight of what he said includes:

“The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation.  They have seen their land steadily devoured by settlements and plagued by violence; their economy stifled; their people displaced and their homes demolished. Their hopes for a political solution to their plight have been vanishing. However, the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Even war has rules”

It is a dire need of time that the settler colony of Israel is expelled and dealt with the consequences of its action by the international community who are either quiet or vocal in its support of the genocide. The international institutions should impose an immediate ceasefire and allow the entry of humanitarian aid. The 20 Trucks allowed it a drop into an ocean. More efforts need to be made, the first and foremost is the expulsion of the Israeli colony. History is being written and history will judge us. Israel formed itself in the blood of others but if it does not stop committing war crimes or surrender, it will drown in its blood.

The writer is a student of International Relations at National Defence University, Islamabad.