The situation is all too familiar; We’ve been here before. More tragically, the people of Gaza have as well. A new year, a new campaign name, the same results. Violence has returned to Gaza on a large scale. Really, though, it’s never been that far away.
The death toll in Gaza topped 1,000 today amid Israel’s continuing attack and chances of an imminent ceasefire remain elusive. Through this, it can be difficult to keep perspective on what we can do from afar to promote peace and justice.
But look around. People are taking action.
Around the globe, hundreds of thousands of people are protesting in the streets. Many others in the U.S. are contacting their state senators and representatives. Nonprofit organizations that bring aid to Gazan citizens are seeing an increase in donations. Others are promoting and taking part in boycott, divestment and sanction promotion. Millions of others are offering what support they can through online groups. And still more can be done, and will need to be done even after this particular siege has ended.
Rachel once wrote, “This has to stop. I think it is a good idea for us all to drop everything and devote our lives to making this stop. I don’t think it’s an extremist thing to do anymore.”
As the death toll continues to climb, we hear more people saying that “this has to stop.” It’s what comes after that line that is interesting. After you say it, after you think it, what comes next?
What follows is a list of suggested reading on the situation in Gaza. Take a look at some of these and if you find yourself concluding that “This has to stop,” take a moment and think about the next step: What do you want to do about it.
- Israel’s partner in war crimes
- Bill Moyers remarks the skinny on the Gaza siege
- The right to exist
- Teach The Chldren
- Robert Fisk: Israel opens the gates of hell in Gaza
- The Gaza Ghetto Uprising
- Israel Intensifies Attacks on Gaza; Activists Prepare to Break Siege
- ‘We love the sun. So we sat outside to see the F16s bombing Rafah’
Photo: Smoke rises over Gaza City during Israeli bombardment, 11 January 2009. (Wissam Nassar/MaanImages) Nassar/MaanImages)
