October 7th - A century of resistance to genocide

October 7th marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle against Israel’s genocidal machinery; it highlights the relentless, inhumane conditions Palestinians have endured for over a century—first under British colonial rule, then under the apartheid Zionist regime. Yet, despite overwhelming odds, Palestinians and their allies have shown extraordinary resilience, resisting and standing firm in the fight against the Israeli occupation on every front.

The events of October 7th, 2023, and the resulting devastation would not have been possible without the actions of resistance of the Palestinian people. October 7th marks International Day For All the Victims of the War on Terror, marking its official start in 2001 with the US and its Western allies launching their attack on Afghanistan. The War on Terror killed 4 million people in the Muslim world – its devastating impact continues to this day. It also marked the launch of an organised torture campaign, an assassination programme, and also established the political and legal infrastructure that exploits the language of anti ‘terrorism’ and ‘extremism’ to justify wars, ethnic cleansing, mass surveillance, criminalisation of resistance, and the destruction of the rule of law. The horrors of the Israeli killing machine implemented over a century in Palestine were globalised and unleashed on the world.

The apartheid Israeli state and its enablers have intensified their genocidal policies; the desecration of Masjid Al Aqsa, occupation, apartheid, the expansion of settlements, and lack of accountability for war crimes. This legitimate right of the Palestinian people to engage in armed resistance against occupation and a  20 year genocidal blockade is enshrined in international law.

The world has witnessed Israeli forces committing heinous atrocities: rape, torture, murder, false imprisonment, genocide and ethnic cleansing— Yet, the Palestinian spirit remains unbroken. A year on, Israel has expanded its direct violence beyond the borders of Palestine as it actively bombs Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen in attempts to advance its genocidal agenda. The right to resist extends to the populations of these impacted nations just as much as it extends to the people of Palestine. 

For the past year, Western governments have actively supported the Israeli colonial settler state and criminalised all forms of resistance to Israeli atrocities, whether that be violent or non-violent means, such as BDS, protest, direct action, and showing any form of solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle. This criminalisation indicates that it is not the means of Palestinian resistance that is problematic for Israel’s allies but Palestinian resistance and Palestinian existence itself.

We continue to advocate for justice and oppose all normalisation processes that aim to abandon the Palestinians and their cause. People of conscience must continue to demand an end to the occupation and an end to the criminal apartheid state of Israel, hold the occupation accountable for their crimes against humanity and continue to encourage others to join in reaffirming the Palestinian right to resist.

In the face of lies, dehumanisation, and genocide, we must deepen our commitment to justice. We will not rest until the apartheid regime is dismantled, every Palestinian political prisoner is freed, and justice is secured for all who have sacrificed their freedom in the struggle for Palestine’s liberation. The fight continues ,until Palestine is free.

CC Image courtesy of matthrkac on Flickr