"Free Palestine" is a complete sentence.
And I want us to resist the urge to add any qualifiers.
Because the truth needs no asterisks.
Some of the statements I'm seeing in regards to Palestine and Israel reveal that our collective understanding of power dynamics is lacking.
This is not a “conflict” between “two sides.” That assumes equal and opposing power. Instead, Israel has authoritative power over Palestine.
Israel controls water, fuel, food, electricity, imports/exports, and the passage of people into and out of Palestinian territories. Palestinian territories are surrounded by walls that are patrolled by one of the most advanced military forces in the world, equipped with a navy and an air force, bolstered by billions of dollars in U.S. aide annually. Meanwhile, Palestine does not have a centralized, military force at all.
There is the oppressor - Israel.
There is the oppressed - Palestine.
The power dynamics are asymmetrical. And that should be the lens through which we interpret and share information, and make statements if we so choose.
If liberation of oppressed persons around the world is one of your core values, and you choose to speak in solidarity with Palestinian folks, ask yourself:
Am I speaking from a desire to be perceived as a fair, objective, center? (A stance that ignores or purposefully obscures the power dynamics at play.)
Or is my narrative in defense of the oppressed, the people who lack power?
In support of enslaved Africans resisting across the diaspora, (I hope) we never would have said, “I condemn the violence from both sides,” before then explaining why they deserved to be free. So why are you doing it with Palestinian folks who are demanding freedom after 75 years of Israel's genocidal occupation?
When those in power dictate the rules of engagement, we end up spinning our wheels speaking to things that are not true. The confusion is manufactured because their arguments rely on untruths and distractions.
We acquiesce to these untruths and distractions with statements like:
“I condemn antisemitism.” But The call for Palestinian freedom is never and was never anti-Jewish. Israel is an imperialist state. Zionism is a political ideology. These things are not synonymous with Judaism and to conflate them is actually antisemitic.
“I condemn Hamas.” But Palestinians have been occupied for over 75 years. Hamas has existed for just 36 of those years. Hamas is literally an invention of occupation, and would not exist without colonialism. The root is colonialism.
Our responses, while well-intentioned, prop up the myth of "both sides" and like the old folks used to say:
"The Devil don't need no mo' advocates."
Ultimately, the onus is not on Palestinians nor those in solidarity with them, to justify calls for justice and freedom.
The onus is on Israel and its supporters to explain why they’re justifying 75+ years of colonialism, genocide, displacement, ethnic cleansing, specifically, the bombing of hospitals, places of worship, residential areas, etc., that have lead to the killing of nearly 4000 Palestinians in recent weeks.
“Free Palestine” is a complete, clear and concise sentence.
What people choose to read into “Free Palestine” when the hear it, reveals their commitment to freedom, or their commitment to injustice, neither of which is your responsibility to hold. You have a responsibility to stand on your principles and values alone.
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