Sunday, July 19, 2015

Gaza During and After - "My message to the American people..."

"Gaza During and After" is a documentary by my colleague Tarek when he was working as a journalist.

In 2008, he produced a documentary showcasing the Palestinians daily life, suffering and resilience during the Israeli siege. Using internationally banned weapons, they targeted social infrastructure to destroy livelihoods so that the Palestinians do not have a source of income, trade or a way to live. The documentary takes us through Palestinian lives that the Western media rarely shows. Scroll to the bottom to watch the documentary.

"They shot her even though she was the one
 carrying the white flag, the flag of peace"

Palestinians wants peace and is asking for global support to achieve it

"We want these pictures to reach the European and American people so that they can see. Let the American people see what is happening to the Palestinian people... enough, enough destruction, let us live!"  

"He wants the American people to know that they are unknowingly contributing to the predicament of the Palestinian people"

America, being the largest supporter of arms deal to Israel, is being blamed. They believe if citizens in America sees what is happening here, they will push their government to stop supplying arms to Israel. However, this is happening because "they see the events in our region through the perspective of Israeli media." And this perspective is of "Americans Jews portray[ing] Israel as a last line of defense against another Holocaust and paint its actions as purely defensive." (American Aljazeera, 2015)

Furthermore, as of late (2010 onwards), Canada's actions has been supplying Israel with arms as well, with the Harper government ramping up his war machine to create a more militant Canada on the world stage. Canada's reputation as a peace keeper, recognized by a Nobel Peace prize to Lester B. Pearson in 1957 for creating the UN Peacekeepers, is being demolished by the Canadian conservative government. This documentary is as much for Canadians, Europeans and other countries supporting Israel as it is for Americans. Read more about Canada's involvement with Israel.

I do not condone violence from either side, but Israel is literally shooting fish (Palestinians) in a barrel with superior firepower and support. That crime against humanity is what needs to be known. Once its known, there can be more global pressure to force governments to stop supplying arms and begin the process of reconciliation.