In November 2024, 125 member nations of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel. These and countless other unprecedented acts of resistance took place against a “war” that revealed itself daily as outright genocide. The world’s people expressed their common humanity through actions and voices, even before the ICC action.
Scores of local municipalities here in the US passed resolutions calling for a ceasefire—not to mention the innumerable protests by students and others, marches, podcasts, social media posts, independent news publications (including the People’s Tribune), that hammered away at the situation.
As it became clear that humanitarian aid was not allowed, the struggle intensified. Social movements and activists from Chris Smalls (union leader of Amazon workers) to Greta Thunberg (famed climate change resistor) took dangerous trips on Gaza flotillas with participants from 47 countries, to try and bring food and supplies to long suffering Palestinians, only to be blocked, arrested and tortured by Israeli forces.
The world could no longer look away. World-wide resistance and unity grew, finally reaching a tipping point. Enter the ceasefire that people of the world had demanded, though we know it is nowhere near a peace plan. The last of the living Israeli hostages have returned. The bombs over Gaza have stopped for now.
Humanitarians do what humanitarians do. Sustaining this epic unity for the next round of battles that lie ahead is critical for real peace.
We can’t take the pressure off now. The genocide is continuing, in that Israel is not allowing the required 600 trucks of aid per day, which is the minimum needed. People are still dying of starvation and the lack of medical care. Hospitals have been reduced to rubble and medical staff have been rounded up, detained and tortured. Israel is killing people who they say have crossed the ‘yellow line’ that only exists on paper, not on the ground. The lies and excuses continue.
Some of the numerous protests from around the world for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the genocide:
