72 Years of Al Nakba – Free Palestine!

Speech give by Christine Hauschildt, member of the Anti-War Committee at our joint action with American Muslims for Palestine to mark Al Nakba on 5/15/20.

Today we are commemorating the 72nd Anniversary of Al Nakba. Thank you to everyone who took the time and a risk to be here today. It speaks strongly of our community’s dedication to supporting Palestine and its people.  

Palestinians have face 72 years of wrongful and deadly occupation under Israel, with numerous restrictions on movement, access to trade for goods and services, and isolation from international support – causing death and hardship for the Palestinian people.

We are living in a time where most people are experiencing restrictions and isolation in order to protect our communities against the spread of COVID-19. Many of us have never felt restrictions to our movement and what we have access to, which is something the Palestinian people have suffered through for 72 years without the comforting knowledge of some kind of return to normal or living a life of safety and freedom.

For Palestinians, COVID-19 poses a greater threat to their health and safety than before. Before COVID-19 Palestinians had an extremely under-resourced health system with many people unable to access adequate health care. Now that the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza have seen their first cases of COVID-19, their health systems are challenged with an even greater burden.

As of this week 547 Palestinians were confirmed to have COVID-19, with two deaths on record. Thousands of Palestinians are quarantined at home, many in homes that are shared by large families, which can spread the virus quickly within a community. In addition to an under-resourced health system, there are critical gaps in supplies, testing kits, PPE, ventilators and ICU equipment. These lack of treatment supplies has deadly implications for those with the illness and healthcare providers. 

In places where Israel has restricted trade and movement of goods, necessary hygiene measures and physical distancing is made nearly impossible and the safety of Palestinians is at even greater risk.

The violent and barbaric treatment of Palestinians has to stop. The Anti-War Committee supports a Palestine free of Israeli occupation and imperialism! 72 years is long enough for Palestinians to suffer under Israeli tyranny!

Free Palestine, Free Free Palestine!