Our leaders have failed us. It is time for the people to rise up and take the power back from those who allow war crimes and genocide to continue throughout this world. The war on Gaza could be stopped, could have been stopped weeks ago, at the demands of leaders but they do not demand the end to the horror in Gaza. Only three countries have taken strong measures to hold Israel accountable, but having only three countries speaking out on human rights is a fact that the public across the world must process. It is a grave realization that everyone must face. The leaders who are silent, the leaders who are inactive in the face of war crimes and genocide, and the leaders who openly support the Israeli decimation of Gaza want to continue the tradition of oppression.
Elected officials cannot be trusted. This is a global issue. All elected officials must go across this world.
I saw a man in Tel Aviv in tears over his helplessness. I feel the same where I stand in the US. We are not alone in this feeling. Millions across this world share this nauseating helplessness, and that should not be the case ever. Where are the governments that are supposed to represent us? Should our governments ignore our cries for help when we are asking to aid those who are suffering and dying in Gaza? Is this not the role of an elected government- to listen to their constituents and their needs? Our needs are for the people of Palestine to be safe and protected. Our needs are for people who face oppression to have freedom, rights, and safety.
Instead, governments across the world are silencing dissent and opposition. These are “democracies” that claim to represent their people, but it is evident that governments and world leaders only want to listen to those in agreement with them. They refuse to be held accountable. But they can be held accountable through the power of the people.
What these governments do not want to acknowledge and what they are attempting to undermine is that the power is with the people. They would not be in office without the people. They have no country and no power without the backing of the people. So, I ask the people of this world to refuse to give them their power and legitimacy. Leaders, elected officials, and bureaucracies across the world have lost their narrative that they are in existence in order to serve their citizens. What they have proven is that they are only in existence to oppress and control.
Israel is committing unspeakable crimes against the Palestinians and humanity. Leaders watch with performative sanguineness and create these performative resolutions that both looks like some action was taken, but accomplishes nothing. It is a dance to deflect from the actions that they could take. These leaders know that these actions and their words mean nothing, but the performance of it all matters.
NO. ACTION MATTERS. FIGHTING FOR HUMANITY MATTERS.
So the people have taken action. Muslim shopkeepers in India are boycotting Israeli and US products. While the governments who could place sanctions on both Israel and the US have no materialized, except for the brave Belgium, these shopkeepers have taken it upon themselves to do what is right. This is humanity in action. This is the people taking the power they have always had, and using it for justice and for freedom of Palestine. Shopkeepers, online distributors, and manufacturers should join these amazing Muslim shopkeepers in India and refuse all Israeli and US products and cut off economic trade with these countries. If your government is not going to take the steps to protect humanity, the people can have the same affect.
If you know of a store, retailer, online shop that purchases Israeli or US goods, urge them to boycott products from both countries. This boycott is a step beyond the public boycott of Starbucks, Disney, Barclays, and Amazon. The general of boycott from these and other companies is important and should not stop. This is something that individual retailers across the world can actionably affect the trade from Israel and the US especially if retailers, shopkeepers, and online distributors unite like the courageous shopkeepers from India.
In the US, a lawsuit has been filed against the president, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of Defense. The Center for Constitutional Rights accuses these US leaders of “failure to prevent and complicity in the Israeli government’s unfolding genocide.” CCR states that the US government and these leaders have helped Israel commit these crimes and continue these crimes against innocent Palestinians. The US has thwarted any attempts made to stop the Israeli siege. One woman named as a plaintiff is distraught because her tax dollars have been used to murder family members. That is sickening that this woman has to experience this from her own government- using her money to kill her own family. It is not right and it is sadistic.
This is the people taking action. This is people taking the power back. This is people breaking the abuses of power of elected officials.
Human rights groups have taken charge and ordered investigations in the ICC. Nations that have the power have been silent. Finally one nation, Ireland, has called for the ICC to investigate war crimes, but again, this should have been the case weeks ago. These actions should not come from just one nation. Russia had many countries pushing for charges from the ICC over war crimes in Ukraine, and now these same nations are silent except for Ireland who called for the ICC to address the atrocities the Israeli government is committing. More would be done if more countries called for convening a forum in the Genocide Convention and for war crimes investigations, but these countries are silent while simultaneously voting for Palestinian “protections” in the General Assembly that carry no weight.
Do not let any elected officials rest. THEY ALL MUST GO. Contact them and let them know the crimes they are committing. Contact them and let them know they have lost power. Contact them and let them know that they have single-handedly destroyed the illusion of representative governments.
Be ungovernable. Each person on this planet is an autonomous state. Governments had the chance to represent these individual sovereign, autonomous states but they continue the system of oppression. For a long while they had us believing that they were making changes for progress and for freedom, but Palestine has made everyone realize that the promises they made were never kept. Now that the facade has fallen, governments around the globe are silencing and attacking their own citizens. BE UNGOVERNABLE. If your elected leaders do not represent you, refuse their representation. Elected officials are clear that they are only present to control the masses, not to listen and aid the needs of the masses. Their time is over, it is the time for people to have the power.
The power has always been with the people. My hope is in the people. This is where humanity resides. The people are the only ones fighting for humanity, not the elected officials.
The only actionable strives that have been made for Palestine has been through the people, not from leaders or countries.
THEY ALL MUST GO. FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. FIGHT FOR YOUR VOICE. FIGHT TO END THE GLOBAL OPPRESSION. WE HAVE THE POWER.
From the river to the sea, may Palestine and this world be free.
Protest. BE UNGOVERNABLE. Volunteer. Organize. Boycott. Urge shops to boycott. Vote 3rd party. Contact elected officials. Share the stories from Palestine. Share the news from Palestine. Share the history of Palestine. Share international laws. Fight for the Congo, Sudan, Armenia, Uyghurs, and West Papua who also face genocide and horrific atrocities. Share their news, their stories, their history. Fight oppression.