If you have ever wondered how the world allowed the Holocaust to happen, pay close attention to the silence today. 

The State of Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, having killed about 5,791 Palestinians, displacing a further 1.4 million Palestinians, and bombing hospitals, bakeries and places of worship. 

Over the past few years, Israel’s domination of Palestinians has increased, with a rise in unlawful killings, movement restrictions, denial of nationality and citizenships, holding Palestinians without a trial and seizures of property and land.

At the onset of the Israeli War for Independence in 1948, the Zionist agenda was to wipe Palestinians off the map and establish a Jewish state. That is 75 years of the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, who have lived in their homes for generations.

Studies from the Human Rights Watch, Harvard Law and Amnesty International report the Israeli government and police force have continuously violated Palestinian human rights through a systematic regime of oppression since they annexed the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 1948. To ensure the system of apartheid stays in effect, the Israeli military shoot children, bomb buildings, arrest journalists reporting on the occupation, and restrict practices of faith.

The October 7th attack by Hamas, the resistance movement in the Gaza Strip, began a series of Israeli attacks into Gaza, including killing children.

Protests subsequently broke out in Toronto, New York, London, Istanbul, Madrid, Vienna, Romania, Thailand, Germany, and America in the past two weeks in support of the Palestinian cause.

One of the worst attacks since October 7th was the bombing of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital on October 17th. The Christian hospital saw more than 470 people killed, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) claimed the explosion resulted from a Hamas misfire. But interestingly, Israel’s military specifically issued evacuation warnings to the al-Ahli Arab Hospital, according to the Anglican Church that runs the medical facility.

After the massacre at the hospital, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted that this war is “between children of light and children of dark,” despite later deleting the tweet. 

‍

Misinformation and propaganda seem to be a leading theme of the IDF, whose media team works around the clock to spread lies about the genocide and cover their tracks. On October 23th, Hamas released two hostages, one of which was an elderly Israeli woman who spoke to journalists about her time in captivity. 

Yocheved Lifshitz, 85, said they treated her well and Hamas provided her a doctor to monitor her health and worked to secure her medicine. She is seen shaking one of their hands while being released. 

However, Western media have seemingly vowed to skew the image of the Palestinian resistance and label it as terrorism. News outlets including CBC News, CNN, AP News, and Reuters have the phrase “I went through hell” as a headline for their story on Lifshitz’s release, burying her statements about her well treatment. 

If Israel and its supporters had nothing to be ashamed of, people would not be censored on social media. Journalists, content creators and regular citizens are being shadowbanned when speaking up for Palestine. Posts that are unrelated to Palestine are getting numerous views whereas any post calling out the genocide receives no views, even if they are posted minutes apart. 

Moreover, Canadians cannot see news content on social media platforms anymore following the passing of Bill C-18. For those who turn to social media as their main source of news, and specifically for the Palestinian cause, it is imperative that people see what is happening on the grounds in Gaza. Palestinian photojournalist, Motaz Aziza (@motaz_azaiza) is a voice that is doing just that. Aziza is on the ground in Gaza covering the daily horrors the Palestinian people are facing. From his uncensored videos of injured children to pictures of women screaming, his photos speak louder than Israel’s propagandists.

All that’s left is for the world to listen. 

Today, every Western reporter will ask anyone speaking for the Palestinian plight whether they condemn Hamas, paying no heed to the condemnation years of occupation and oppression deserves. To be pro-Palestine is to see the freedom fight for a country that has been historically occupied. It means condemning the brutal and horrific murder of innocent civilians. 

This is a fight for justice against ethnic cleansing. Against genocide. Against oppression. And resistance to oppression is never perfect.