LETTER TO THE EDITOR: It is time to acknowledge decades long Palestinian struggle
Recent events in Gaza have spurred a wave of statements from our local, state and national legislators. But during these discussions, the longstanding plight of the Palestinian people and their more than 75-year occupation has been consistently sidelined. Disregarding the struggle against occupation is not only detrimental but also actively obstructs the path to justice and peace.
Understanding the history of Palestinian resistance is paramount to finding a solution. This struggle did not just emerge in recent weeks but traces back to the forced expulsion of Palestinians, comprising followers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
The 20th-century displacement initiated a harrowing chain of events, leading to the loss of innocent lives. These atrocities have persisted into the 21st century and have been met with alarming silence from the global community. Ignoring these facts perpetuates ongoing injustices against innocent civilians, leaving a scar on the conscience of humanity.
Regrettably, statements from our legislators often downplay or ignore the oppression Palestinians face in an occupied Palestine. Such negligence hampers the establishment of justice and peace in the region and further alienates Palestinian-Americans in the U.S., especially in New Jersey.
These citizens witness the terror and massacre of their relatives in Palestine, acts which are sanctioned by our state and national legislators through our tax contributions. It is high time we channel these resources toward establishing justice for Palestinians and ending the illegal, cruel and oppressive occupation of their lands rather than continuing its injustices against Palestinians.
Justice for Palestinians begins with dismantling Palestinian occupation.
Under international law, the right to resist occupation is a fundamental principle rooted in the right to self-determination and people's freedom to pursue economic, social and cultural development. This right is clearly outlined in the United Nations Charter and The Fourth Geneva Convention, adopted in 1949.
As an occupied people, Palestinians possess the right to resist occupation as they see fit. One such form of resistance is the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, inspired by the successful anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. BDS is a non-violent resistance aimed at ending the illegal occupation of Palestine and ensuring justice for the Palestinians.
Both non-violent and violent resistance are perceived as threats to oppressors, disrupting their status quo. Consequently, peaceful methods such as sit-ins, boycotts and marches are met with violence from law enforcement agencies, military forces and governmental institutions all over the world.
When an occupied people are suppressed in their resistance against the occupation, what forms of resistance are they able to do? The international community continues to fail Palestinians in their struggle to end the occupation and obtain freedom from oppression.
Remarkably, despite claiming to advocate for peace, many legislators, educators and organizations have actively worked to suppress any form of Palestinian resistance, including non-violent initiatives like BDS. This glaring hypocrisy cannot persist unchallenged.
Those who support the Zionist occupation of Palestine may use the actions of Hamas to justify any further atrocities against Palestinians, but these atrocities have been going on for more than 75 years.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy to mention that Zionism as an ideology is inherently anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, xenophobic and racist as it equates Jewish values and Judaism with settler colonialism, occupation, displacement of peoples, genocide, ethnic cleansing and land theft. Zionism and its adherents do not differentiate between Jewish identity and the occupation of Palestine.
This is confirmed by the constant justification of Zionist individuals and organizations to continue to occupy Palestinian homes, land and cultural identities.
The fact that white supremacists like Richard Spencer, Steve Bannon and former President Donald J. Trump hold the Zionist occupation of Palestine as a role model of ethno-racist society is not surprising for students of history as Nazi Germany aspired to be like the U.S. as an ethno-racist nation founded upon settler colonialism, genocide, displacement of peoples and enslavement of African-Americans.
To combat such injustice, we must look within ourselves and not ignore the underlying cause of violence — the Zionist occupation of Palestine.
Enough is enough. We can no longer turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Palestinian people — suffering perpetuated by both media negligence and legislative inaction. It is our moral obligation to recognize their struggle, acknowledge their right to resist and stand in solidarity with their pursuit of justice and peace.
Mazhar Syed is a Rutgers alum.
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