Gaza and the Change
Commentators easily resort to describing events in terms of the change that they effect, although real change of the transformative sort is an extremely rare occurrence, and over the past 100 years can be easily identified and probably listed on small sheet of paper.
The end of the second World War, and the establishment of the modern international order. Vietnam. The collapse of the Iron block and the end of the Cold War. The 9-11 attacks and the response thereto in the shape of the War on Terror which according to some estimates claimed over 5 million innocent lives and counting till this very day. And so on.
Also, among those transformative events, which continue to have a clear and direct impact on so many lives around the world, was the establishment of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe) in 1948. However, until recently, until Gaza and the 7th of October 2023 specifically, very few viewed the Nakba as an event of significant magnitude, in fact few even recognised the Nakba while most prefer rather to recognise the date as the day on which the state of Israel was founded. In fact, even Palestinian activists whom I knew and respected would only talk about 1967, being the date that UN Resolution 242 was passed, and the illegal occupation “began then”.
But then Gaza was attacked and most, if not all, things changed. All of a sudden many people around the world became experts on everything to do with Palestine. All of a sudden, people were discussing 1948 and the Nakba. All of a sudden, commentators, influencers, writers, celebrities, were talking about Zionism and the stand of the West in supporting and funding an illegal state of affairs. All of a sudden, people were talking about a genocide which Israel was committing against the Palestinian people and the beleaguered Gaza Strip.
The impact of Gaza caught the attention of the youth, often accused of being taken by the social media phenomenon, consumerism and celebrity culture, to the extent that many were willing to forsake their overly expensive university seats in order to protest for Gaza, and to give up their jobs in order to protest against the genocide. Those same youth turned against their alleged former affiliations and idols, boycotting celebrities, brands and corporations who did not speak up for Palestine.
Mainstream media was awash with commentators, experts, historians and politicians from all corners and fields, showing support with Palestine, and for once defying the mainstream pro-Israel narrative that dominates the screens and airwaves. A producer for a well-known UK radio station told me back in February that they’re struggling to find credible commentators who would come on air to speak up for Israel and defend its actions, without having to continuously go back to the same crop of 8-10 at the ready Zionists, including the Israeli Ambassador.
The impact that Gaza on elections in the UK, local, general as well as By-elections, was palpable, leading to many winners as losers lamenting their parties’ positions on Gaza as reasons why results weren’t as positive as expected. In the US, a sizeable crowd in Muslim-heavy districts have pledged not to vote Democrat, over the administration’s policy over Israel, and rather take a Non-Committed stand even if that somehow resulted in a Trump win in November.
Children, as young as 5 are marching along with their parents every single week since October 2023, across the UK, Europe, North America and further beyond, carrying Palestinian flags and shouting “Free Free Palestine”, and Palestinian flags, stickers and Kufiyyehs are becoming increasingly visible as fashion statements as well as symbols of solidarity and resistance. On one non-descript afternoon in London, a friend drew my attention to the fact that over half of the commuters on our tube carriage were donning Palestinian paraphernalia of one sort or the other.
These and many many more, might be explained away by some as mere blips on the radar of emotional solidarity, and nothing more. However, a closer inspection would suggest otherwise. In fact, a closer look would suggest something of the same transformative nature of the earlier mentioned historical events of indelible impact. Where this will lead and for how long and to what extent remains to be seen of course, but sign indicate something quite special.
