National

Remembering a history carved in Palestinian land and blood, AF3IRM Women echo their cries on Al Nakba

AF3IRM Statement on Al Nakba 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Barbra Ramos, National Communications Director, [email protected]
Zeena Aljawad, AF3IRM Orange County, [email protected]

As an anti-imperialist, transnational feminist organization, AF3IRM marks Al Nakba, the day after the creation of Israel in 1948 which forced the expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians from their homeland by Israeli occupation. Today, on May 15th, AF3IRM renews its stance against the long-standing occupation of Palestine and recognizes the Palestinian’s history of enduring injustice and oppression:

  • the forced creation of Israel in 1948 continued and extended a history of colonization for Palestine that included imperialist Britain;
  • Al Nakba (The Catastrophe) in 1948 was not the beginning nor the end of the expulsion and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their native homeland. At least 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly expelled from their homes between 1947-49 and almost 500 Palestinian towns were destroyed in that same period;
  • the creation of Israel has allowed the use of state-sanctioned violence and harassment against Palestinians in the sixty-six years since Al Nakba. International human rights laws and standards have been ignored and violated, with Palestinians constantly facing racism and discrimination. Today, there are even 35 laws that specifically target Palestinians within Israel.

AF3IRM continues to call for the end of occupation and demands freedom for Palestine! The creation of Israel uprooted and evicted families from their homeland and to this day they have been denied their right to return. Generations of Palestinians have suffered, with many now born in exile and around 1.5 million refugees living in camps.  Palestinian women are particularly impacted by the occupation, from within the occupied territories, to the refugee camps, and in the diaspora.  The reproductive rights of Palestinian women are under attack – numerous Palestinians are unable to access hospitals and have been forced to give birth at checkpoints, resulting in deaths of both mother and child, miscarriages, and medical problems. From 2000 to 2005, Israeli checkpoints forced 67 Palestinian mothers to give birth, which contributed to the deaths of 36 infants. Women are pushed to be the main caretakers in families and effectively become single mothers due to Israel’s mass incarceration of Palestinian men. Women also face sexual violence –  Israeli guards have raped Palestinian women detainees in Shabak, where there are over 7,000 detainees, as a tool or war and occupation.

The constant policing and control tactics around the illegal settlements and unjust borders have terrorized Palestinians in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza day after day. The occupation has disrupted their lives and livelihoods. People are denied access to basic resources and services – including running water, electricity, and health services. The people endure blockades, checkpoints, strict permit and ID regulations, and indefinite detention, inflicted even upon the children, as well as the confiscation and destruction of land and homes. Their farms, which mostly harvest olive trees and serve as a primary economic source for many, have been demolished to make room for illegal settlements and for Israeli military operations. In the West Bank alone, more than 7,500 olive trees were destroyed in 2012.

AF3IRM denounces the use of U.S. taxpayer funds to uphold this oppression! It is reprehensible that while the Palestinian people are forced to suffer and are denied their basic rights, Israel continually receives funds and assistance from other countries. The United States government continues to be complicit in supporting Israel’s acts of genocide and displacement, with over $3 billion dollars provided for military assistance each year and millions more paid to “resettle” non-Palestinians into the occupied lands. The largest amount in foreign military assistance by the United States year after year is given to Israel. We say “NO MORE!” to the use of taxpayer money to fund F-16s, Ospreys, bombs, bullets, and missile defense systems for Israel. The women of AF3IRM also echo the calls for divestment! We salute the students and organizers who have pushed more universities and colleges to divest from companies that profit from occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people by Israel.

Al Nakba is not just about what happened over sixty years ago – Al Nakba and its legacy continues. It is an ongoing reality for all Palestinians, who are still under siege and subjugated to harassment, arrest, and detention. The occupation has not ended, illegal settlements continue to be built, and Palestinians cannot return to their homelands. There is no justice and there is no peace for our sisters and brothers in Palestine.

AF3IRM stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine and their fight for liberation!

WOMEN SAY NO TO WAR AND OCCUPATION!
RETURN THE OCCUPIED LANDS OF PALESTINE!
VIVA VIVA PALESTINA!
LONG LIVE INTIFADA!