A Gazan's Reflection On The ICJ Rule And His Family Who Is Still Living In Gaza.

A Gazan's reflection on the ICJ rule and his family who is still living in Gaza.

Reel link for those with instagram--comment in support/visibility if you can: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2kYzKbuzAy

Key takeaways, but please watch the reel. There are English captions.

Many Palestinians in Gaza (talking ordinary ppl, not influencers or activists) have been raised not to engage with politics. [I add for clarity, this is their parents trying to keep them safe] and as such may not have followed Western politics for the past few years.

Palestinians living in Gaza, including his family, genuinely thought this ruling could end the ongoing genocide. They had real hope that the ICJ could save them.

Many Gazans' hopes have completely evaporated as a result of the ICJ not calling for a ceasefire.

The ICJ ruling is an important start, but it is not enough for the hundreds who are dying each day as a result of this occupation.

We need to keep helping Gaza in any way we can.

Important: Mohammed, the creator of this video, has a GoFundMe for his family, which I have personally verified. Note that the narrative in the GFM is that of his brother Faress, a nurse at Al-Shifa hospital: https://www.gofundme.com/f/from-devastation-to-hope-a-nurses-family-journey

His family is currently living in a tent in Rafah after being displaced from Northern Gaza. Please donate if you can.

Mohammed's story was featured in the New York Times in November 2023 (un-paywalled) excerpt:

“Here I am having whatever I want,” said Mohammed Salah Arafat, a Washington, D.C., resident with a brother still in Gaza. “When it comes to food, when it comes to freedom, when it comes to rights, when it comes to freedom of movement, the feeling of guilt is killing me,” said Mr. Arafat, 30, who left Gaza in 2018.

Mohammed also has a poetry blog here: https://moharafat.wordpress.com/ and you can sign up for updates (like with substack or medium) if you input your email at the bottom of the page.

Don't stop demonstrating--find local actions from PYM, PSL, JVP, and SJP on Instagram, don't stop calling (It does help--leave your name and zip code so you're counted--Bernie just called for a ceasefire and Katherine Clark has come close), don't stop spreading awareness.