Our March 2024 “Mobilizing for Gaza” webinar episode addressed the failings and hypocrisy of the feminist movement’s silence on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, while uplifting the vital work of women-led grassroots groups in addressing the immediate needs of the people of Gaza. Moderated by BuildPalestine Co-Founder Besan Abu-Joudeh, we were joined by Asmaa AbuMezied and Reem ElKhaldi, Esq.
Some key takeaways:
💡 Palestine has a rich history of grassroots, feminist organizing. Over time and post-Oslo, the feminist movement has been co-opted by traditional NGOs.
💡 Israel has killed over 9000 women in Gaza and women represent 75% of the injured. By annihilating women and their function in community and family care, this genocide is an assault on all facets of Palestinian life and society in Gaza.
💡 The demonization of Palestinian men through harmful and racist propaganda, as well as the devaluing of their lives as less innocent or worthy of protection than women and children is also a feminist issue. It is a feminist responsibility to call for the protection of ALL life in Gaza.
💡 We can incrementally reclaim the feminist struggle in service of Gaza by supporting locally led efforts driven by and for Palestinians. This is how we circumvent the problematic, conditional funding of traditional NGOs whose mandates undermine the principles of self-determination, decolonization, and liberation.
💡 True feminism is advocating for all life. To keep ourselves committed to the fight, we must cultivate hope as a discipline (as quoted by bell hooks), without romanticizing the ugliness of the past, present, and future of the Palestinian struggle.
Are you ready to take action? Here are donation links to pertinent and trusted mutual aid initiatives shared by our speakers:
Are you looking to learn more? Here are relevant resources:
- Gaza Group – an initiative that centers Palestinians in Gaza
- @gazagroup_ on Instagram
- https://www.gazagroup.net/
- Palestinian Feminist Collective Digital Action Toolkit
- ‘This is a war on birth’: how one US organization helps pregnant Palestinians from afar
- For feminists, silence on Gaza is no longer an option
- Some of my best enemies are feminists: on Zionist feminism