Imagine that, in an endless dispute between two states, you feel more sympathy for one than for the other —as if you were watching a football match in which neither team is yours. But imagine that this very State you sympathize with is carrying out one of the greatest massacres in history. You see images of dead and mutilated children, cities reduced to rubble by bombs, while listening to the perpetrators justify it as a natural process of annihilation to exterminate and displace an entire people. They argue that everyone is a terrorist, and that this gives them the right to massacre them. In Palestine, Israel considers any man a terrorist. Women and children are labeled as human shields protecting the so-called terrorists.
Many Israelis have opened their eyes and realized the trap of Zionism. In Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, mass demonstrations against the genocide are beginning to appear. The number of Israeli soldiers who take their own lives is also increasing. In Israel, NGOs, political opponents, intellectuals, journalists, writers, ex-soldiers and many others openly denounce the genocide that the current government is leading against the Palestinian people.
Beyond the Middle East, protests against this extermination operation are spreading worldwide. It is shocking to witness the repression faced by demonstrators in Germany and the United Kingdom. In peaceful marches, the police -turned into an army of gorillas- arrest minors, elderly people and even those with disabilities. A complete outrage.
Being silent has consequences
What is our level of sacrifice when it comes to being consistent with what we feel and preach? The less we need, the less we carry, and the freer we become. Lightness is not only physical; it is also spiritual. So then, how much is our silence worth?
Speaking about the deaths and destruction in Gaza and the West Bank should be a daily priority, simply because we are human beings.
Waiting for our governments to respect and safeguard our freedom and rights is a waste of time. Freedom and the defense of rights must be a personal and constant practice, capable of raising awareness in our closest environment and gradually resonating on a global scale.
Do not allow them to put a price on your freedom. Speak out, spread the word, and remember: your voice matters.
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