Our goal is to make the truth more accessible to the masses and provide sources that can explain the Israel/Palestine crisis in a clear and truthful way.
Claims
Per international law, no occupier has a right to defend themselves against the people they occupy. Thus this does not apply to Israel as the occupying power.
Can an occupier invoke the right of self-defence against terrorism stemming from territories which it occupies? In its Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory the International Court of Justice responded to this question in the negative. Cambridge University Press
The duties of the occupying power are spelled out primarily in the 1907 Hague Regulations (arts 42-56) and the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV, art. 27-34 and 47-78): ICRC – Occupation and international humanitarian law
Can an occupier invoke the right of self-defence against terrorism stemming from territories which it occupies? In its Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory the International Court of Justice responded to this question in the negative. Cambridge University Press
The duties of the occupying power are spelled out primarily in the 1907 Hague Regulations (arts 42-56) and the Fourth Geneva Convention (GC IV, art. 27-34 and 47-78): ICRC – Occupation and international humanitarian law
Criticizing a state, government or even Zionism is and should be distinct from any religion, including Judaism. There are many Israelis, Jews, and even Hassidic rabbis that oppose the Zionism ideology and settler colonial project.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism (“the IHRA Definition”) — employed by governments around the world — explicitly notes that legitimate criticism of Israel is not antisemitism: “Criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”
More than 100 Israeli and international civil society organisations have asked the United Nations to reject a controversial definition of antisemitism because it is being “misused” to protect Israel from legitimate criticism. The Guardian
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s Working Definition of Antisemitism (“the IHRA Definition”) — employed by governments around the world — explicitly notes that legitimate criticism of Israel is not antisemitism: “Criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.”
More than 100 Israeli and international civil society organisations have asked the United Nations to reject a controversial definition of antisemitism because it is being “misused” to protect Israel from legitimate criticism. The Guardian
Israel pulled out of Gaza then barricaded it, which has been acknowledged as an open air prison. Nothing can go in or out without express Israeli permission including from the Egyptian border.
UK Prime minister David Cameron in 2010 called Gaza “Prison Camp” Source: The Guardian
Since 2007, Israeli authorities have, with narrow exceptions, banned Palestinians from leaving through Erez, the passenger crossing from Gaza into Israel, through which they can reach the West Bank and travel abroad via Jordan. Israel also prevents Palestinian authorities from operating an airport or seaport in Gaza. Israeli authorities also sharply restrict the entry and exit of goods. Source: Human Rights Watch
UK Prime minister David Cameron in 2010 called Gaza “Prison Camp” Source: The Guardian
Since 2007, Israeli authorities have, with narrow exceptions, banned Palestinians from leaving through Erez, the passenger crossing from Gaza into Israel, through which they can reach the West Bank and travel abroad via Jordan. Israel also prevents Palestinian authorities from operating an airport or seaport in Gaza. Israeli authorities also sharply restrict the entry and exit of goods. Source: Human Rights Watch
Misinformation
There has been no evidence of babies killed and although this was initially claimed, news organizations that reported this claim walked back the claim and some apologized for not confirming the facts before reporting the story. Additionally, there are reports now emerging from direct eyewitnesses that many civilians that were killed and found burned were on account of Israeli tank shelling and helicopter “friendly fire”. The latest details suggest that almost a 1/3 of those collectively killed were Israeli military.
Sources:
– https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/12/middleeast/israel-hamas-beheading-claims-intl/index.html
– https://twitter.com/Phyl3R/status/1724593697788977635
Various Israeli propaganda sources claim that Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields. This accusation in itself intends to dehumanize the Palestinians by accusing them of committing an act that in itself goes against the natural human disposition to protect themselves and their families and their people.
After investigating these accusations, multiple human rights organizations conclude that Hamas has not used civilians as human shields. However, their investigations did revealed that on the contrary – Israel has continuously used civilians as human shields.
“In several cases Israeli soldiers also used civilians, including children, as “human shields”, endangering their lives by forcing them to remain in or near houses which they took over and used as military positions. Some were forced to carry out dangerous tasks such as inspecting properties or objects suspected of being booby-trapped. Soldiers also took position and launched attacks from and around inhabited houses, exposing local residents to the danger of attacks or of being caught in the crossfire.” (Source)
Further Reading: Palestinians as Human Shields
After investigating these accusations, multiple human rights organizations conclude that Hamas has not used civilians as human shields. However, their investigations did revealed that on the contrary – Israel has continuously used civilians as human shields.
“In several cases Israeli soldiers also used civilians, including children, as “human shields”, endangering their lives by forcing them to remain in or near houses which they took over and used as military positions. Some were forced to carry out dangerous tasks such as inspecting properties or objects suspected of being booby-trapped. Soldiers also took position and launched attacks from and around inhabited houses, exposing local residents to the danger of attacks or of being caught in the crossfire.” (Source)
Further Reading: Palestinians as Human Shields
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in June of 2007 (more than 16 years ago). According to international law, it is an act of war to impose a blockade. Therefore, with respect to international law, Israel was the one to start the war more than 16 years ago and has been waging a constant war against Gaza for the past 16 years.
The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law – Blockade
The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law – Blockade
Apartheid
A former IDF soldier can give you details and a first-hand account of his experience and repsonsibilities as an IDF soldier.
IDF Soldier Firsthand Account
War Crimes
Multiple academic and professional experts have concluded that what Israel is doing in Gaza amounts to genocide.
Raz Segal – an Israeli associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University in the US says “I do think what we are seeing in front of our eyes is a textbook case of genocide”.
Source
Liam O’Mara IV is Jewish, a genocide historian and has taught comparative genocide. He says the following: “My first academic job was as a factchecker in a #Holocaust library” “Whats been happening in Gaza is a textbook case of genocide.”
Source
U.N. special rapporteur Francesca Albanese says “Genocide Clearly Identifiable in Gaza”
Source
Just the blockage and siege of Gaza can be considered genocide according to the Geneva Conventions
Source
Raz Segal – an Israeli associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University in the US says “I do think what we are seeing in front of our eyes is a textbook case of genocide”.
Source
Liam O’Mara IV is Jewish, a genocide historian and has taught comparative genocide. He says the following: “My first academic job was as a factchecker in a #Holocaust library” “Whats been happening in Gaza is a textbook case of genocide.”
Source
U.N. special rapporteur Francesca Albanese says “Genocide Clearly Identifiable in Gaza”
Source
Just the blockage and siege of Gaza can be considered genocide according to the Geneva Conventions
Source
The Israeli occupation forces are the largest terrorist organization in the world. The army is instructed to kill anyone they see indiscriminately in many cases and they use the guise of warnings as a way to manipulate world perception.
Recent examples include asking 1.1M people to move from north to south Gaza. The WHO (World Health Organization) has warned that ‘Forcing patients to flee hospitals a ‘death sentence’ Source: UN News
Israel also circulates a colonial narrative that presents the Palestinians as “human animals” that do not understand the laws of war. By combining these colonial tropes and “legalese”, it frames Palestinians as immoral barbarians who “deserve to die”. This rhetorical move, in turn, construes Israeli soldiers as the opposite, namely, the “civilised” and moral “fighters”. Source: Al-Jazeera News
Recent examples include asking 1.1M people to move from north to south Gaza. The WHO (World Health Organization) has warned that ‘Forcing patients to flee hospitals a ‘death sentence’ Source: UN News
Israel also circulates a colonial narrative that presents the Palestinians as “human animals” that do not understand the laws of war. By combining these colonial tropes and “legalese”, it frames Palestinians as immoral barbarians who “deserve to die”. This rhetorical move, in turn, construes Israeli soldiers as the opposite, namely, the “civilised” and moral “fighters”. Source: Al-Jazeera News