Around the World and in the U.S.

Outrage and Protest Against Israel's Assault on Gaza

August 4, 2014 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

Since Israel began the current genocidal assault on Gaza on July 8, hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in determined street protests. Prominent people in the arts, entertainmnent, science and politics have spoken out. It is critical that protests continue and become larger and more determined. The past couple of weeks have seen important shoots of protest within the U.S.—the main backer of Israel—and within Israel itself.

Six Nobel peace laureates and more than 100 other prominent people and activists signed a statement published in the Guardian newspaper demanding an arms embargo against Israel. The statement declares "Israel has once again unleashed the full force of its military against the captive Palestinian population, particularly in the besieged Gaza Strip, in an inhumane and illegal act of military aggression. Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza has so far killed scores of Palestinian civilians, injured hundreds and devastated the civilian infrastructure, including the health sector, which is facing severe shortages. Israel’s ability to launch such devastating attacks with impunity largely stems from the vast international military cooperation and trade that it maintains with complicit governments across the world."

Actors Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, director Pedro Almodóvar and dozens of other people from Spain’s theater and film community issued an open letter condemning Israel’s bombardment of Gaza as “genocide.” The letter, printed in Spanish and European news outlets, declares "Gaza is living through horror these days, besieged and attacked by land, sea and air.” And, "Palestinians' homes are being destroyed, they are being denied water, electricity [and] free movement to their hospitals, schools and fields while the international community does nothing."

A diverse group of celebrities, artists, and activists -- among them American Jews and Palestinians, and including Chuck D, Jonathan Demme, Gloria Steinem, Wallace Shawn, Tony Kushner, Mira Nair, Roger Waters, and Brian Eno participated in a video, holding signs with the names and ages of Palestinian civilians recently killed by the Israeli military in Gaza.

Those taking these important and courageous stands have, and will continue to come under attack, and need our support and backing.

The photos below give a sense of the worldwide outrage, and the emerging protests within Israel and the U.S.

Above: July 26, over ten thousand march in Chicago to stand with Palestine.
Photo: samidoun.ca (photo credit:Danielle Villareal)

Above: August 2, Israeli activists protest at Hatzor Air Force base near Ashdod, where Israeli planes depart on their way to bomb Gaza. Photo: samidoun.ca

Above: July 24, Seville, Andalusia (Spain)—banner translates to: Yesterday South Africa, Today, Palestine. Sanctions against Israel! Photo: samidoun.ca

Above: St. Louis, Missouri, Jewish Voice for Peace speaks out against Israel’s attacks on Gaza. Photo: samidoun.ca

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