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Urgent Call From Gaza
Mohammed Matter ‘Abu Yazan’, from Gaza, Palestine is a political activist, writer and a member of Gaza Youth Breaks Out movement, known as GYBO (photo/aljazeera.com)
“A message to the world,
Dearest Comrades, Brothers and Sisters, and free people of the world:
The Palestinian people are being exposed to another one of the Israeli occupations aggressions. The occupation offensive continues in Gaza, Palestine, while the blockade never ended. Not only so, settler crimes continue with impunity in the West Bank and Jerusalem, meanwhile land theft and settler expansion persists. An apartheid wall furthermore aids the Judaization of Jerusalem, as the occupation forces continue to arrest thousands of civilians. 6000 men and women have been arrested so far, they have been abused and their human rights violated. Not to mention the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure, and the Palestinian national economy.
The Israeli military occupation has committed and continues to commit a number of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the form of genocide. In doing so, the military occupation is violating the IV GENEVA CONVENTION RELATIVE TO THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN TIME OF WAR, and a number of other human rights agreements. To this point the Israeli aggression has led to 167 Palestinian civilian deaths, 39 of which are children, with a further 23 women. 1123 civilians have also been injured, the majority of which are women and children, while tens of houses have been destroyed and their occupants killed. Not only so, but a number of key institutions have also been targeted, including civil and government institutions, emergency vehicles, and holy sites.
Friends and Comrades, we urge you along with the rest of the international community, with all its institutions including regional ones, and the various civil society organizations, to go from calls for justice for the Palestinian struggle towards the acceptance of your responsibility as actors in this issue. We urge you to hold Israel legally accountable in both an individual and a collective context, to stop the aggression and alienate via boycotts the Israeli military occupation.
We urge you to collectively work on a global solidarity campaign, the biggest of its kind, to expose the Israeli military occupation and hold it accountable. The continued international silence and the lack of accountability gives the Israeli military occupation impunity and encourages it to commit more atrocities and massacres.
Dearest friends: We as a people people live under occupation, and an apartheid state, without any protections. We urge you to take to the streets, and to protest nonstop as we do, the screaming violations that are inflicted on the Palestinian people. We urge you to demand the end of the occupation and the aggression, and to scream in the face of injustice. We urge you to take a stance against the double standards of your governments and to urge them to commit to their legal and ethical obligations towards protecting civilians in Palestine. We need you and we need your urgent solidarity today, and everyday, to stop the occupations crimes and continued aggression. We urge you towards a serious movement and work and solidarity with our just struggle for justice, dignity and freedom. Finally, we hope that you commit yourself to this call as individuals and/or organizations, and to do so with urgency, for tomorrow maybe a day too late.” Abu Yazan
Mattar wrote in 2012 for Aljazeera his feeling regarding the Manifesto that he and other young bright minds wrote in 2010 exposing Israel, UN, US, and its own government Hamas. The frustration to live in an occupied Land, living under the military boot of Israel under the protection of the UN, US and in large by the international community-leaders- on top of that under the dictatorial hand of Hamas that tried to crashed the movement since the first day arresting and harassing its founders.
It has been almost two years now since we wrote our manifesto. We called it a manifesto, but in reality, I’m not sure what it was, he said.
“Was it a manifesto, or was it a cry for help? Perhaps, an accusation, or even perhaps a demand to the world and to ourselves; a demand for change from the outside and from within.” matter said.
Now he appeals again to the international community, but more that to the leaders to citizens of the world to help them, to raise voices of conscience throughout the world to help to stop the massacre.
Read more on Gaza Youth Breaks Out
From manifesto to reality: ‘Gaza Youth Breaks Out’ member tells his story
“My story is marked by violence, persecution, arrests, abuse and resistance,” writes Matter.
It is almost two years now since we wrote our manifesto. We called it manifesto, but in hindsight, I’m not sure what it was. Was it a manifesto, or was it a cry for help? Perhaps, an accusation. Perhaps, a demand to the world and to ourselves; a demand for change from within and from the outside.
It was before the uprisings began around us, and they have been roaring the last two years; in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria and Bahrain. But we had felt like shouting in the dark, and while this raging had brought light into the darkness of the dictatorships around us, the night around us has not thinned even a bit. No, if anything, it has only become darker.
Rethinking Hamas: A Complex Narrative
By Akashma Online News
The label of “terrorist organization” often thrown at Hamas has been shaped by political agendas and media portrayals, especially in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While it’s undeniable that Hamas has engaged in violent acts, primarily targeting Israel, the designation as a terrorist group is far from a straightforward matter. It is a political tool used by Israel and the United States to justify military actions in Gaza, suppress Palestinian resistance, and maintain dominance in the region. However, understanding Hamas through a broader lens—both from a Palestinian and human rights perspective—reveals a much more complex and nuanced reality.
Hamas, which emerged during the late 1980s as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, was founded in response to the long-standing occupation of Palestine by Israel. It initially gained popularity due to its social welfare programs, providing vital services like education, health care, and charity to a population suffering under harsh economic conditions. For many Palestinians, Hamas represented hope—an organization that stood in opposition to the Israeli occupation and its relentless expansion into Palestinian territories. These efforts gave the group substantial grassroots support, especially among those who viewed the Palestinian Authority’s negotiations with Israel as ineffective.
Critics of Hamas often point to its violent methods, such as suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and its military wing’s use of force. But a closer examination shows that the label of “terrorism” is politically charged. The United States, Israel, and the European Union have categorized Hamas as a terrorist organization, yet the group also runs a political party with members who are educated professionals. Some of its leaders hold degrees from prestigious institutions in the United States and Europe. For instance, Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, a prominent figure within Hamas, holds a master’s degree in construction management from Colorado State University and a doctorate in industrial engineering from Louisiana Tech. Marzook’s story underscores the sophistication and complexity of Hamas beyond its militant wing.
This reality is often overshadowed by the image the media projects: that of masked militants with rifles. While Hamas’ military actions are part of the organization’s history, they are only one facet of its identity. It is critical to distinguish between the political party and the military wing, as many of the group’s leaders are involved in shaping Palestinian policies, such as advocating for resistance to occupation and calling for Palestinian sovereignty.
On the issue of human rights, both Hamas and the Israeli government have been accused of violations. The ongoing blockade of Gaza, enforced by Israel, has led to extreme poverty, shortages of essential goods, and a humanitarian crisis that has affected millions of Palestinians. Meanwhile, Hamas’ governance in Gaza has been criticized for suppressing dissent and violating the rights of women and minorities. However, it is important to remember that Hamas’ rise is deeply intertwined with the broader context of Palestinian suffering under Israeli occupation. Their resistance, while controversial, is born out of the desperate need to protect their land, their rights, and their future.
The portrayal of Hamas as a monolithic “terrorist” organization overlooks the broader political dynamics at play. For Palestinians, Hamas is not just a militant group—it is a political force that embodies resistance against occupation and a call for self-determination. Hamas provides an alternative to the Palestinian Authority, which has been criticized for failing to protect the interests of Palestinians while engaging in peace negotiations with Israel that many see as futile.
Ultimately, the conversation about Hamas cannot be reduced to simplistic labels. To understand the organization’s role in Palestinian society, one must consider the historical, political, and social realities that have shaped its existence. While Hamas’ methods are controversial, its rise is a direct response to the oppression faced by Palestinians. It is essential to approach the subject with an open mind, recognizing the complexities involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the human cost of the violence on both sides. Only through nuanced discussions can we begin to find a path toward lasting peace and justice for all people in the region.
Akashma Online News 