Right after the second installment of these writings regarding our brothers and sisters in Gaza and the West Bank was published, Israel announced a ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). On the surface, this was the news we’d been waiting for, a huge weight off the shoulders of Palestinians worldwide. Yet, looking ever so slightly under said surface, the fine print reads that U.S. President Donald Trump brokered this “ceasefire.”
If you know even the littlest bit about the history of the U.S.-brokered ceasefires/peace plans between the Israeli occupation and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) umbrella, you’d know that the PLO isn’t typically part of these deals, meaning Palestinians never get to be in the room, let alone have a seat at the table.
Various negotiations have taken place over the course of history. The Camp David Accords in 1978, Oslo I and II in 1993 and 1995, Camp David Summit in 2000, and the Abraham Accords in 2020 are recent examples of the U.S. mediating talks between Israel and various Arab countries over its actions in the region, and more specifically, Palestine. Yet, those peace deals and summits usually undercut Palestinians, even if representation typically takes part in the process.
It’s more akin to going through the motions. Israel and the U.S. get together with various actors in the region, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and many more, and agree to terms on governance in the West Bank and rights to territories like Jerusalem, and more general friendly relations.
Despite this long history, Palestinians have been repeatedly undercut by Uncle Sam and Israel. Even when PLO representation is present, Israel fails to adhere to the terms agreed upon, and the U.S. fails to hold them accountable. This dynamic has led us all the way to the present day.
The international community was skeptical of this latest ceasefire plan. Who can blame them? As of writing this piece, Israel has resumed indiscriminate bombing across Gaza, killing hundreds of innocent civilians. No phone calls from President Trump telling them to stop, much like his predecessor. All it takes is one phone call to put a stop to it, and both Trump and Biden had not the slightest bit of dignity for human lives to make that call.
It’s up to us in this current moment to continue the tradition of solidarity pioneered by human rights leaders here in the States, to the Gaza Strip and beyond. Donate if you can, support boycott divestment sanctions, and be steadfast in your commitment to human rights.
Matthew 20:16 poses that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. We have a command to put Palestinian lives first. Children here in our own country, the most wealthy nation in human history, are going hungry due to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts amid Trump’s government shutdown. We have a command to take care of the sick, who will face untimely deaths due to hospital closures in rural areas all across the nation. Healthcare coverage was slashed for permanent Big Beautiful Bill tax cuts for the very wealthy.
We have a command to go through this together, putting the least fortunate above ourselves. From America to the occupied territories in Palestine, our struggle is yours, your struggle is mine. To our brothers and sisters in Gaza and the West Bank, you are not in this alone; we are with you. To the sick and hungry in America, we are with you. And we have your back, no hesitation, no questions asked.