Feeling helpless during the Palestine genocide? Me too

Here's what we can do, as others start to forget.

I pick up my phone and there’s a hesitation. My thumb hovers over the screensaver - my partner in a park on a summer’s day. We had a picnic. It was lovely.

My phone opens and soon after so does Instagram. What happens is expected - a part of me wants to ignore it, wants to look away and pretend people aren’t dying - but I see it clear as day. Palestinians are are being murdered every day by the Israeli government, Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF), the US, UK and every other country that has allowed for this to continue to happen.

Since October 7th, when Palestine broke free from their open air prison and Hamas retaliated against Israel, there has been a live broadcast of genocide.

But the occupation of Palestinian land, the murder, the bombings, the ethnic cleansing - it has all been happening since 15 May 1948, when the state of Israel was established and Palestinians were forced to the West Bank and Gaza strip.

And before then, Palestine was handed to the British in 1922 by the League of Nations (established at the end of WWI), to establish a Jewish home, from those displaced from war.

Before then, it was the Ottomans.

Palestinians have wanted control back for a long time now.

Well, now it’s time.

But we are uncomfortable in our comfortable homes. Our fingers twitch every single day when we hover on our screensavers to open our phones, and watch children die.

What can we do when we’re feeling so helpless? As our mental health, physical health, personal lives, grief and responsibilities become overwhelming in the face of murder.

Here are some things I’ve understood to be effective, during my work.

1. Learn the history
   Reflecting on what Palestine has endured helps us understand what mistakes can not be repeated. We can not let the British or US attempt to take control, we can not allow for Zionists to hold continued power over the land, we can not ingest propaganda as truth. At the bottom of this article, I will link to some great sources of information.

2. Listen to people from or in Palestine
   The reason many of our Instagram accounts are so difficult to watch, is because we are following the accounts of those who are living the nightmare in Gaza. We watch as journalists die. As their families die. Their friends leave. We should also be following those outside of Palestine, who speak on their culture. At the bottom of the article, I will link to some accounts we should all be following.

3. Boycott

   The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement works to end international support for Israel's oppression of Palestinians and pressure Israel to comply with international law. McDonalds has recently admitted that they have missed their quarterly target for the first time in 4 years. Starbucks have taken a hit by the end of 2023, in the US and Middle East. Earnings and stocks for both companies are down. Boycotting works. Here’s an updated list.

   

4. Change your bank account
   Barclays Bank holds over £1 billion in shares, and provides over £3 billion in loans and underwriting to 9 companies whose weapons, components, and military technology are being used by Israel in its attacks on Palestinians. HSBC is a major shareholder in companies supplying weapons to Israel, and it also provides arms companies with the loans and other financial services it needs to operates.
   Learn more here.

5. Go to local protests and actions
   Finding like minded people in your area helps inform those in your community - it can also allow you to take your family and friends, who may otherwise not be able to access central London. There may also be opportunities to become more involved in your local area. You can find a local branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign here.

6. Share knowledge and updates on social media

   A good old story share or repost on your feed can do more than you think. A story share is great but you can also post something on your feed for others to share. Without those posting in their feed, there will be nothing for us to share. It can be a simple statement or update of information from a trusted source.

7. Help and support others who are doing the work
   Finally, speak to others who are doing hard work in organising and campaigning and offer them support. Maybe they need a website updated, or some food delivered. We need to show compassion within ourselves, as well as to the rest of the world. Remember your enemy isn’t the person doing the work, it’s the state of Israel.

Sources for history of Palestine:
Decolonise Palestine
Al Jazeera: How Britain Destroyed the Palestinian Homeland
Al Jazeera: More than a century on: The Balfour Declaration explained
Diplomatist: Britain in the Making of the Israel-Palestine Crisis

Instagram accounts to follow:
Eye on Palestine
Queers for Palestine
Let’s Talk Palestine
Palestine Action
Bisan Owda
Subi Taha
Wael Al Dahdouh
Hind Khoudary
Noura Erakat
Jenan Matari
Bayan Abusultan
Lama Jamous
Motaz Azaiza