Will the Gaza Ceasefire Last? Why Palestine Can’t Be Defeated
Nov 23, 2023
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Yara Shoufani, PhD student, and Mohammed Nabulsi, attorney, discuss the Gaza ceasefire and the reasons behind it. They also highlight the insufficient coverage on Palestinian prisoners, the attempts by US political leaders to justify Israel's actions, and the growing support for the Palestinian struggle. Additionally, they explore the connections between the tech industry, Department of Defense, and US imperialism, and emphasize organizing the masses and sustaining momentum for change.
The recent temporary pause in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a result of resistance capabilities and global public opinion, but it does not guarantee a permanent ceasefire or address the larger issues of occupation and blockade.
Over 6,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, including children and political leaders, and their release has been a longstanding demand that remains unresolved despite the recent temporary pause in the conflict.
Global public opinion and the generational shift in consciousness play a vital role in shaping the Palestinian struggle, challenging imperialism, and exposing the contradictions in societies supporting a genocide.
Deep dives
The Temporary Pause in Fighting and Its Significance
The recent temporary pause in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, announced as a four-day humanitarian truce, has significant implications. It includes the suspension of Israeli military action and ground operations throughout the Gaza Strip, the suspension of Israeli airstrikes and air traffic in certain areas, and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid and fuel into Gaza. This truce is a result of the resistance capabilities and capacity to repel Israeli military objectives, as well as pressure from global public opinion. However, it does not guarantee a permanent ceasefire or address the larger issues of occupation and blockade.
The Plight of Palestinian Political Prisoners
The podcast highlights the often overlooked issue of Palestinian political prisoners. Over 6,000 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli prisons, with over 1,000 under administrative detention, meaning they are held without knowing the reason for their imprisonment. This includes children, sick individuals, and political leaders who have been in prison for decades. The podcast emphasizes that the release of Palestinian prisoners has been a longstanding demand, and despite the recent temporary pause in the conflict, the broader issue of Palestinian prisoners and the ongoing occupation remains unresolved.
The Shift in Global Public Opinion and Consciousness
The podcast emphasizes the importance of global public opinion in shaping the Palestinian struggle and challenging imperialism. It highlights the significant shift in public opinion during the recent conflict, where mass movements across the world rejected the attempt to portray the rising death toll as a victory against Hamas, instead seeing it as an indicator of Israel's fascism and US imperialism's violence in the region. The podcast also discusses the generational shift in consciousness, where younger generations are connecting the dots on various social and political issues and becoming more disillusioned with the existing power structures. This shift in consciousness is seen as a threat to the ruling elite and a key factor in the growing global resistance.
Palestine as a Central Part of the Global Revolutionary Struggle
The discussion highlights the importance of Palestine as a central part of the global revolutionary struggle against US-led imperialism. It emphasizes that Palestine is not just a national liberation struggle but also a critical piece in the fight against US imperialism. The podcast mentions the consolidation of progressive movements across Latin America, revolutions against imperialism in Africa, and the repression faced by movements in the Middle East. It underlines that the masses in the United States and other Western countries are witnessing their governments' support for a genocide, revealing the contradictions in their societies. It suggests that this moment calls for continued movement building and organizing.
The Growing Consciousness of Systemic Issues and a Revolutionary Era
The podcast discusses the growing consciousness among people that the Palestinian struggle is not just about specific politicians, but it is a systemic issue rooted in imperialism. It draws parallels to historical moments like the Vietnam War, highlighting how people realize the need to challenge the system itself. The podcast also mentions the shift in consciousness among young people, the importance of organization, and the intersectionality between various struggles such as the fight against racism, imperialism, and fascism. It underscores the need to mobilize, join organizations, and sustain a vision to bring about real change.
More than 14,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, and this week Israel and Palestine came to an agreement for a four-day pause in the war. Will the pause extend into a permanent ceasefire? How did this agreement come about when this deal has been available since October?
Brian Becker is joined by Yara Shoufani, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement and a PhD student in Political Science at York University, and Mohammed Nabulsi, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement and an attorney based out of Houston.
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