In his February tour of London comedy clubs, stand-up comedian Aamer Rahman emphasised that Israel’s actions in Gaza are not directed against militant group H*mas, but constitute the destruction of the Palestinian people. To justify the violence, they resort to gaslighting, deflection and blaming the occupied Palestinians for their actions.
A year after the 7 October escalation in the 76-year Israeli occupation of Palestine, the military onslaught continues, with no ceasefire or arms embargo in sight.
So far, Israel has k*lled more than 42,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. However, according to the Lancet medical journal, the death toll as of early July may have already topped 186,000. Plus, by September, University of Edinburgh global health chair Devi Sridhar estimated deaths at 335,000.
Recently, Israel extended its offensive into Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran, raising fears of another world war.
Rahman pointed out that all colonised people can relate to the struggles of the Palestinian people. For example, post-apartheid South Africa has been in solidarity with Palestinians, including providing material support. ‘Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians,’ said South African freedom fighter and first post-apartheid President Nelson Mandela. Meanwhile, during apartheid, the white supremacist regime aided Israel, a white supremacist settler colony.
Rahman added that Israel has been testing out tactics and sophisticated weaponry, which oppressive governments can deploy against marginalised populations, as has been done in the past. Thoughts?
Video credit: @aamer_rahman on X
Gaza death toll
https://www.yahoo.com/news/gaza-health-ministry-palestinian-death-130322598.html
Lancet figure
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01169-3/fulltext
Devi Sridhar figure
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/sep/05/scientists-death-disease-gaza-polio-vaccinations-israel
Israel bombardments
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2024/10/8/one-year-of-israels-war-on-gaza-by-the-numbers
https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/4/23/photos-200-days-of-israels-war-on-gaza
Mandela quote
http://www.mandela.gov.za/mandela_speeches/1997/971204_palestinian.htm
South African apartheid regime and Israel
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/07/southafrica.israel