Why must political resistance go hand in hand with humanitarian aid? The answer is straightforward: by the time humanitarian aid reaches those who are attacked, many of them may already have been slaughtered by the aggressor. So, why provide aid just a few days before they face extermination?
Throughout history, humanitarian organizations have been at the forefront of fundraising and soliciting aid in armed conflicts. This aid often includes medical supplies, food, and essential materials like tents and blankets. While the intention behind such aid is often noble, many non-governmental humanitarian organizations are also influenced by political agendas. A prominent example of international aid being used as a political tool was the Marshall Plan after World War II, when the U.S. financially supported Western Europe to contain the Soviet Union following its near-total devastation. The situation in Gaza over the last 11 months, and indeed over the past decades, reflects a similar dynamic that demands close scrutiny.
Furthermore, humanitarian aid, when not accompanied by a strong political stance, can inadvertently sustain the conflict. It may be weaponized by the aggressor against the targeted civilians and contribute to the emergence of a war economy. The U.S. and Western governments seem to overlook the importance of de-weaponizing humanitarian aid for Gaza, whether by facilitating its delivery or pressuring Israel to permit it.
In the Gaza context, the weaponization of humanitarian aid is not a fabrication. Top Zionist leaders have openly declared that humanitarian aid should not be allowed in Gaza until total victory is achieved. When they speak of “total victory,” they refer to the complete annihilation of Gazans, including children, babies, toddlers and all kind of animals. Additionally, Zionist political terror has extended to neighboring Arab countries, Egypt and Jordan, which continue to fail the delivery of aid through their crossings into Palestine.
While humanitarian aid is crucial for the survival of Gazans, it is insufficient on its own to stop the genocidal actions of Zionist Israel. What is needed is political will and activism to hold the aggressor accountable and to prevent further atrocities. Political engagement by concerned individuals is a crucial mean to ensure that Israel and other aggressors are held accountable and prevented from repeating their aggression.
Our “Resistance Art” movement aims to spread a political message grounded in international law and universal human rights values. These laws and values, when applied and respected, can hold the Zionists accountable for their genocide against the Palestinians.
The book “Look Closely, Gaza – Unburied Values and Bodies” is one of our tools to not only raise awareness but also to strengthen our political activism as a global society against injustice.
Participating Artists
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