PEOPLE OF PALESTINE — I LOVE YOU
By Vincent Lyn
The current era is marked by widespread conflict, ranging from large-scale wars to smaller skirmishes, spanning regions like Ukraine, Gaza, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Congo. These conflicts often exhibit genocidal characteristics, targeting populations for eradication or displacement. Despite the urgency of the situation, the international community appears incapable of halting these destructive conflicts. This paralysis stems from a combination of lacking political will among those in power and systemic issues within existing structures.
Addressing this paralysis requires a fundamental shift away from the dominance of the nation-state as the primary identity and sovereignty framework for political action. Over-reliance on nation-states perpetuates an unequal global order, where certain states wield disproportionate power over others. To rectify this imbalance, we must transition towards empowering international institutions like the United Nations. These institutions should be endowed with robust enforcement mechanisms, ensuring that decisions from bodies such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court carry tangible consequences for non-compliance. Presently, this enforcement is lacking, exemplified by Israel’s defiance of ICJ orders and the international community’s failure to apply meaningful pressure in response.
Ever pondered on the notion that the individuals the U.S. government perceives as threats are those who challenge their dominance in wealth and power? Likewise, the beneficiaries of U.S. support are often aligned with its interests. Considering their history of misinformation regarding figures like Malcolm X and the portrayal of Black and Muslim men, as well as their deceit regarding events like the Iraq War, can they be trusted on their narratives concerning Israel and Palestine?
Since founding my organization, We Can Save Children, a decade ago, and embarking on journeys throughout the Middle East to aid families and children in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, I have devoted extensive time to research. This has included countless hours of interviewing and reviewing videos depicting Palestinian children, teenagers, men, and women enduring harrowing experiences: being pursued, assaulted, restrained, detained, or tragically killed by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and Israeli police. I have witnessed families enduring the indignity of waiting in long queues at heavily fortified checkpoints simply to access work or education in the West Bank, as well as the challenges posed by the gates encircling Gaza. Additionally, I have seen the heart-wrenching sight of bulldozers demolishing homes in the West Bank.
Through my exploration, I have delved into the painful history of the Nakba of 1948 and the ongoing plight of Gaza, which remains home to countless refugees displaced by that traumatic and violent expulsion.
I came across the tragic narrative of Rachel Corrie, the American activist tragically killed by an Israeli bulldozer in Rafah back in 2003. Furthermore, I became acquainted with the plight of Ahmad Manasra, who has languished in Israeli detention for the past eight years. Ahmad was apprehended at the age of 13 after being shot (with his friend fatally shot in front of him), enduring torture and prolonged periods of solitary confinement while Israel adamantly refuses to heed international calls for his release, despite his declining health.
Consequently, my perception of Israel underwent a profound shift. The persistent daily violence and the suffocating grip of control exerted over the Palestinian populace are indefensible. One particularly haunting incident from last year lingers in my thoughts: the heartbreaking account of seven-year-old Rayan Suleiman, whose life abruptly ended in a heart attack while being pursued by soldiers. The sheer terror of a child fleeing for survival from armed adult soldiers and succumbing is unimaginable — a stark reminder of the inhumane realities endured.
Witnessing Israel’s bombardment of Gaza in 2020, 2021, and 2022 only reinforced these troubling observations.
At this juncture, the State of Israel epitomizes a belligerent entity, characterized by its aggressive accumulation of resources, militarized governance, and manipulation of religious fervor and historical traumas to garner support while concealing its egregious actions. These actions, which are extensively documented, include atrocities perpetrated not only in Palestine but also across the globe. Presently, the world looks on in horror as Israel perpetrates GENOCIDE in Gaza, clumsily attempting to align its narrative with the “we support Israel” stance of the U.S. government, even as it ruthlessly persists in its actions despite widespread international condemnation.
It is not within my purview to judge the methods by which people resist their oppressors or to dictate the manner in which their anger is expressed. Instead, my role is to actively listen to their voices, to believe in their experiences, and to contribute to movements advocating for freedom in any capacity I can, for the entirety of my life. This commitment is made in honor of their lives, in remembrance of their martyrs, and ultimately for the collective liberation of all humanity. Free, Free Palestine!
Vincent Lyn
CEO & Founder of We Can Save Children
Deputy Ambassador of International Human Rights Commission (IHRC)
Director of Creative Development at African Views Organization
Economic & Social Council at United Nations (ECOSOC)
Rescue & Recovery Specialist at International Confederation of Police & Security Experts