All Truths Lead Back to Gaza
All truths lead back to Gaza:
the struggle of Gaza,
the message of Gaza,
the people of Gaza.
To listen to its people is to hear their song, their beauty, their laughter, and their message of truth and justice. We will continue to learn from the people of Gaza and from all of Palestine. We will celebrate and mourn with them, laugh and cry with them, and bear witness as they search for their loved ones in the rubble, as they attempt to give them dignified burials and to grieve, free from the constant threat of bombs and the buzzing of drones. We will stand ready to respond to whatever they may ask of us in the coming days and years as they start the difficult task of rebuilding their shattered homes and lives.
If this is a true ceasefire, we will breathe a sigh of relief with them. But we will not forget the hundreds of thousands lost, martyred, or still buried under the rubble: children, poets, doctors, journalists, the young and the old, women, newborns, mothers, healthcare workers, fathers, and sons—those who will not celebrate this ceasefire or take a breath with us. Yet, we still take a breath for all of them, because we understand that this is but one small step in a long struggle for liberation. And we will continue to honor their lives in this journey.
We will not forget Biden's unconditional support for genocide, a ceasefire that could have been secured months ago. The bloodshed, the devastation, the suffering that has continued for over 15 months did not have to reach this point. Had the Biden-Harris administration not played their evil game of pretending to seek peace while enabling genocide, tens of thousands of lives could have been saved, and the toll of destruction could have been lessened. Biden’s legacy is one of genocide, complicity, and the betrayal of human beings.
In the words of one mighty Gazan woman following this announcement, “We recognize that this achievement is not owed to any one person, one leader, one official, or one country. This achievement belongs to the Gazan people alone.”We, as Staten Island 4 Palestine, are proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine as they lead the way.
We do not trust the Zionist entity. We are under no illusions that these atrocities are over, whether in Gaza or the West Bank. But as the people of Palestine have shown us time and time again, it is our collective power, will, solidarity, and steadfastness that have brought us here - and it is these same forces that will propel us forward in this struggle and inspire us to continue this work.
Staten Island 4 Palestine will continue to fight for and remain true to the points of unity outlined in our mission statement:
Defund and Stop Arming Israel
Right of Return for All Palestinians
Release of All Palestinian Hostages
End the Occupation of Palestine
Furthermore, justice demands
A permanent ceasefire,
Humanitarian aid be restored to Gaza,
Evacuees and Refugees have the right to return Gaza,
Israeli occupying forces completely withdraw from Gaza,
All complicit parties to war crimes be held fully accountable, and
Reparations be paid by Israel, the US, and other complicit nations to rebuild Gaza.
We call on the people of the world:
Demand the enforcement of this ceasefire,
Bear witness the unfolding days, weeks, and months to the supposed implementation of this deal,
Hold Israel, the US, and all complicit nations accountable,
Continue to listen and amplify Palestinian voices who are still fighting to reveal the truth,
Defend Palestinian rights to live, to exist, and to breathe.
All Eyes on Palestine.
Now and Forever, Free Palestine.
In solidarity,
Staten Island 4 Palestine
To learn more about what this ceasefire deal might mean not just for Palestinian society, but for Israeli society as well, we encourage you to watch Al Jazeera’s The Take interview with Palestinian, Diana Buttu, human rights lawyer and analyst, who was in Doha, where the ceasefire deal was being negotiated on behalf of the Palestinian people.
