Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zionism? What is the difference between Zionism and Judaism?

Zionism is a nationalist/colonial movement which claims that Palestinian land is the rightful homeland for all Jewish people. When the State of Israel was established in 1948, this area was under the mandate of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom and other Western powers pushed Jewish people to immigrate to the newly established Israel, despite the vast majority of Jewish people having no ancestral ties ancestry to the native inhabitants of the Palestinian territory. The establishment of Israel was planned exclusively by foreign Western intervention with no consideration of Palestinian self-determination.

Why does “Israel” want to ethnically cleanse Palestinians?

Israel believes that Palestinian land should be the homeland for Jewish people, even at the cost of displacing and committing the genocide of millions of Palestinians who have called this land their home for thousands of years. It is also worth noting that many Jewish people do not agree with the actions of Israel.

Has Israel committed war crimes against Palestinians?

Yes, the Human Rights Watch has confirmed that Israel’s air forces have used white phosphorus in Lebanon and Gaza on October 10 and 11. White phosphorus can cause severe burns and long term health effects; this biochemical warfare is not unlike the effects Agent Orange had on the Vietnamese. The use of white phosphorus in Gaza violates international humanitarian law because of how populated Gaza is, with almost half of the population being children.

Israel’s tactics are continuing to be investigated as war crimes because of the amount of civilian deaths and injuries they have caused by their attacks. This includes but isn’t limited to cutting off water, food, fuel, and electricity supply to Palestinians in Gaza, targeting airstrikes on hospitals and schools, and denying Palestinian civilians from seeking safe refuge. Israel has also released false news to the media, such as the beheading of 40 Israeli babies by Palestinians which they admit they have no evidence for.

What role does the United States play in this?

In 2022, the United States gave $3.3 billion in aid to Israel. President Biden has requested funding from Congress that includes $14.3 billion to Israel for the use of military defense contracts, weapons, and ammunition. U.S. defense contractors produce the majority of Israel’s military equipment.

What about the United Nations? Can they do anything?

The United Nations Commission of Inquiry has stated that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is unlawful under international law. The United Nations has a relief agency for Palestinian seeking refuge and safety from Israel’s attacks. However, Israeli airstrikes have hit or caused damage to 18 of these facilities, killing Palestinian civilians and United Nations peacekeepers.

What is Hamas and what is their relationship with the Palestinian government?

Hamas is a resistance group governing the Gaza Strip with the goal to liberate Palestine from Israel. Hamas is a political party that was democratically elected in Gaza in 2006. Hamas and Palestine do not have an organized military – its armed resistance is a response to the active colonialization and genocide conducted by their colonizer, Israel. Gaza was once ruled by a more progressive, nonviolent party. However, Israel has targeted and killed many of these more peaceful revolutionaries, leaving Hamas as the only option for Gaza.

Present day Hamas exists because of Israel. Israel funded Hamas in opposition to the more progressive PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization). Israel has targeted and killed palestinian revolutionaries who have advocated for nonviolence. Hamas is literally the only option the Palestinians in Gaza have, and that’s by design.

Is being pro-Palestine antisemitic?

No. Anti-Semitism is defined as holding prejudice or being hostile to one who is Jewish. Being pro-Palestinian is supporting the human rights and recognizing the Palestinian people while rejecting the Zionist colonial project. As established in the question above, there is a difference between Zionism and Judaism. Recognizing these key definitions, one can support another’s faith in Judaism while also rejecting Zionism.

What is the history behind Israel and Palestine?

The land that Israel and Palestine inhabit have changed hands many times throughout history. Israel has its roots in the Kingdoms of Israel and Judea whose borders roughly correspond to the borders of the modern nation of Palestine. Palestinians trace their ancestry to the ancient Canaanites who inhabited this land prior to the Israelites. Israelites ruled this area for a millennia, converting many of the native Palestinians to Judaism in the process. The Roman Empire then expanded into the land in the 1st century and Christianity became the dominant religion. The land was then captured by Arab Muslims in the 7th century. Palestinians gradually mass-converted to Islam and Muslims were the vast majority of the population until the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

The settler colony of Israel claims to have eventually pulled out of Gaza in 2005, but this is only partially true. They pulled out land troops, but maintained control of every aspect of life in Gaza, who and what leaves–effectively making the Gaza Strip and West Bank concentration camps. This led to the mass displacement and eventual genocide of the native Palestinians.

Doesn’t Israel deserve to defend itself from “terrorism”?

Viewing these attacks by Israel as a defense mechanism ignores two key points. The first point being that Israel has been taking land from Palestinians and ethnic cleansing Palestinians long before the Hamas revolt on October 7 that Israel regards as a “terrorist attack.” The second point is that Israel controls Palestine’s access to water, electricity, food, and fuel supplies. This is a power imbalance that affects Palestinian civilians and not just Hamas.

Is this really a genocide?

Gregory Stanton’s Eight Stages of Genocide:

Classification
1. “Us” vs “Them”
Symbolization
1. classifications are symbolized
  1. Eg. flags
Dehumanization of the victim group
Organization of hate groups, militia, propaganda, etc.
Polarization
1. Moderate voices are silenced
Preparation
1. Planning, death lists
Extermination
1. mass killings begin
Denial and cover up

(1) In this situation, the “us” is “Israel” and “them” is Palestine. (2) They both have widely recognized flags that symbolize them as entities. (3) The Israeli Defense Minister calls the Palestinans “inhuman animals” and that rhetoric has spread. (4) The Israeli Occupation Forces have gathered to take on the Palestinans with help from propaganda pushed from the Israeli State which calls the attack on October 7, terrorism. (5) With fearmongering in their rhetoric, the the “Israelis” solidify the polarization of “if you’re not with us, you’re against us” mentality. (6) “Israel” plots their attacks, most recently aiming to shut down communications and power in the dead of night so that they could commit their war crimes under the darkness of night. (7) Mass killings have been on going, whether it is from a planned bomb, like those on hospitals, or carpet bombing, thousands of Palestinians have been killed. (8) “Israel” has also bombed supply trucks coming into Gaza and then blamed it on Hamas, a resistance group in Palestine.