In Occupied Palestine

Zionism in practice

Israel’s Daily Toll on Palestinian Life, Limb, Liberty and Land

08:00, 28 September until 08:00, 29 September 2024

[Source of statistics: Palestinian Monitoring Group]

Gaza Strip

Attacks: There are no safe places for the militarily-dominated population in Gaza, who find themselves subjected to airstrikes and other missile attacks on buildings, homes and many essentialfacilities, as well as constant gunfire and invasions by Israeli forces. The Israeli Navy continues to fire missiles, targeting facilities and buildings along the entire Gaza shoreline.

Victims: 9 more people have been killed, bringing the total number killed in Gaza since 7 October to at least 41,595. Another 41 have been wounded, bringing that total to 96,251. The daily average number of men, women and children killed in Gaza is at least 116 and, that of those injured, is more than 269.

 

Israel and the culture of denial

By Angela Smith | 30 September 2024

There will be no peace and security for Israelis until Palestinians enjoy freedom, justice and equality from the river to the sea.

Dedicated to promoting tolerance, human dignity, Jewish unity and universal respect, the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, built in the shape of a dove, promotes itself as an “international embassy” for peace. The museum’s website describes the outdoor amphitheatre as being flanked by a Second Temple aqueduct, originally constructed by King Herod and discovered when the foundations were being laid. The website omits to mention what else was discovered when workers were excavating the site: human remains.

The remains of Palestinians and other Muslims were being quietly removed in cardboard boxes when news of the desecration was leaked to the media. Despite protests by Muslims and Palestinians and a High Court challenge, construction continued. Opened in 2022, the museum was built on top of the largest, most important Muslim cemetery in Palestine, in continual use for hundreds of years until Palestine’s uprooting in 1948.

Building a museum purporting to promote tolerance and universal respect on the site of a graveyard exposes the erasure at the heart of the project. At the time of writing, the two exhibitions on display are “Documenting Israel: Visions of 75 Years” which tells “Israel’s story”, and “From Darkness to Light” which unveils “the unfathomable depths of evil that occurred on October 7^th”, and highlights the empathy and civic unity that emerged from those events. As Franz Fanon observed, “The colonist is not content with physically limiting the space of the colonised . . . the colonist turns the colonised into a kind of quintessence of evil.” Evil in the form of “human animals” as Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, declared on 9 October when announcing that Israel would impose a complete siege on Gaza: no food, water, fuel or electricity.

The Museum of Tolerance is but one example of what American literary critic, Saree Makdisi, terms “the architecture of erasure”, or what is occluded in the story that Israel and its supporters, including the leaders of Western governments, tell themselves. A state founded on a premise of ethnic exclusion and land theft is supported as an exemplar of democracy, equality and tolerance. Our leaders remain shamefully indifferent to the plight of Palestinians and Lebanese even as Israel continues its live-streamed, genocidal assault on Palestinians in Gaza, and inflicts carnage in Lebanon where its terrorist attacks cause mass mutilation of civilians.

It is difficult to fathom how Australian Jews, who are liberal on other issues, fail to condemn Israel’s flagrant violations of international law over many decades, and its constitutive and ongoing privileging of Jews over non-Jews in its laws, policies and practices. For example, they support Israel, while also calling for justice for Aboriginal Australians, whose history of colonialist killing, land theft, displacement, discrimination and incarceration finds echoes in the Palestinian experience. They cast Palestinians as the roadblock to peace and a two-state “solution”, perceiving their suffering as self-inflicted, disconnected from their original and ongoing dispossession and discrimination.

Makdisi argues that this cognitive dissonance is made possible not simply by the occlusion of Palestinians’ presence, but by the manner in which the effects of Israel’s destruction and repression are reframed, inverted into affirmations of liberal virtues. Hence, a Museum of Tolerance built on a desecrated Muslim cemetery champions human dignity and universal respect.

Scattered throughout Israel are sites that occlude Palestinian history and lives. Examples of active interventions to erase Palestinian existence include the following: a museum built on a Muslim cemetery; the replacement of a biodiverse ecosystem, which included olive and citrus groves, with monocultural forests planted on the ruins of Palestinian villages (a greenwashing of Israel’s origin story of terra nullius, praised by Kamala Harris as “Israeli ingenuity that has truly made a desert bloom”); the illegal wall annexing part of the West Bank; and the re-naming of Palestinian towns and villages to Hebrew names.

One initiative that seeks to reverse this psycho-geographical erasure is Zochrot, meaning “remembering” in Hebrew. Founded in 2002 by a group of Jewish-Israeli activists, who reject the Zionist paradigm of suppression and repression, Zochrot calls for Palestinian refugees’ right of return, and recognition of the Nakba as an ongoing process to deprive Palestinians of their land. Zochrot’s website maps “the invisible country” in the colonised landscape of Israel, identifying the hundreds of towns and villages that were destroyed in 1948 and subsequently, and hidden from view so that the land would be “read” as Israeli. Zochrot also makes material, de-colonising interventions on the sites of former Palestinian settlements by constructing signs with the former Palestinian name. Zochrot’s intervention in the digital space includes its iReturn App, which reveals Israel’s hidden landscape of ethnic cleansing and forced expulsions.

In a recent address to mark the UN International Day of Peace, an edited version of which was published in Pearls and Irritations, Louise Adler suggested that collective amnesia must enable diasporic Jews to ignore the reality of Israel’s occupation. Perhaps a more accurate explanation is denial, buttressed by legislation such as the law colloquially known as the Nakba Law which authorises the withholding of state funds from entities that commemorate Israel’s Independence Day as a day of mourning. A deep-seated culture of denial — a common trait of colonisers — shadowed by anti-Palestinian sentiment is facilitated by the state’s literal, figurative, and discursive erasure of Palestinians.

Israel’s apologists project onto Palestinians all the blame for Israel’s insecurity instead of acknowledging the reason for Palestinian resistance: Israel’s illegal occupation and ongoing, violent settler-colonialism, and the discriminatory laws, practices and policies that maintain the hegemony of Jewish settlers at the expense of its indigenous inhabitants.

The violence won’t end until the conditions that produced it end. There will be no peace and security for Israelis until Palestinians enjoy freedom, justice and equality from the river to the sea.

West Bank

[Palestinian Monitoring Group]

Killed: 9

Wounded: 51

Taken prisoner: 46

Raids: 53

Air strikes: 1

Settler attacks: 10

Israeli Army attack – 6 wounded: Tubas – 06:20, Israeli Occupation forces, firing live ammunition, stormed the town of Aqaba, wounding six residents and taking prisoner two others, including one of the wounded: Mushir Al-Shawish.

Israeli Army attack – 1 wounded: Tulkarem – 19:45, near to Zeita and the Annexation Wall, Israeli forces opened fire on, and hospitalised, a man: Ansar Majed Ahmed Jabarin.

Israeli Army attack: Tulkarem – 21:20, Israeli forces, in the village of Kafa al-Labad, fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades towards people.

Israeli Army attack – refugee camp: Nablus – 17:30, the Israeli Army, firing live ammunition, stormed the eastern neighbourhoods of the city as well as the Balata refugee camp, bulldozing streets and vandalising shops.

Israeli Army attack: Bethlehem – 20:10, Israeli troops, in al-Khadr, fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades at people.

Israeli Army attack 1 wounded: Hebron – 21:25, one woman, Zainab Abu Surur, was wounded by Israeli forces, firing live ammunition outside the al-Arroub refugee camp.

Israeli Army attack: Hebron – 23:05, the Israeli military opened fire on a vehicle, near the Tabqa village road junction.

Home invasions and occupation: Nablus – 22:40, Israeli Occupation forces raided Salem village and invaded three homes.

Israeli Army population–control: Ramallah – 15:20, Israeli Occupation forces closed, for a time, the entrance to the village of Aboud.

Israeli Army population–control: Tulkarem – 20:15–22:20, Israeli forces closed the road near the Jbara Bridge.

Israeli Army armed robbery: Nablus – 13:40, at the al-Muraba’a checkpoint, near the entrance to Tal village, Israeli troops detained and robbed a man, Shadi Fayeq Abdullah Rawajbeh, of cash he was carrying.

Israeli Army – abduction: Salfit – 22:40, the Israeli Army abducted a 16-year-old youth, Talha Muhammad Mahmoud Awad, near the Ariel Occupation settlement roundabout.

Israeli Army population–control: Jericho – 06:40, Israeli troops took prisoner a man, Saif Nassar Hamidat, when he reported, as ordered, for interrogation at Israeli Military Intelligence.

Israeli Army population–control: Hebron – 13:15, Israeli Occupation forces took prisoner a man, Zakaria Jibril Rab’i, while he was working on the rehabilitation of a building, for the al-TuwaniVillage Council.

Occupation settler stoning: Ramallah – 17:10, Israeli Occupation settlers stoned a home, on the outskirts of al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya.

Occupation settler terrorism and pastoral sabotage: Tubas – 10:20-14:55 Israeli settlers, in the al-Maleh area of the North Jordan Valley, terrorising people and pursuing shepherds, also detained an activist holding American citizenship and assaulted her.

Occupation settler terrorism: Tubas – 06:05 Israeli Occupation settlers stoned homes in the Khallet Hamir area of the North Jordan Valley, searching tents and sheep–pens, as well as attemptingto run over one person.

Occupation settler stoning: Nablus – 16:30, Israeli settlers raided the outskirts of Asira al-Qibliya village and stoned people’s homes.

Occupation settler agricultural sabotage: Nablus – 18:10, Israeli Occupation settlers invaded al-Lubban al-Sharqiya village farmland and cut off branches from dozens of olive trees.

Occupation settler stoning: Nablus – 18:20, Israeli settlers invaded the northern outskirts of Qusra and stoned people’s homes.

Occupation settler violence and pastoral sabotage: Salfit – 11:50-14:20, Israeli Occupation settlers raided an area, north of Deir Istiya, and assaulted a shepherd, Ghassan Yousef Salman, and threatened to steal the sheep he was grazing.

Occupation settler stoning: Salfit – 20:40, Israeli settlers stoned passing vehicles, near the Za’tara Junction checkpoint, and assaulted pedestrians there.

Occupation settler pastoral sabotage: Hebron – 18:00, Israeli Occupation settlers grazed their sheep on animal feed used by farmers in the al-Fakhit area, south–east of Yatta.

Raid – injury: Jerusalem – 09:45, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled al-Ram, injuring a resident.

Raid: Jerusalem – 15:15, Israeli forces raided and patrolled Bir Nabala.

Raid: Jerusalem – 18:00, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the town of Biddu.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Jerusalem – dawn, Israeli troops raided Anata, taking prisoner two people.

Raid – 1 wounded – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired: Jerusalem – 09:45, the Israeli military, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, wounded a man, Yazan Abu Hilal, while they raided the town of al-Ram.

Raid: Ramallah – 08:40-13:35, Israeli soldiers raided the town of Beit Rima.

Raid – 1 wounded – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired: Ramallah – 08:40-13:35, Israeli Occupation forces, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided the village of Kafr Ein, wounding a resident: Munir Anwar Tahseen.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 02:20, Israeli forces raided the village of Abu Qash, taking prisoner one person.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 02:45, the Israeli Army raided the town of Birzeit, taking prisoner one person.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 06:20, Israeli troops raided Silwad, taking prisoner two people.

Raid – 3 taken prisoner: Ramallah – 06:45, the Israeli military raided the Amari refugee camp, taking prisoner three people.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Ramallah – dawn, Israeli soldiers raided the village of Shuqba, taking prisoner one person.

Raid: Jenin – 06:15, Israeli Occupation forces raided Ya’bad.

Raid – 3 taken prisoner: Jenin – 06:15, Israeli forces raided Araba, taking prisoner three people.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Jenin – dawn, the Israeli Army raided the city, taking prisoner two people.

Raid: Tulkarem – 12:10-14:55, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the village of Ramin.

Raids: Tulkarem – 20:20–22:35, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the villages of Farun and Izbit Shufa.

Raid: Tulkarem – 21:20–22:50, Israeli soldiers raided the village of Kafa.

Raid: Tulkarem – 06:45, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the town of Allar.

Raids: Tulkarem – 06:45, Israeli forces raided and patrolled the town of Kafr al-Labad as well as the village of Shufa.

Raid: Qalqiliya – 17:55, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the town of Jayus.

Raid: Qalqiliya – 19:30-21:00, Israeli troops raided and patrolled the village of Hajjah.

Raid – 5 taken prisoner: Qalqiliya – 02:20, the Israeli military raided the town of Azzun, taking prisoner five people. (including a woman, in order to pressure her husband into surrendering to the Occupation forces).

Raids: Nablus – 15:15–17:55, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the town of Jama’in as well as the villages of Azmut, Deir al-Hatab and Salem.

Raid – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired: Nablus – 16:40, Israeli Occupation forces, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, stormed the village of Tal.

Raid – rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades fired: Nablus – 17:10, Israeli forces, firing rubber-coated bullets and stun grenades, raided and patrolled the village of Asira al-Qibliya.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Nablus – 17:30–05:45, the Israeli Army raided the city, taking prisoner two people.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner – vandalism: Nablus – 17:30–05:45, Israeli troops raided the Balata refugee camp, taking prisoner two people, bulldozing streets and vandalising shops.

Raid: Nablus – 21:10–22:45, the Israeli military raided and patrolled Sebastia.

Raid: Nablus – 22:25, Israeli soldiers raided and patrolled the village of Naqoura.

Raid: Salfit – 08:40-16:05, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the village of Farkha.

Raid: Salfit – 09:35-13:50, Israeli forces raided and patrolled Salfit.

Raids: Salfit – 11:30, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled Bidya as well as the village of Sarta.

Raid: Salfit – 16:30, Israeli troops raided and patrolled Qarawat Bani Hassan.

Raid: Salfit – 16:50-17:50, the Israeli military raided and patrolled Kafr al-Dik.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner in refugee camp: Jericho – 01:15–02:25, Israeli soldiers raided the Ein Sultan refugee camp, taking prisoner one person.

Raid: Bethlehem – 16:25, Israeli Occupation forces raided and patrolled the town of Za’tara.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Bethlehem – 20:00–01:35, Israeli forces raided al-Khadr, taking prisoner one person.

Raid: Bethlehem – 23:25–01:30, the Israeli Army raided and patrolled the village of Wadi Fukin.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Bethlehem – 03:50–06:10, Israeli troops raided the city, taking prisoner one person.

Raid: Hebron – 13:15, the Israeli military raided and patrolled the village of Khallet al-Maya.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Hebron – 02:45, Israeli soldiers again raided the village of Khallet al-Maya, taking prisoner one person.

Raid – 1 taken prisoner: Hebron – 01:20, Israeli Occupation forces raided Beit Awa, taking prisoner one person.

Raid – 2 taken prisoner: Hebron – 04:00, Israeli forces raided the al-Arroub refugee camp, taking prisoner two people.

Raid – 3 taken prisoner: Hebron – 05:55, the Israeli Army raided Sa’ir, taking prisoner three people.

Raid – 4 taken prisoner: Hebron – 06:10, Israeli troops raided the city, taking prisoner four people.