News Release

“Gaza Unsilenced” with Global Protests Against Israeli Assault

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Saturday is “Nakba Day” commemorating the ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians that accompanied the creation of Israel. This takes on increasing meaning this year with more overt attempts by Israel to drive Palestinians from their homes in Jerusalem, use of tear gas and stun grenades at the Al-Aqsa mosque, numerous attacks on Palestinian citizens of Israel, mobs chanting “Death to Arabs” and ongoing bombings of Palestinians in Gaza, killing at least 137 Palestinians, including 36 children and wounding over 900 with 10,000 forced from their homes. Hamas is firing rockets at Israel and eight Israelis have reportedly been killed.

There are protests around the world Saturday and the days following — see listing organized by Samidoun, the Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network.

Unless otherwise noted, the Palestinians below are currently in Gaza. Electricity, phone and internet availability can be difficult in Gaza, which has been under siege and suffered bombing campaigns by Israel, so connections may be intermittent. Medical personnel of course may be especially difficult to reach. WhatsApp is often the best method of communication. If calling from the U.S., prefix numbers with 011.

See @accuracy Twitter list.

RAJI SOURANI, rajisourani@gmail.com, @pchrgaza
Sourani is executive director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza, which just released the statement: “On Fifth Day of Israeli Offensive on Gaza: State Terror and Displacement Recalling Nakba Scenes.” Sourani is a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award.

MEDHAT ABBAS
Dr. Medhat Abbas is the director of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

LAILA EL-HADDAD, laila.elhaddad@gmail.com@gazamom
Now in Maryland, El-Haddad’s books include Gaza Mom: Palestine, Politics, Parenting, and Everything in Between.

BASEM NAIM, basemn63@gmail.com
Dr. Naim is the Director of the Council on International Relations in Gaza. He served as the former Minister of Health in Gaza from 2007 until 2012. See his page on Facebook.

REFAAT ALAREER, refatr17@gmail.com, @itranslate123
The New York Times just published Alareer’s piece “My Child Asks, ‘Can Israel Destroy Our Building if the Power Is Out?’.” Alareer is the co-editor of Gaza Unsilenced.

HAIDAR EID, haidareid@gmail.com, @haidareid
Eid is author of the book Worlding and associate professor in the Department of English Literature, Al-Aqsa University. See his writings at Middle East Eye.

MOSHEER AMER, mamer@iugaza.edu.ps, @mosheeramer
Amer is the Director of the Center for Political and Development Studies and an associate professor of linguistics at the Islamic University of Gaza.

MALAK MATAR, Malakmattar47@gmail.com
Matar is a Palestinian artist in Gaza. See her Facebook page.

YOUSEF AL-HELOU, al-helou.y@hotmail.com, @YousefAlhelou
Al-Helou is a Palestinian journalist from in Gaza and is now in London. See his writing in Middle East Monitor.

MOHAMMED ALQATTAWI, Alqattawi24@gmail.com, @m_alqattawi
Alqattawi is an activist, originally from Gaza, and is now in Istanbul.

ISSAM A. ADWAN, issam@wearenotnumbers.org, @WeAreNotNumbers
Adwan is with the group We Are Not Numbers and was recently on the show “Democracy Now!