From the Frontlines of Palestinian Farmers, Nurses and Doctors

“What we now want most is closer contact and better understanding between individuals and communities all over the earth and the elimination of that fanatic devotion to exalted ideals of national egoism and pride, which is always prone to plunge the world into primeval barbarism and strife.”

Fights between individuals, as well as governments and nations, invariably result from misunderstandings in the broadest interpretation of this term. Misunderstandings are always caused by the inability of appreciating one another’s point of view. This again is due to the ignorance of those concerned, not so much in their own, as in their mutual fields.

The peril of a clash is aggravated by a more or less predominant sense of combativeness, posed by every human being. To resist this inherent fighting tendency the best way is to dispel ignorance of the doings of others by a systematic spread of general knowledge. With this object in view, it is most important to aid exchange of thought and intercourse.”–Nikola Tesla

Mobilized is a conflict free zone.

If we are to find ways to get along with each other, we are going to have to understand each other. We are going to have to communicate, have open minds, and discover improved ways of co-existing.  This all starts with a conversation.

As the Creative Director and Co-Founder of this Network, I must look at every story with an open mind.  We must remove the walls between in order to understand different perspectives.  I ask these questions: 

1. Does this solve anything? 
2. Does it bring us closer together, or divide us? 
3. Does it help to evolve humanity’s level of consciousness and awareness? 
4. Does it help bring us closer to a healthier, more peaceful and healthier co-existence?

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, our friends at A Growing Culture invited us to  conversation with members of the Union of Agricultural Works in Palestine, a conversation that brought together farmers, doctors and nurses.on the front lines.

The various conflicts within the Middle East–and all wars have been going on for thousands of years. Many of these conflicts and wars have emerged from a misunderstanding of who we are or a failure in communication. 

For a moment I hesitated on publishing this story.  After asking myself the four questions listed above (very different than the traditional Four Questions we ask as we celebrate Passover, I came to the realization that the answers were all yes; I needed to frame the story appropriately and honestly.

But unless we take a look at ourselves, our neighbors, no matter what color, creed, religious belief, we cannot evolve to a higher level of consciousness.

“We are going to have to live together as brothers—or perish as fools.” –The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

The original announcement:
UAWC Press Conference Summary

On Sunday, April 21, 2024, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) convened a press conference in Al Mughayyir village. The press conference addressed the Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank of Palestine, specifically following the events of April 12-16, when more than 1,500 Israeli settlers – armed and under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces – conducted large-scale violent pogroms across the West Bank. The panel comprised the village council president, a nurse, and a farmer, alongside UAWC representatives, emphasizing the urgency and gravity of the situation.

Moayyad Bsharrat, the Director of UAWC’s Lobbying and Advocacy Unit, highlighted the systematic and intensifying nature of Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians, emphasizing the dire consequences of the most recent assaults, which resulted in multiple fatalities and extensive property damage. The attacks, orchestrated with impunity, have caused immense financial losses, exceeding 10 million ILS. Settlers targeted residential homes, agricultural infrastructure, livestock, and even ambulances. In addition, the occupation and settlers deliberately obstruct Palestinian access to agricultural lands, which further disrupts their livelihoods. He also underscored the role of the Israeli occupation government in promoting Israeli settler violence.

Nida Naasan, a nurse at the village clinic in Al Mughayyir, provided a firsthand account of the devastating consequences of settler violence on the community. She described the daily terror inflicted upon residents, with attacks escalating to unprecedented levels of brutality following the outbreak of the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza. Ms. Nida recounted the horrors witnessed during the attacks, emphasizing the indiscriminate targeting of civilians, including women and children. Settler violence left a trail of destruction, with homes, vehicles, and agricultural lands ravaged by flames. The use of an unknown flammable liquid exacerbated injuries, causing extensive burns that overwhelmed the limited medical resources available. Despite efforts of medical personnel, including Ms. Nida herself, to provide aid amidst gunfire and chaos, their ability to respond effectively was severely hampered by Israeli restrictions and checkpoints. The deliberate obstruction of medical assistance, including the prolonged delay of ambulances at checkpoints, resulted in preventable deaths and exacerbated suffering. To conclude, Ms. Naasan affirmed the unwavering Palestinian determination to remain steadfast on their land in the face of this relentless onslaught of settler violence.

Ameen Abu Alia, head of the village council, provided historical context to the longstanding struggle faced by the residents of Al Mughayyir against settler aggression and land confiscation. He highlighted the systematic attempts by Israeli forces to displace the indigenous population

and seize control of their ancestral lands, emphasizing the vital importance of agriculture to the village’s livelihood. Detailing the recent escalation in settler violence, Mr. Ameen described the coordinated attack on the village, which resulted in widespread destruction of property, livestock, and agricultural resources. He described the role of Israeli occupation forces in facilitating settler incursions, underscoring the deliberate tactics employed to instill fear and force Palestinian families off their land. Despite the overwhelming challenges and loss suffered by the community, Mr. Ameen also reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to remain steadfast on their land. He emphasized the deep-rooted connection between the Palestinian people and their ancestral homeland, rejecting attempts to forcibly displace them and affirming their determination to resist occupation and colonization.

Ghassan Abu Alia, a farmer and member of the agricultural cooperative, detailed the Israeli settlers’ relentless assault on Palestinian farmers’ livelihoods and the confiscation of their land. Like the other speakers, he noted that the Israeli settlers and occupation forces operate in tandem to carry out coordinated attacks against Palestinian communities. He emphasized the urgent need for support to rebuild livelihoods devastated by attacks, including aid for farmers who lost essential equipment and herds. Mr. Ghassan also emphasized the profound bond between Palestinians and their land, rooted in generations of heritage and resilience, and underscored their collective resolve to defend their homes and heritage against settler aggression.

Yasmeen El-Hasan, UAWC’s International Advocacy Office, elucidated the broader context of Israeli settler colonialism and its impact on Palestinian livelihoods and sovereignty. She emphasized the centrality of land theft in settler colonialism and underscored the deliberate efforts to disrupt Palestinian food systems and sever their connection to the land. Highlighting the intersectionality of the struggle for food sovereignty and national sovereignty, she articulated the systemic nature of food insecurity as a consequence of settler colonialism. She highlighted the complicity of the international community, particularly the United States, in perpetuating the Israeli settler colonial project through military funding and active support of genocide. She called for comprehensive actions such as arms embargoes and divestment from the occupation.

Following an overview of UAWC’s community aid efforts in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the press conference concluded with a call to action for international solidarity and collective resistance against Israeli settler colonialism, emphasizing the urgent need for tangible support to uphold Palestinian rights and sovereignty in the face of ongoing settler colonial oppression and violence.