With the recent interim ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague regarding the genocide case filed by South Africa against Israel, a grassroots gesture like this is vital. The ICJ ordered Israel to abide by six provisional measures, including taking all possible measures to prevent genocidal acts, preventing and punishing direct and public incitement to genocide, and ensuring the provision of basic services and humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza. Despite these orders, Israeli forces have continued their military offensive in Gaza, resulting in nearly 1,000 more Palestinian casualties in the week following the ruling alone. Hospitals, including Nasser Hospital and al-Amal Hospital, have been targeted in Israeli attacks, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Furthermore, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has made it clear that Israel does not intend to cease its military operation in Gaza anytime soon, despite criticisms from the ICJ for comments that could be deemed to incite genocide against Palestinians. The military operation in Khan Younis, launched just a week after the IJC ruling came down, has led to further displacement of Palestinians, particularly in Rafah, which is under siege by the Israel Defense Forces as we write this. As America celebrated the Super Bowl, Israel killed nearly 100 Palestinians in airstrikes on Rafah, with nowhere left to run.
As Palestinians in Gaza find themselves kettled and prevented from escape, Israel continues to hinder the flow of humanitarian aid into the region, exacerbating the crisis. Aid and fuel trucks have been stranded outside the strip since December, and major donors, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, have suspended their funding to UNRWA, the main humanitarian agency in Gaza. In some cases, Israelis have filmed themselves gleefully blockading aid caravans with their own bodies.
There are few ways we can see the cruelty on display in Palestine better than the assault on its olive trees, symbols of resilience and steadfastness. Note that this is not confined to Gaza; it extends to the West Bank, where farmers endure relentless attacks and destruction of their livelihoods. Zionist settlers have laid waste to acres of olive groves, leaving farmers like Omar Ghoneym and Mahmoud Abdullah devastated as they witness centuries-old trees torn apart and crops decimated. These farmers, intimately connected to their land, view each sprout as an expression of Palestinian life, cherished and nurtured for generations. The recent surge in violence in the West Bank, resulting in over 140 Palestinian deaths and widespread destruction, exacerbates the plight of farmers already struggling under occupation and blockade. Abdullah Salem Abu Aram, whose family has cultivated olive trees for decades, laments the inability to tend to his land amid escalating violence, echoing the sentiment shared by many Palestinians: while their harvests wither, their hearts are with Gaza, where the horrors of war unfold. The deliberate targeting of olive trees underscores a broader strategy: to erase Palestinian history and lay claim to the land through destruction. As Jews, we know the word for the kind of cruelty being inflicted here- pogrom.
These developments underscore the urgent need for decisive action to address the humanitarian crisis and demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine. We have seen the leadership of cities like San Francisco, Chicago, and Minneapolis as they pass resolutions calling for a ceasefire. These resolutions reflect a growing recognition of the need to end the violence and promote peace in the region, and they speak to the pain being felt by countless Americans grieving this senseless death. It is time that St. Petersburg speaks to that pain as well.
In the face of systemic injustice and the failures of our highest leaders to address the moment with moral clarity, we turn to the grassroots of our political system and urge the St. Petersburg City Council to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine by supporting Councilman Richie Floyd’s ceasefire resolution. For too long, many of our neighbors in Tampa Bay have felt abandoned by their elected officials, and you have the opportunity to take a bold stand. The time to be on the right side of history is increasingly limited, and we have no time to waste.
Make the right decision.
The Progressive Jewish Coalition of Central Florida is dedicated to embodying the authentic values of Judaism through meaningful action. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive space for Jews who share our values while embracing the principles of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and teshuva (repentance). We stand in full solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle for liberation and advocate for justice, rejecting Zionism as an ideology. Our commitment is to create a more equitable world for all through dialogue, advocacy, and meaningful action.
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This article appears in Feb 15-21, 2024.