We have received a letter from Yazid Anani, our friend and collaborator in projects the MG+MSUM has staged with Palestinian artists and organizations over a number of years. His letter is a cry for help and a call for solidarity and a de-escalation of the conflict to ease the indescribable suffering of people in Gaza and Palestine in general.
Moderna galerija condemns all forms of violence on any side and supports a ceasefire, the protection of the Palestinian population, and access to urgent humanitarian aid.
»Dear all who believe in a better future,
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to you today with a heavy heart and a deep sense of urgency as we witness a devastating humanitarian crisis and genocide unfolding in Gaza and across Palestine.
The ongoing bombardment and assault on Gaza have resulted in the complete annihilation of entire neighborhoods, with violent visuals reminiscent of Al Falujja and Mosul, evoking archival images of WWII and the mass destruction of European cities. The anachronism we see in videos and images we receive from our families in Gaza is heart-wrenching, especially when listening to the daily narratives of colleagues, friends, and their families on how they are facing unimaginable displacement, homelessness, and loss.
The situation we are witnessing can only be described as ethnic cleansing and a massacre. What is even more distressing is that this violence seems to have the unabashed endorsement of the international community, which appears compelled, it seems, by their dark Nazi history and unable to realize the genocidal repercussions of their unwarranted support for Israel. This divine alliance has been manufactured by weaponizing a discerning definition of antisemitism and infusing it into deterrent jurisdictions, co-opting mass media, and changing the semantics and definitions of occupation and resistance into terrorism and violence, as well as using terms that incite terror like ISIS and 9/11 to agitate feelings. Israel's actions have led to what can only be described as another dark chapter in human history, with Palestinians bearing the brunt of its brutality.
As people of the arts and academia, we often find ourselves in a unique position to create bridges of understanding and empathy between communities. Yet, in the face of such a dire situation, many Palestinian artists and cultural practitioners feel powerless and helpless, just like the rest of Palestinians everywhere. At least we still have our homes intact in the West Bank, unlike the Gazan artists and people who were warned yesterday by the Israeli Army to evacuate, leave Gaza, and head south. 1.1 million Gazans are being displaced at the moment.
Under the guise of a 'free' democratic Western alliance against global-south 'terrorism,' the Israeli occupation in Palestine has been normalized as a globally tolerated colonial regime manifested in various Palestinian territories with persistent and distinct colonial forms. In Gaza, as we see now, a collective prison ostensibly controlled by Israel through embargoes and blockades symbolizes global failure in addressing Palestinian suffering, manifesting a humanitarian catastrophe legitimized by the international community. Palestinians in the West Bank grapple with a different Israeli colonial mechanism that feigns autonomy while governing every aspect of life via the Palestinian Authority. This form facilitates settlement expansion, utilizes international aid for control, exploits cheap labor, and tests military technology. In 1948, apartheid characterizes Palestinian life in Israel, with discrimination and criminal entities undermining political agency. In East Jerusalem, access disparities, housing crises, and the threat of land expropriation prevail. The Palestinian diaspora, marginalized by the Oslo Accords, faces exclusion from the right of return, diluting their role in the pursuit of self-determination.
In light of these grave challenges, it is crucial that the regional and international community come together to raise their voices against this injustice. We must demand an end to the suffering of Palestinians by ending, first and foremost, the genocide in Gaza and then the Israeli pernicious colonial manifestation.
We must recognize that our silence or inaction can be interpreted as complicity. We each have symbolic and non-symbolic power and methods to advocate for change and to support the cause of freedom and self-determination for the Palestinian people. It is time for us to stand in solidarity, to speak out, and to take meaningful practical action to bring an end to this ongoing tragedy.
I implore you to use your platforms, networks, influence, and expertise to raise awareness and contribute to the cause of justice and peace in Palestine. The world is watching, and history will judge us based on our response to this crisis.
In solidarity and hope for a better future,
Yazid«
