Issue 35: Commitment is a practice

Dearest reader,

I hope this message reaches you in good health. At the time of writing this letter, the people of Gaza continue to be bombarded by Israeli airstrikes which have killed at least nine thousand Palestinians (thus far) and have left huge swaths of their land entirely decimated. I’ve lost count of the number of families that have been eliminated from the census. I’ve lost count of the number of families who have had their homes destroyed and now walk from village to village in search of safety in the world’s largest concentration camp1. Settlers are using this as an opportune moment to inflict unchecked violence and terror on communities across the West Bank, and the communities of at least ten villages have been displaced2. The United States, obviously, continues to enforce its policy of cart blanche support for Israel, whatever the cost.

I’m writing these words from the comfort of my home in suburban Minnesota with food in my stomach and a glass of water on the table beside me. There are far better places than this newsletter to get high-quality information about what’s happening, and I encourage you to seek them out. There are courageous Palestinian journalists reporting on the ground—daily, nightly, and tirelessly—who risk their lives to show you the world through their eyes and provide a window into their hearts through the words and images they share. Plestia Alaqad and Motaz Azaiza, for example. They put in the effort to report in English, which is not their native language, in the hopes of reaching an audience that might see what they see and be persuaded to do something about it.

That’s all I have for now. Until next week.

Love,
Reef