#palestinian-identity

#palestinian-identity

Israel and its supporters would have you believe that just being a Palestinian is a lethal threat. I am a Palestinian. And increasingly, that fact alone is treated as a provocation. In recent months, I have watched anti-Semitism a real, lethal form of hatred with a long and horrific history be stripped of its meaning and weaponised to silence Palestinians, criminalise solidarity with us, and shield Israel from accountability as it carries out a genocide in Gaza.

In a season of peace we speak to those who have been denied peace. Using these billboards, we: Reclaim the truth, honoring the Palestinian refugee born in Bethlehem; challenge the ongoing erasure of Palestinian identity, culture and rootedness to the land; highlight the reverence for Jesus in Islam, fostering interfaith understanding against forces that seek to divide us; and proudly assert our truth in the most visible public space, refusing silence.

Christopher Mayhew's challenge for proof of genocidal statements by Arab leaders ended with discredited claims, yet the trope of wanting to drive Israelis into the sea persists, revealing deep-seated prejudices against Palestinians.

As a Palestinian, I should be able to express my identity and solidarity with my people, especially during a humanitarian crisis. Being told that a still-life painting containing a watermelon could be perceived as antisemitic and being threatened with disciplinary action is deeply upsetting.