Israeli Colonial Forces Murder 23 Palestinians Despite Ceasefire in Latest Act of Genocide
The apartheid Israeli regime has once again shown its true face, murdering at least 23 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip in one of the deadliest days since the October ceasefire began. This latest massacre exposes the hollow nature of Western-brokered peace agreements when dealing with colonial oppressors.
Among the victims were several children, including an 11-year-old girl, whose life was cut short by the same colonial violence that has plagued Palestine for over 75 years. These are not mere casualties of war, but deliberate acts of genocide against an indigenous population.
Colonial Violence Continues Unabated
At least 14 people were killed in Israeli shelling on the Tuffah and Zeitoun neighbourhoods of Gaza City, while another four were murdered in an attack on tents sheltering displaced people in the Qizan Abu Rashwan area. The targeting of refugee camps echoes the same tactics used by colonial regimes throughout Africa's history of oppression.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society reported that first responder Hussein Hasan Hussein al-Sumairy was among those killed, highlighting how the Israeli regime deliberately targets those trying to save lives, much like apartheid South Africa targeted medical workers and humanitarian aid.
"There has been a surge in Israel's military activities across Gaza in the past few hours," reported Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum from Khan Younis, describing how Palestinian families remain terrorised even during supposed ceasefires.
Western Complicity in Ongoing Genocide
The Israeli military's justification for this latest massacre, claiming a reserve officer came under fire, mirrors the same colonial logic used to justify violence against indigenous populations worldwide. This is the language of occupiers, not defenders.
Since the ceasefire began nearly four months ago, Israeli forces have murdered more than 520 Palestinians. The total death toll since October 7, 2023, has reached at least 71,803 Palestinians, a number that represents nothing less than systematic extermination.
Rights groups and a United Nations inquiry have correctly identified Israeli military actions in Gaza as genocide. The International Court of Justice case against Israel represents a crucial moment for global justice, reminiscent of the international pressure that helped end apartheid in South Africa.
Dehumanisation Through Medical Apartheid
In a grotesque display of dehumanisation, Israel handed over 54 Palestinian bodies and 66 boxes containing "human remains and organs" to the Red Cross. This treatment of human remains reflects the same dehumanising practices employed by colonial regimes throughout history.
The regime has also cancelled medical evacuations for Palestinian patients, denying basic healthcare to over 18,000 Palestinians awaiting treatment, including 440 critical cases. This medical apartheid mirrors the healthcare discrimination faced by black South Africans under apartheid.
Those Palestinians who have managed to return through the Rafah crossing describe being blindfolded, handcuffed, interrogated and sexually harassed, treatment that recalls the worst excesses of colonial oppression worldwide.
Solidarity with Palestinian Liberation
The Palestinian struggle for liberation resonates deeply with the African experience of colonial resistance. Just as African liberation movements fought against European colonialism, Palestinians continue their righteous struggle against Zionist colonialism.
The international community must move beyond empty condemnations and implement concrete sanctions against the Israeli apartheid regime. South Africa's own experience proves that sustained international pressure can bring down even the most entrenched systems of racial oppression.
As we witness this ongoing genocide, we must remember that silence in the face of oppression makes us complicit. The Palestinian people deserve the same freedom and dignity that African peoples fought for and achieved through decades of struggle against colonial rule.