By
Maryam Sohaib – Freelance writer
The last few months have left humanity reeling from brutality. Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than ten thousand children, and in doing so it has brought to light its long-standing oppression of Palestinians. An entire generation of youngsters, previously uneducated about this issue, have had their eyes forcefully opened about the reality of Palestinian struggle for freedom. As a result, Israel’s genocide in Gaza has proved to us that some of the most powerful voices in the world belong to those of young people. In fact, more and more youth now lean towards the Palestinian cause – particularly in the West, where a favourable narrative regarding Israel had largely dominated the 20th and 21st centuries.
In a survey of registered voters conducted by Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, 52% of American voters aged 18-34 now sympathize with the Palestinians, compared to 41% from the previous month.
Redefining Heroes
Young journalists, writers, artists, and activists, have taken to social media and other platforms to spread awareness regarding the ongoing destruction of houses, the killing of civilians, and the blockade of humanitarian aid. We have seen, perhaps for the first time in history, a genocide unfold in front of our very eyes – on our own screens.
Young photographers and journalists from within Gaza have documented the pain and suffering of their people on a regular basis – often at grave risk to their own lives. While escaping relentless bombardment and grieving over loved ones, the likes of Bisan Owda, Motaz Azaiza, Hind Khoudary as well as countless other courageous Palestinian youths have shown us what it means to be heroic in the face of unspeakable horrors.
Through them, we were able to glimpse into the resilience and faith of Palestinians as their houses are reduced to rubble and their whole lives uprooted. These young journalists have become an inspiration for youth everywhere – representing rare beacons of light in complete darkness of ignorance.
Setting Trends and Sustaining Boycotts
There is no doubt that Israel targets young people, both within and outside Palestine. Its motive is abundantly clear: to quell the outspoken boldness that naturally accompanies youth, to mitigate the risk exposing the apartheid state for what it is. But this generation of young people – for better or for worse – do not seem to be willing to back down.
Social media influencers who have used their platform to advocate for Palestine have been offered money in exchange for switching their narrative to spread Israeli propaganda instead. Clearly, the power of young people is alarming to those who wish to suppress evidence of the ongoing genocide.
The #FreePalestine movement has gained the status of the most trending hashtag on X, formerly known as Twitter, since October 2023. Pro-Palestinian posts have been viewed 15 times more than the average Pro-Israeli post in the wake of Israel’s onslaught on Gaza. Young people have taken up this cause with great ferocity, boycotting powerful corporations known to support the Israeli occupation of Palestine such as Starbucks, McDonalds, and Pepsi. Several companies have admitted to significant losses as a result of these efforts.
Fighting Suppression
While it may appear as though these social media campaigns and boycotts do little to stop the ruthless killing of Palestinian civilians, they have helped shift the global public opinion dramatically in favour of Palestine.
They have opened the eyes of people all around the world to the reality of the decades-long oppression of Palestinians under Zionist rule. People of all ages have researched deeper into the history of this sacred area which has historically been a battleground between different religions.
Young people are also exerting organized efforts through institutions, such as the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) – a student activism organization operating across the United States, New Zealand, and Canada. In fact, US university students from Harvard, Yale, and Columbia have claimed that their attempts to speak out against Israel’s actions have been suppressed and conflated with anti-semitic rhetoric. Many of them have reported harassment, efforts to destroy their career, and attempts to criminalize their speech – including the most basic calls for a ceasefire. Harvard’s biggest donors have also played a significant role in this crackdown on free speech. One Isareli couple who had previously donated $30 million to Harvard, resigned after a Pro-Palestinian statement was released by Harvard students blaming Israel’s occupation of Gaza for the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks. The goal here is obvious: to crush any pro-Palestinian sentiment lingering amongst the young, ambitious university students who will one day be in important positions of power.
Our role
So how can each one of us play our part in helping our youth who have been stepping out in the face of intense hatred and scrutiny to join the Palestinian struggle?
- Boycott companies known to support the Israeli regime using the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) Movement to decide which companies to stop purchasing from
- Support the platforms of Palestinian youth in Gaza by following their social media accounts and sharing their content with others. Some accounts to follow on Instagram are @motaz_azaiza, @hindkhoudary, @wizard_bisan1, and @ahmedhijazee – alongside many others whose names and accounts can be found online.
- Continue donating to charities like UNRWA that provide Palestinians with basic aid and lifesaving supplies. It has recently faced a significant drawback as several countries have pulled their funding.
- Pray to Allah (swt), every time you open your screen and see a Gazan child under the rubble. Pray for them every time images of fathers burying their children appear on the news. Pray for their freedom, safety, and security.
At the end of the day, it is our youth who will determine the future of Palestine – not the people in power today. By rallying a whole generation behind this cause, the chances of today’s Palestinians youth living in a free Palestinian state – one their ancestors gave their lives for – become significantly higher.
Thousands of young people have been marching, protesting, and refusing to stay silent in big cities around the world, from Washington D.C to Berlin. Israel’s recent genocide in Gaza has brought to light the power of our younger generation.
Their campaigns, protests, boycotts, and loud voices on social media have proven that this generation, contrary to many negative perceptions about it, is our best chance at achieving a free Palestine.
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