One year of genocide.
October 7, 2024
Official Statement on the Anniversary of Israel's Genocidal War on Gaza
As we mark the one-year anniversary of Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza, Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War (KNOW) reaffirms its solidarity with the Palestinian people. For years, our coalition has been dedicated to mobilizing against the military-industrial complex and the U.S. war machine, advocating for the rights and liberation of oppressed peoples everywhere. Our unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause is not just a matter of solidarity but a fundamental stance against all forms of colonialism and white supremacy, including Zionism.
Let us be clear: our recognition of Palestinian suffering is not a denial of the value of Israeli lives lost. We believe that every life is sacred and every act of violence against civilians is a tragedy that demands accountability. However, we must also confront the reality of asymmetry in this "conflict." While the loss of Israeli lives on October 7 is a tragic consequence of decades of occupation and apartheid policies, it must not be used to justify the ongoing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and brutalization of the Palestinian people. The narrative that positions the violence of the oppressed as equal to the systemic, state-sanctioned violence of the oppressor is not only misleading—it’s a dangerous distortion of history.
Not only did Israeli officials admit to having knowledge of the planned October 7 attack at least a year in advance[1], but—as widely reported by many mainstream Israeli and U.S. news sources—Israeli forces also activated a military protocol known as the 'Hannibal Directive' on October 7 to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers by attacking any vehicles suspected of transporting hostages back into Gaza[2]. This resulted in indiscriminate violence that killed not only Palestinian fighters but also Israeli civilians and soldiers, further compounding the tragedy of that day. The use of such brutal tactics underlines the lengths to which Israel's military will go to protect its narrative, even at the expense of its own citizens, highlighting the hypocrisy and inhumanity of their so-called "self-defense."
The events of October 7, 2023 have been manipulated to cast Palestinians as the sole aggressors, while conveniently ignoring the daily terror and violence imposed by Israeli apartheid on millions of Palestinians for the last 76 years[3]. This false equivalence disregards the broader context of decades-long occupation, displacement, and violation of fundamental human rights. We condemn all acts of violence against civilians, but we also call for a rigorous examination of the facts rather than accepting myths that have been debunked and perpetuated to demonize the Palestinian struggle.
Israeli laws like the Nation-State Law of 2018 officially enshrine Jewish supremacy, declaring that only Jewish people have the right to self-determination in Israel, thus relegating non-Jewish citizens to second-class status[4]. Laws such as the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law actively prevent Palestinian families from reuniting and living together, solely based on their nationality and ethnic identity[5]. These laws institutionalize discrimination, segregation, and the exclusion of Palestinians, solidifying apartheid policies that systematically deny Palestinians their basic rights and dignity.
U.S. taxpayers are, in effect, subsidizing the systematic oppression and displacement of Palestinians, as these funds are used to purchase weapons, fighter jets, and other military equipment that have been employed to devastate Gaza and its civilian population. An arms embargo on Israel and the cessation of U.S. military aid would not only curb this violence but would also be a step toward dismantling the military-industrial complex that profits from human suffering.
Our stance against Zionism is not a stance against Jewish people. We reject all forms of anti-Semitism and affirm that the fight against oppression is a shared struggle across all marginalized communities. Our critique is directed at the political ideology that seeks to justify dispossession, discrimination, and violence under the guise of self-defense. Solidarity with the oppressed does not diminish compassion for the suffering of others. But compassion must not cloud our judgment when confronting the root causes of the violence. It is not enough to mourn lives taken without questioning the systems of power that perpetuate this cycle of violence.
Additionally, it is crucial to highlight that the U.S. provides Israel with nearly $3.8 billion in military aid annually, making up over 69% of the total weapon aid Israel receives[6]. This funding allows Israel to maintain its military dominance and perpetuate policies of apartheid and occupation. However, this annual amount does not account for the more than $83 billion in U.S. military aid and weaponry sent to Israel in the past 365 days alone[7], nor does it include the additional $8.7 billion aid package approved last month[8].
We reaffirm our commitment to nonviolent resistance and to amplifying the voices of those who are silenced by the dominant narratives of oppression. We will continue to mobilize, to educate, and to challenge the institutions that perpetuate injustice—not just in Palestine, but wherever the machinery of war and occupation grinds down human dignity. We stand resolute in our belief that true peace and justice in the region can only come from implementing a total arms embargo on Israel, ending the occupation, dismantling apartheid, and holding accountable those who commit war crimes in the name of nationalism or self-defense. We denounce all forms of white supremacy and colonialist ideologies, and we remain steadfast in our fight against oppression in all its forms.
Free Palestine.
Work Cited
[1] Associated Press. (2023, October 14). Hamas attack on Israel triggers war in Gaza. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/new-york-times-hamas-attack-israel-gaza-6088cad78f5e4153d671fe9b5b819308
[2] Haaretz. (2024, July 7). IDF ordered Hannibal Directive on October 7 to prevent Hamas taking soldiers captive. Haaretz. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-07-07/ty-article-magazine/.premium/idf-ordered-hannibal-directive-on-october-7-to-prevent-hamas-taking-soldiers-captive/00000190-89a2-d776-a3b1-fdbe45520000
[3] PBS NewsHour. (2024). Palestinians mark 76 years of dispossession as yet another catastrophe unfolds in Gaza. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/palestinians-mark-76-years-of-dispossession-as-yet-another-catastrophe-unfolds-in-gaza
[4] Fisher, M. (2018, July 19). Israel's nation-state law and its repercussions. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/07/israel-nation-state-law/565712/
[5] Nikfar, N. (2021). The Hannibal Directive: An analysis of Israel's policy and its implications for international law. Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights, 18(1). https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?params=/context/njihr/article/1016/&path_info=NIKFAR.pdf
[6] TRT World. (2024). A long list of US arms aid to Israel since October 7: A timeline. TRT World. https://www.trtworld.com/video/digital/a-long-list-of-us-arms-aid-to-israel-since-october-7-a-timeline-18176442
[7] Council on Foreign Relations. (2024). U.S. aid to Israel: Four charts. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/article/us-aid-israel-four-charts
[8] Reuters. (2024, September 26). Israel says it has secured $8.7 billion U.S. aid package. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-says-it-has-secured-87-billion-us-aid-package-2024-09-26/
