For decades, Israel has denied Palestinians their fundamental rights of freedom, equality, and self-determination through ethnic cleansing, colonization, racial discrimination, and military occupation. Despite abundant condemnation of Israeli policies by the UN, other international bodies, and preeminent human rights organizations, Israel’s crimes have continued with impunity.
Since July 7th, Israeli forces have killed nearly 350 Palestinians (including at least 77 children) and wounded 2,385; destroyed 1,660 homes; and displaced over 22,000 people. On Thursday, July 17, Israel significantly escalated their military offensive against the people of Gaza by launching a ground invasion. This is the third major military attack on Gaza by Israel in six years, over which time thousands of Palestinians have died at the hands of Israeli soldiers.
The Gaza Strip - an area that has been called "the world's largest open-air prison" because of the way that the population is sealed in and controlled by the Israeli military in a process of collective punishment - is largely populated by refugees from the 1948 ethnic cleansing that created Israel. Israel, in direct violation of international law and at least 65 UN resolutions, refuses to allow any Palestinians to return to their homes. Instead, Israel has established a system of Apartheid - recognized as such by prominent figures such as Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter - that subjects Palestinians to different laws that Israelis. In response, Palestinian civil society has called for a global citizens’ response by launching boycotts, implementing divestment initiatives, and demanding sanctions against Israel, until Palestinian rights are recognized in full compliance with international law.
The campaign for boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) is shaped by a rights-based approach and urges various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets its obligations under international law by:
1) Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the Wall;
2) Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3) Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to re-turn to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.
Join the global movement for justice in Palestine! Please see below for a list of links with more information on the BDS campaign, as well as for a list of links with news or analysis about the current slaughter in Gaza.
Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions
Effective BDS actions more important than ever
Enough. It's Time for a Boycott of Israel
Canadian hands involved in Gaza bombing
What To Do About Gaza
News and Analysis about the Attack on Gaza
Israel using flechette shells in Gaza
Massacre in Shujaiya: Dozens killed as Israel shells eastern Gaza City
Suffocating indoors under the rain of Israel's bombs
Tories Release Pro-Israel Ad Amid War in Gaza, But They Don't Want Everyone To See It
Architect of Apartheid
Israel's Media Strategy
Timeline of Violence
FAQ on Failed Effort to Arrange Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
How it started in Gaza
The victims of Gaza: A list of Palestinians killed in Israel's ongoing assault
"Patching up torture victims in an open-air prison"
