Israel has pushed Gaza’s society to the edge
Ahmad Ghazal is a friend of mine from the Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, which Israel calls “the north” today. His wife was pregnant when she and her mother were displaced to the south of Gaza. Ahmad, however, stayed behind in Gaza City.
Israel's ban on UNRWA must be stopped
The Israeli Knesset recently passed two laws that ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – the primary provider of assistance to Palestinians.
The bills prohibit UNRWA from operating or providing services in any territory controlled by Israel and ban any communication between the Israeli government and UNRWA.
Graphics from Visualizing Palestine
Graphics from Visualizing Palestine pertaining to Gaza. Reposted from visualizingpalestine.org.
Israel Is Using Starvation as a Weapon of War. Where Is the Outrage?
President Biden and other allies of Israel need to use their leverage to end the Gaza famine. The alternative is mass starvation and death.
Rebuilding Education in Gaza: What Can We Do?
Every single student, scholar, and teacher in Gaza has been affected by the destruction of the education systems in Gaza. What can we do to help? Hear from Palestinian scholars Nour Hamad, Ahmed Maher Alghazali, and Majd Almishharawi about what we can do to rebuild the education systems in Gaza.
Goals for Gaza
Show your solidarity with #GoalsForGaza
Palestinian children and young adults have long found joy and solace in playing soccer and following international soccer clubs, but over the past 6 months, Israeli bombs and attacks on Gaza have shattered communities, displacing, disabling, and orphaning many young players.
In solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, several teams around the world held or are holding matches, raising money for humanitarian aid and advocating for the rights and well-being of Palestinian children and communities.
Kites for Gaza
In 2011, more than 12,000 children in Gaza flew kites on the beach, setting a new world record for most kites flown simultaneously. Devastatingly, more children have been killed in the first five months of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza than flew kites in 2011.
6 ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza
Many people of conscience are looking for ways to support Palestinians in Gaza as violence continues to escalate. On Oct. 7, a Hamas-led attack on Israel killed at least 1,200 Israelis and took an estimated 200 hostages. Israel immediately launched attacks on Gaza. After months of bombardment, Israeli attacks have killed more than 37,000 Palestinians in Gaza and displaced nearly 2 million from their homes.
Donate to support Gaza emergency response
Mounting violence has created a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where many have been displaced. More than two million people are cut off with no clean water, electricity, or other basic needs.
Your emergency donation is urgently needed today to bring humanitarian relief and support ongoing efforts to stop the violence, address its root causes, and build conditions for peace.
Action Hour for a Ceasefire Now
Join us online every Friday (12 noon ET/ 9 a.m. PT) to demand a cease-fire for Gaza.
Tell Congress: Call for a cease-fire and humanitarian access for Gaza
Displaced in Gaza Zine (11x17)
Print out this resource on 11x17 paper, fold it into a small zine, and hand them out at rallies, speeches, teach-ins, your friendly local cafes, shops, libraries, and wherever else!
Zine folding instructions:
Webinar: What’s Apartheid Got To Do With It? Understanding the Violent Structures Behind Israel’s War on Gaza
In March, we invited guest speakers Ahmed Abofoul and Diana Buttu in a collective effort to comprehend the structural violence inherent in Israel's apartheid regime.
At a time when the whole world is witnessing the violence unfolding in Gaza, it is crucial that we understand the root causes of what is happening. Building on extensive research from several international human rights organizations that have clearly identified Israeli apartheid, this webinar will explain the role of apartheid in shaping this moment as well as provide ways to work to end it.
Call for a cease-fire and humanitarian access for Gaza now!
Since Oct. 7, more than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's attacks on Gaza. Another 10,000 are estimated to be buried under the rubble. Over 2 million people have been displaced from their homes.
Webinar: Barriers to Meeting the Critical Needs of Gaza's Elderly
In September 2023, AFSC hosted an online conversation with AFSC staff in Gaza, Serena Awad and Firas Ramlawi, with special guest Issam Younis, Director General of Al Mezan Center for Human Rights in Gaza. Mr. Younis describes the permit regime in Gaza and how it impacts Palestinian fragmentation and exacerbates the "human-made" humanitarian crisis. AFSC staff share their work delivering humanitarian relief to families caring for elderly family members in Gaza. Listen to the recording here.
Light in Gaza Study Guide
The document is a study guide designed to help generate discussions about the blockade of Gaza and the writings included in AFSC's book - Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire. This guide can be used by individuals or groups as you read the book and consider the contributions by the anthology authors.
Download the Study Guide (PDF)
The Gaza Blockade
For over 17 years, the people of Gaza have lived under an Israeli-imposed blockade that severely limits travel, trade, and everyday life for its 2 million residents.
Education Under the Blockade
The blockade has had a devastating impact on students of all ages in Gaza. Each year, thousands of college-age students are effectively barred from finishing their education because they are denied permission to leave Gaza to study in the West Bank or elsewhere.
Gaza’s economic crisis
No portion of Gaza’s economy has been left untouched by the blockade.
Restriction of movement
Israel has controlled the movement of people and goods into and out of Gaza for decades, but since the imposition of the blockade in 2006, restrictions have been severely tightened.
The Israeli-controlled Erez Crossing, located on the northern edge of the Israeli-built wall around Gaza, is the only crossing through which civilians can travel between Gaza and Israel. At the start of the Second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, in 2000, around 26,000 people were allowed to leave Gaza each day via the Erez crossing.
The Gaza Housing and Building Crisis
Faced with rapid population growth and approximately 50% of its population under 18 years of age, Gaza is in constant need of new housing. But since imposing the blockade in 2006, Israel has blocked the importation of materials needed to construct homes, creating a housing and building crisis.
Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire
AFSCs new anthology, Light in Gaza, imagines the future of Gaza beyond the cruelties of occupation and Apartheid.
Participate in the Gaza Pinwheel Project
Join AFSC in memorializing those killed in Gaza during the ongoing attacks by Israel while also demanding change.
U.S. corporations complicit in military attacks on Gaza
The following is a list of corporations complicit in the May 2021 attacks on Gaza. If you are interested in organizing economic activism campaigns in response to the attacks, these are companies to target.
Tell Congress: Call for an immediate stop to attacks on Gaza
Join us in demanding that your representatives in Congress take immediate action to end Israel's attacks on Gaza and work toward a just and sustainable peace.