New AFSC Podcast

In July, Jehad Abusalim of the midwest branch of AFSC in Chicago began recording a weekly podcast entitled Palestine Now & Then. The show focuses on Palestinian culture, history, and politics, discussing the lives and experiences of modern Palestinians in the context of the similarities and differences with past generations.

Photo Credit: Gaza Sky Geeks

Coding in Gaza

A recent article from The Guardian highlights the creative ways in which Gazans create opportunities and engage youth in the face of blockade. Gaza Sky Geeks, a “tech hub and co-working space”, trains youth in coding and modern online business practices.

Farmers in Gaza: Risking life to survive

Since at least 2007 Israel has imposed a military no-go zone along the boundary between Israel and Gaza which extends up to one and a half kilometers into Gaza.  Anyone entering this no-go zone can be shot by the Israeli military.  

Cover of new report by Hamushim and the Coalition of Women for Peace in Israel.

Gaza: A Lab and Showroom

This week the "Hamushim" a joint program of AFSC and the Coalition of Women for Peace in Israel published a new report titled "A Lab and a Showroom" on the Israeli military's use of new weapons against protesters in Gaza. 

Gaza's Remarkable Women

Two weeks before her twentieth birthday, Asmaa Tayeh wrote, “I have spent my life so far in a prison called Gaza, which is in Palestine. I call it a prison because if you committed a crime and were sentenced to prison for 20 years, you would be unable to do anything except eat, drink, sleep and maybe study–achieving nothing. And that’s all that’s possible here...” (This article was first published in garnet news)

Shorouq Hajjar - Being human means serving others

On June 1st, 2018 Palestinian medic Razan Najjar was shot and killed by Israeli snipers while providing assistance to Palestinians injured during nonviolent Palestinian protests near the Gaza fence in Khan Younis.  Razan was wearing a uniform that clearly identified her as a medic when she was shot.

Risking life to save life

During the Great Return March, university student Muawiya Alai volunteered with a Palestinian Red Crescent medical team providing assistance to those injured during the protests. While in the field and wearing his medical uniform, Muawiya and a colleague were shot by Israeli snipers.

Tweet by Senator Sanders on Gaza.

#MakingHistory: US Senator Bernie Sanders features Palestinian voices in Gaza in recent video

In recent social media post, US Senator Bernie Sanders posted a video featuring the voices of Palestinians from Gaza. In the video entitled “Palestinians describe life in Gaza,” five Palestinians talked about their experiences living under the decade-long Israeli blockade. “The voices of the Palestinians are rarely heard,” the caption stated on the Senator’s various social media accounts.

US Congressional Briefing on Gaza held by Faith Forum

Sponsored by the Faith Forum on Middle East Policy, a network of Christian denominations and organizations working for a just peace in the Middle East, a Congressional briefing was held to discuss the implications of U.S. policy on the ground in Gaza and in Israel and the surrounding area and hear about constructive ways security and economic concerns can be addressed.

Gaza Unlocked: Overcoming Fences of Narrative

Our new blog shares stories and analysis from Gaza: Gaza, or the Gaza Strip, are names of a place that appears on the headlines every once and a while. Like most parts of the world where turmoil is routine, the media tends to treat Gaza as one political, social, and cultural unit. But Gaza, home (and refugee camp) to two million Palestinians, is far more politically and culturally rich than it would be portrayed in the media. 

Hearing in the Heartland

On April 21, AFSC hosted "Gaza Unlocked: Hearing in the Heartland" in Indianapolis, a live-streamed event that offered the public an opportunity to learn more about the crisis in Gaza and connect with others working to end the blockade.

Press Release: 'Gaza Unlocked' shows life under occupation

“The experiences of people in Gaza are generally kept out of the headlines and far from the minds of political leaders who allow this blockade to persist,” said Jennifer Bing, director of AFSC’s Palestine-Israel program. “Our hope is that sharing the stories of Palestinians living under the blockade, the hardships they face and their resilience and steadfastness in the face of these obstacles will inspire people to take action.”

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