Disclaimer: this article is for educational purposes. Our platform does not support the occupation and the storytelling by the mainstream media, and we are taking back our narrative. Free Palestine.
Last month, we saw the ethnic cleansing of the people of Sheikh Jarrah in Palestine happening live. We saw the israeli defense force attack one of the most holy Islamic sites – al Aqsa Mosque. We saw the brutality of the police force and the blatant racism towards Palestinians, and we saw the lives of Palestinians being shattered and taken away from them, but we must take note of the fact that this is not a sudden uproar, nor is it the end. Living in the generation of social media, we are grateful that light is being shed on the truth of what has been happening in Palestine over the past 73 years – the ongoing Nakba (Catastrophe), but is our narrative still being twisted?
The answer is, of course, yes. As long as mainstream media platforms are relevant in society today and are funded by those in support of the occupation, such as the US, as unfortunate as it is, the narrative of Palestinians will continuously be skewed. In this article, we will be discussing one of the most prominent ways in which this is done.
What do Statistics of Casualties in Palestine Entail?
Over the years in which Palestine has been occupied, it is not until very recently that we got access to an abundance of valid statistics, and this is because of the rise of social media. According to the UN and Al Jazeera in an Instagram post made by the account Paliroots, as of the 26th of May, 250+ Palestinians were killed – 66 being children and 39 being women , with 2,000+ were wounded. Furthermore, 33 media institutions, 1,800 housing units, and 5 high-rise buildings in Palestine had been destroyed. Finally, 91,000 Palestinians had been displaced, including 66,000 seeking protection in 58 UNRWA schools across Gaza and over 25,000 staying with host families.
Though this information is tremendously revealing and inclusive of an overwhelmingly abundant number of statistics – there is something missing. Yes, the information above does address Palestinians overall, but there is no particular focus on men – why?
Why are Statistics of Casualties in Palestine Neglecting Men?
In a tweet from Khaled A. Beydoun, a leading author and scholar on Islamophobia, national security and anti-terrorism law, and civil liberties, he states, “statistics of casualties in Gaza tend to focus on children. Next, attention is on women. Never Palestinian men. Why? Because the presumption is that the Palestinian men are terrorists – and deserving of the violence, and death, inflicted upon them. Read between the stats.”
So, what backs up this claim? Well, a simple Google search will, in fact, answer your question. When Googling “What do terrorists wear on their heads?” the first several links refer to the traditional Palestinian headdress known as the Keffiyeh. In addition to this, several popular television shows and Hollywood movies represent Arab men as terrorists through means such as appropriating this headdress, playing with color correction, and using warm yellow-brown toned filters to mimic the “setting” of the Middle East and give off an uneasy feel, and, of course, their all-time favorite – using Islam and Islamic phrases to justify violence pertaining to the ongoing issue that is Islamophobia.
It is no secret that Arab men are viewed as terrorists and that the implication that they are terrorists is demonstrated and pushed by mediums such as mainstream media channels, Hollywood and other entertainment platforms, and the misrepresentation of Arabs through blatant racism, particularly by Zionists and those organizations and nations in support of Zionism such as the US.
Providing Clarity: What does the Keffiyeh Really Symbolize?
Culturally, the Keffiyeh – more commonly worn by men throughout history – is a symbol directly associated with Palestinians in which each Pattern represents specific values. Below are the patterns and their emblematic denotations:
- The Bold pattern represents trade-routes going through Palestine, symbolizing a long history of merchants, travel, and cultural exchange.
- The fishnet pattern represents affinity towards the Palestinian sailor and the connection with the Mediterranean Sea.
- Olive Leaves represent strength, resilience, and perseverance. The Olive tree is nearly synonymous with the Palestinian land, spirit, and culture.
Bottom line is, the Keffiyeh is not a symbol of terrorism, but a cultural head dress depicting appreciation and pride for Palestinian culture.
The Mental Health Implications of Misrepresentation and Racism
Frequently experiencing racism and misrepresentation has significantly negative impacts on both one’s mental and physical health. Researchers have suggested that chronic experiences of racism and micro aggressions result in “racial battle fatigue”, which consists of anxiety, worry, hypervigilance, headaches, and increased heart rate and blood pressure. When correlating these findings to over seven decades worth of ethnic cleansing and genocide by an apartheid state, on top of racism and misrepresentation towards a massively large group of people, you may then have some perspective on the severity of the problem.
Not only do Palestinians in Palestine as well as Palestinian refugees, and generations of Palestinians that have migrated all around the world for safety purposes, experience the above, but many – especially those who have experienced the above firsthand – are directly affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). According to BMC Psychiatry “Palestinians are particularly at a higher risk for developing PTSD due to the continuous exposure to political violence, prolonged displacement, and other limitation on professional, educational, financial opportunities, and mental health services.”
What You Should Do for the Palestinian Cause Moving Forward
Since the call for cease-fire had been announced, it is prevalent that the awareness towards the occupation in Palestine has died down – when, in fact, the real issues – that have been going on for over 70 years – have not. Below are some ways in which you can continue to support Palestine:
- Do not stop using your voice. We are in the peak age of social media. We have platforms in which we can use to spread awareness at any time about anything we wish. As mentioned above, this is the reason that the truth about the occupation of Palestine has been brought to light, but it must continue to reach the masses. Whether you have 500 followers, or 5M followers – do not stop talking about Palestine.
- Educate Yourselves. There is no excuse not to educate yourself on social issues in this day and age. Follow reliable resources, read up and follow dependable statistics, speak to fellow Palestinians, and read up on the history of Palestine, and learn. Some credible sources you can follow on social media are @eye.on.palestine and @theimeu for informative content and live footage, @subhi.taha for educational and engaging content reporting on the events in Palestine, and siblings @mohammedelkurd and @muna.kurd15 who have been covering the events in Palestine live in real time.
- Join the BDS Movement. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS) is a Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and economic sanctions against Israel. Boycotting Israeli products must continue until Palestine is free, as it is most effective when consistent and done collectively over a period of time. The Original BDS Movement has called for the targeted boycott of 7 companies: PUMA, HP, AXA, SodaStream, Ahava, Sabra, and Pillsbury. When boycotting the official companies on the BDS list, remember to also boycott their subsidiary products too.
- Donate. Donate to credible organizations and movements that will directly help and aid the Palestinian cause.
- Check up on your Palestinian friends. Though they may not reside in Palestine, seeing what is happening can heavily impact them and their mental health. Additionally, no Palestinian should and would stay silent about this issue, and this can cause burnout. A simple message or act of kindness can go a long way.
Above all, have hope. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.