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| Artwork by Aya Mobaydeen (@aya_mobaydeen) of a Palestinian elder in traditional thobe surrounded by Palestinian landmarks and floral motifs |
| Here at HEART, we are overwhelmed with grief and rage as we bear witness to the blatant genocide of Palestinians and the innocent lives lost in Israel and Gaza. Our hearts are broken as we mourn the murder of six year-old Wadea al-Fayoume and his mother’s injuries because of anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian sentiment. We’re reminded of the traumas of the last two decades, as the aftermath of 9/11 made stories like these all too common. Many of us feel fear, anger, hopelessness, triggered, and stretched thin as we extend love and care to loved ones on the other side of the world, and to those directly impacted right here in our communities. If you are one of those directly impacted, please know that your friends at HEART are weeping with you, enraged like you, and making du’a on your behalf. One of HEART’s core values is centering and uplifting the most marginalized voices among us. Today, those voices belong to Palestinians everywhere mourning impossible losses in their communities while also navigating societies rife with weaponized misinformation, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic rhetoric, and the proliferation of violence. We also directly acknowledge that what is occurring in Gaza today is one instance of an unbearably long history of forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, and settler colonialism that spans multiple generations and continents. Let us hold space for our grief and reject any weaponization of grief into vehicles of further hate and destruction. Let us implore Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to ease this pain, to bring rain and extinguish the fires burning in Gaza, and to safely deliver the souls lost in Israel and Palestine to places of peace and serenity. If you are feeling the call to prayer but cannot find the words, you can access a translation of al-Du’a al-Nasiri, or the Du’a of the Oppressed, here. In case it wasn’t clear, HEART remains committed to solidarity with the people of occupied Palestine as they continue to achieve complete liberation and self-determination. If you’d like to take action, keep reading: –Support the family of Wadea al-Fayoume by contributing to this fundraiser: proceeds go directly towards ensuring Wadea receives a proper Janazah, that his mother’s medical expenses are covered, and to establish a Sadaqah Jariyah in sweet Wadea’s name. –Send this document to members of your community: You can share the events and resources on this link to find out about events in your area, learn more about the genocide in Gaza, and access legal, mental health, and safety support from providers across the country. – Sign this petition demanding immediate de-escalation and protection for Gazan civilians, as well as water, fuel, electricity, and more for medical facilities in Gaza –Pay close attention to the Palestinian and Jewish activists organizing on the front lines for the dismantling of the colonial government and full self-determination for Palestinians. Listen to the stories of those directly affected by 70+ years of violence and displacement, and reject the false narratives being driven by mass media, public figures, and those in power. –Don’t turn away from the voices crying for our attention: the events of the last two weeks are brutal, horrifying, and overwhelming. Take the time you need to grieve and heal in whatever way works best for you. When you’re ready, you can learn from those directly impacted by the occupation firsthand by visiting the following links: Palestinian Oral History Archive Zena Agha’s Palestine: Ways of BeingQueering the Map: a community-based online mapping platform used by several queer Palestinians to document their experiences losing loved ones. –Support and uplift the efforts of directly impacted leaders like: Palestinian Youth Movement The Adalah Justice Project Arab Resource and Organizing Center Jews for Racial Economic Justice Jewish Voice for Peace Palestinian Feminist Collective For the Binaat Muslims for Just Futures US Campaign for Palestinian Rights In the immortal words of Assata Shakur, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” Solidarity demands that our liberation is tied to each other. A world in which all Muslims are safe to exercise self-determination over their personal and reproductive lives in their communities is incomplete unless the people of occupied Palestine are safe, free, and empowered. Please join us in turning thoughts and prayers to action, and by supporting the groups led by and in solidarity with Palestine as we build towards liberation. In Peace, Love, and Solidarity, Mehlam with HEART |
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