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As these words are being written, the Israeli attack on Gaza, a new phase of the ongoing Nakba, is in its 94th day. The impact on the civilian population is staggering; with an estimated death toll surpassing 20,000 Palestinians and thousands more presumed dead and buried under rubble. Many more have sustained injuries. Most of the population in the Gaza strip was forced to leave their homes and to flee for their lives.

The magnitude of devastation is unprecedented, leading to a scarcity of basic necessities, including water, food and shelter. What’s even more concerning is the language and threats we hear from Israeli politicians, all the way to the very top, openly declaring plans to ethnically cleanse the strip from its Palestinian population. As the weeks go by, as the brutal attacks continue and the suffering in Gaza deepens, it becomes clear that these are not empty threats but a plan, similar to the one executed in 1948.

This report is compiled still under the impression of the October 7 Hamas brutal attack that ignited this latest assault on Gaza. Israeli society is still reeling from the loss of more than 1100 people that day as well as the shock, destruction injuries and displacement of population. We mourn all of these losses and the ongoing bloodshed while we continue to point out the root causes that brought us to this point.

It is crucial to recognize that the majority of Palestinians in Gaza were already displaced long before the events of October 7th. Almost 80 percent of the population in Gaza are Palestinians who were displaced during the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 or shortly thereafter and their descendants. Their roots are traced back to cities and villages such as Jaffa, Ramleh, Lydd, Bir-a-sabaa, Isdud, and Majdal—places depopulated and mostly destroyed, replaced by Israeli settlements. This connection to the Nakba is fundamental to understanding the current situation.

Prior to the unfolding of the events in Gaza, this year was marked by widespread antigovernment protests in Israel on one hand and a growing oppression and dispossession of Palestinian communities on the other. In the west bank and east Jerusalem especially, even before October, this year was the deadliest for Palestinians in decades, and several communities were forced to leave their lands because of growing violence. Within the 48 borders as well, Palestinian citizens of Israel have been suffering growing repression under the most extremist government since the Nakba. Public calls for a second Nakba were repeatedly uttered by state officials, backed by actions on the ground. All of this has intensified even further since October.

The protest movement contained a relatively large public that was receptive to a message of Palestinian liberation, equality for all, and a willingness to rethink the basic assumptions of Israeli society. Although still a minority among protesters and the general public, this receptiveness was encouraging at the time. Members of Zochrot community have actively participated in organizing protests: both as part of a larger movement and independently, throughout the year until October.

The shock waves from the October 7 attack brought the protest to a sudden halt, leaving activists in need of better organizing skills, safety plans, and vision at a time when the vast majority of Israelis close ranks behind the army and have lost all willingness to hear of Palestinian rights. However, our community has shown remarkable resilience and courage and is back in the streets protesting the massacre in Gaza, despite growing police brutality and adversary from the public.

In these challenging times, as the latest and most catastrophic stage of the ongoing Nakba is unfolding in front of our eyes in full view of the world, we remain committed to truth telling and to building a more just future, insisting that things can, and must, be different. As our own team and community mourn the loss of friends and family we extend our empathy for the shared feelings of shock, loss, and grief among the Israeli public and the Palestinian while insisting grief and loss cannot be an excuse for mass crimes. We firmly believe that addressing the ongoing crisis requires a transformative process grounded in the acknowledgment of past and present injustices, as well as the essential right of all refugees to return to their homes.

It is within this complex landscape that the pivotal role of Zochrot's community and dedicated activists takes center stage. Their tireless efforts to engage in difficult conversations, taking leading roles in organizing protests calling to end this war, extend beyond the immediate shock, loss, and grief. The commitment of Zochrot's community to challenging Israeli discourse serves as a catalyst for transformative change, offering a glimmer of hope amid the complexities of this ongoing reality. In recognizing the importance of their endeavors, we acknowledge the profound impact that grassroots activism can have in paving the way towards a future marked by a shared collective vision for justice and peace for all.

In this report we will highlight some of the most significant actions and processes Zochrot has led this year, out of nearly 70 public actions we carried. The community we are building is taking central stage in this report and we want to acknowledge the dozens of dedicated organizers and activists going against the tide of nationalism and genocidal violence in Israeli society, asking hard questions and creating hope. Zochrot, December 2023

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